Pre-season friendlies usually have all the intensity of a Sunday morning stroll in the park. You know the vibe. Players half-jogging, managers staring blankly at clipboards, and fans mostly there for the overpriced pies. But the Newcastle United f.c. vs Espanyol clash on August 8, 2025, actually had some proper bite to it. It wasn't just a "fitness exercise."
Honestly, if you weren't there or didn't catch the highlights, you missed a weirdly dramatic 2-2 draw. It had a debutant keeper making a massive statement, a teenager running the show in midfield, and a classic late "Newcastle collapse" that we've all seen a million times before.
The Ramsdale Factor and That Penalty
Let’s talk about Aaron Ramsdale. He'd just joined on loan from Southampton—a move that had a few eyebrows raised across Tyneside. People were wondering if he was past it or just looking for a paycheck. Well, he shut that down pretty quick.
About 37 minutes in, the referee Michael Oliver (who apparently doesn't take days off) pointed to the spot. Matt Targett was judged to have tripped Edu Expósito. It looked soft. Kinda harsh, actually. Javi Puado stepped up for Espanyol. Now, Puado had already scored a penalty against Ramsdale earlier that summer when Southampton played them.
Ramsdale clearly did his homework.
He dove low to his right and palmed it away. St. James' Park absolutely erupted. It’s rare to see a friendly crowd that loud, but saving a penalty on your debut? That's how you win over the Gallowgate End.
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How the Goals Went Down
The game didn't actually start well for the Magpies.
Espanyol took the lead early. 17 minutes in, Edu Expósito smashed a 25-yard rocket past Ramsdale. No keeper in the world was stopping that one. It was one of those "did he really just do that?" moments.
But Newcastle didn't sit back. Lewis Miley—who is basically a seasoned vet at this point despite being a teenager—lofted a beautiful ball to the back post just four minutes later. Matt Targett, of all people, was there to head it home. 1-1.
Match Scoring Sequence:
- 17' - Edu Expósito (Espanyol) 0-1
- 21' - Matt Targett (Newcastle) 1-1
- 77' - Jacob Murphy (Newcastle) 2-1
- 89' - Kike García (Espanyol) 2-2
Jacob Murphy looked sharp all night. He eventually put Newcastle ahead in the 77th minute. He pounced on a massive mistake by Ramon Terrats, who tried to be way too clever in his own box. Murphy doesn't miss those. He slotted it into the bottom corner via the post.
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Why the Draw Felt Like a Loss
Newcastle should've seen it out. They had 64% of the ball. They were pinging passes around like Prime Barcelona at times. But in the 89th minute, they just... switched off.
Pere Milla whipped in a cross, and veteran striker Kike García glanced a header into the top corner. It was a classic "sucker punch." Eddie Howe looked fuming on the touchline, and you can't blame him. You don't want to see that kind of laziness so close to the Premier League opener.
The New Kids on the Block
Aside from Ramsdale, we saw some interesting cameos.
- Park Seung-soo: The young winger from South Korea got his first start at home. He was electric for the hour he played. He’s got that "get off your seat" energy that Newcastle fans adore.
- William Osula: He led the line and worked his socks off, even if the goals didn't come for him this time.
- Alfie Harrison: Came on at halftime and kept things tidy. He’s one to watch for the cup games.
What This Means for 2026
If you're looking at the Newcastle United f.c. vs Espanyol history, this was only their third-ever meeting. All three have been friendlies. The first was way back in 1960!
For the current squad, this game highlighted the best and worst of Howe's Newcastle. They are brilliant going forward. Bruno Guimarães was bossing the midfield as usual. But they still have that nagging habit of letting teams back into games they should have killed off.
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Key Takeaways for Fans:
- Ramsdale is the #1: Sorry Nick Pope, but Ramsdale's distribution and that penalty save put him in the driver's seat.
- Miley is essential: The kid just doesn't lose the ball. He’s the glue.
- Depth is still an issue: When the changes started happening in the second half, the intensity dropped.
If you're following the Magpies this season, keep a close eye on the defensive transitions. The talent is there, but the concentration needs to be 100% for 90 minutes.
Watch the full match highlights on the official Newcastle YouTube channel if you want to see that Expósito screamer—it’s worth it just for that. For those tracking stats, Newcastle finished with an xG of 0.99 compared to Espanyol's 1.18, proving the Spaniards actually created the higher-quality chances despite having less of the ball.
Check the upcoming fixture list to see when the next European friendly is scheduled, as these cross-league matchups are usually where the tactical tweaks happen before the big games.