Newcastle United began the Matthias Jaissle era with a 2-1 pre-season victory over Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium, with substitute Yoane Wissa scoring both goals after coming on at half-time. Valencia had taken the lead through Filip Ugrinic's curling strike before Wissa levelled with a composed close-range finish and then converted a second after debutant Bazoumana Toure squared the ball to him.
The result gave Jaissle a winning start to his time on Tyneside. His appointment came as something of a surprise, with the German having previously built his reputation through spells in Austria and Saudi Arabia before emerging as the unexpected frontrunner for the Newcastle vacancy left by Eddie Howe.
How did the Newcastle debutants and new signings perform?
Two of Newcastle's summer recruits made telling contributions. Toure, a £43m signing from Hoffenheim who is viewed as a long-term successor to Anthony Gordon following his move to the Premier League club, played a part in both goals — pressing Guido Fernandes into the error that led to Wissa's equaliser before teeing up the winner himself. He was rated 8 out of 10 for his pace and impact off the bench.
Aladji Bamba, who joined in a deal worth up to £34m following his move from Monaco reported when Newcastle agreed terms for the midfielder, made his first appearance for the club. He looked composed on the ball despite a few stray passes, earning a 7. New goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, signed for £25.7m from Braga after his release clause was activated, was assured with the ball at his feet and made a couple of good saves, though he was told he needs to be louder in organising his defence — also rated 7.
Who else stood out and who struggled?
Malick Thiaw wore the captain's armband on his 25th birthday, offering what felt like an early sign of how Jaissle sees the team's future, while Jacob Ramsey impressed with an energetic display capped by a superb clipped assist for a goal that was ultimately ruled out for Anthony Elanga's offside. Elanga himself looked lively before being forced off on a stretcher following a poor challenge from Jose Gaya; the club is hopeful the shin injury he sustained is not serious.
Not everyone shone. Nick Woltemade struggled to make his mark in the number 10 role and was knocked off the ball too easily at times, earning the lowest rating of the night at 5. Sven Botman had an alarming moment when a mix-up almost led to an own goal, though he recovered to finish on a 6, the same score awarded to William Osula, who saw a tight-angle effort strike the side netting and had a penalty appeal turned down.
Among the second-half substitutes, Mason Miley — younger brother of Lewis Miley — showed no signs of nerves and has reportedly already caught Jaissle's eye in training, while 18-year-old Sean Steur was tidy in possession beyond his years. Academy graduate Dylan Charlton also settled in comfortably after replacing a starter, and 18-year-old Henry Johnson enjoyed a night to remember by making his senior debut for the club.
What has happened to Wissa since this match?
Wissa's rediscovered scoring touch has carried through to international football. According to Sky Sports, he scored twice for DR Congo in a 3-1 comeback win over Uzbekistan at the 2026 World Cup, a result that sent his country through to the round of 32. That goal was reportedly his third of the tournament, having earlier made history by netting DR Congo's first-ever World Cup goal in a 1-1 draw with Portugal, as noted by Al Jazeera.
The international form marks a striking contrast to his debut season at Newcastle, where, according to statistics compiled by Rotowire, he made 19 Premier League appearances but scored just one league goal. Separate figures from StatMuse put his output at 531 minutes played and an expected goals tally of 2.90 across the campaign. The forward, who according to The Athletic arrived at Newcastle for a fee of £55 million and wears the number 9 shirt, will hope to carry his World Cup momentum back into pre-season and beyond.
What happens next?
DR Congo's third-place finish in Group K, secured by the win over Uzbekistan, sets up a round-of-32 meeting with England, according to Sky Sports. For Newcastle, attention now turns to the remainder of pre-season as Jaissle continues to assess his squad, including new arrivals Bamba, Toure and Hornicek, ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
Key Facts
- Newcastle beat Valencia 2-1 at the Mestalla Stadium in Matthias Jaissle's first friendly as head coach.
- Yoane Wissa scored twice off the bench after replacing a starter at half-time.
- Bazoumana Toure, a £43m signing from Hoffenheim, set up Wissa's winning goal on his debut.
- Anthony Elanga was stretchered off after a challenge from Jose Gaya but is not thought to have suffered a serious injury.
- Wissa has since scored three goals for DR Congo at the 2026 World Cup, including the country's first-ever World Cup goal against Portugal.
