Newcastle United Slump to 2-0 Pre-Season Loss Against Atletico Madrid: Key Player Ratings Revealed

Newcastle United's Tough Night Against Atletico Madrid

Newcastle United hit another bump in their pre-season road, dropping 2-0 to Atletico Madrid at St James' Park on a Saturday night when nothing really clicked up front. This friendly clash came just a day after their 2-2 draw with Espanyol, so tired legs were clearly an issue. Eddie Howe went with heavy squad rotation, clearly valuing fitness and experimentation over the final score.

The game was all about Atletico Madrid's ruthlessness. Both Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann punished Newcastle after halftime, showing exactly why Diego Simeone's teams are so hard to crack. The Magpies struggled mightily to break down that classic Atlético defense, never even testing Jan Oblak with a shot on target. It doesn't help that this marks yet another pre-season game without a win, and those offensive hiccups are starting to stand out with the Premier League just around the corner.

Player Ratings: Standouts and Strugglers

The ratings tell a story of bright sparks in a generally lackluster team effort. Here’s a run through some of the big talking points:

• Sean Longstaff (7.5/10): 'Workhorse' fits perfectly. The guy covered insane ground all game, cleaning up in midfield and always looking to push forward. He was everywhere – breaking up Madrid attacks, closing down spaces, and winning back the ball. On a night when most of the team faded, Longstaff’s drive stood out more than anyone else’s.
• Nick Pope (7/10): Pope’s saves kept things from getting worse in the first half. He handled routine stops well and was confident claiming crosses, but his passing out from the back looked a bit slow, giving Atletico more time to close down. Still, you couldn't really blame him for either goal.
• Kieran Trippier (7/10): Solid leadership as always from the captain. He bombed up the right side, whipping in a dangerous free kick that gave Jan Oblak something to think about. With his usual tracking back and clear communication, Trippier showed why he’s so important to the back four, even if the team overall struggled.
• Sven Botman (7/10): Steady at the back in the first half – he was winning headers, stepping in for interceptions, and generally keeping things calm. Once he went off at halftime, that defensive stability seemed to vanish, highlighting how vital he is going forward.
• Fabian Schär (5/10): Things really unraveled when Schär replaced Botman. He looked off the pace, losing his position and being too easily pulled apart by Atletico’s quicker players. Both Madrid goals came after he came onto the pitch, with Schär often appearing a step behind. If there’s a worry for Eddie Howe, it's the defensive depth when key starters get rotated out.

If you were looking for any kind of attacking threat, Newcastle just didn’t deliver. The home crowd never saw a single shot on target – a stat that will worry fans even in a pre-season setting. With the Premier League opener creeping closer, you have to wonder how much attacking sharpness Newcastle can find in their final tune-ups.

Eddie Howe has reasons for juggling his lineup, especially with two matches so close together. But the absence of goal-scoring power—and a couple of worrying defensive hiccups—make it clear there’s work to be done. Those last pre-season sessions are going to be all about tightening things up, both in front of their own net and, hopefully, testing opposition goalkeepers a bit more aggressively.