Newcastle United is set to face Bayer Leverkusen in a friendly match on August 15 at 21:00. This encounter comes as both teams seek to solidify their lineups before the upcoming season begins. Newcastle enters the match with a somewhat unstable performance record, having recently parted ways with manager Eddie Howe. His successor, Matthias Jaissle, has had limited time to shape the team, resulting in mixed results during their pre-season friendlies.

Newcastle started their pre-season with a solid 3-0 victory against Darlington but then drew 1-1 with Gateshead and suffered a heavy 1-4 defeat to Bristol City. Although they managed to defeat Valencia 2-1, they faced another setback with a 1-3 loss to Everton. These results highlight ongoing challenges within the squad, especially following the departures of key players such as Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Anthony Gordon. Jaissle has acknowledged the need for further reinforcements to address the depth issues in the current squad.

On the other hand, Bayer Leverkusen has shown a much more positive trajectory in their pre-season preparations. The German side has won five of their six friendly matches, scoring a total of 16 goals while conceding only three. Their victories include impressive wins against teams like Baumberg (7-0), Offenbach (3-1), Genk (4-0), and Sevilla (2-1), with their only loss coming against Nottingham (1-3) on August 13. New manager Carles Martinez Novell has plenty of reasons to be optimistic about his team's attacking capabilities and overall balance.

Historically, Newcastle has had the upper hand in their encounters with Leverkusen, remaining unbeaten in their last three meetings, with two wins and one draw. However, current form suggests that Leverkusen may pose a significant challenge for the hosts at St. James' Park. While Newcastle has the advantage of home support, their ongoing restructuring could play a crucial role in the match's outcome.

Both teams are expected to rotate their lineups as they finalize their preparations for the new season. The likely starting formations are:

• Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Hornicek; Shahar, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Joelinton, Bamba; Toure, Wissa, Barnes; Osula.
• Leverkusen (4-3-1-2): Flekken; Arthur, Bade, Tapsoba, Gutierrez; Andrich, Palacios, A Garcia; Tillman; Moreira, Kofane.

With both teams eager to make a statement in their final friendly, fans can expect an exciting match filled with action. The outcome remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: both Newcastle and Leverkusen will be looking to build momentum ahead of the new season.