3 Positives and 3 Negatives to take from Newcastle 0 Atletico Madrid 2 | OneFootball

Saturday afternoon’s match ended Newcastle 0 Atletico Madrid 2.

Ahead of each game we ask one of our writers to come up with three positives and three negatives following the game.

An interesting afternoon at St James’ Park…

Plenty to talk about after this one.

On this occasion it is Simon Ritter:

POSITIVES

Anthony Elanga

Every United fan must have been impressed by the raw pace of our summer recruit, especially in the first half, which he started and ended by running at Ruggeri on the outside, skinning him and sending in dangerous crosses.

If Elanga turns on the afterburners repeatedly against Premier League full-backs a few outcomes are likely: he will win a free-kick, his opponents will be booked or he will make or score a goal. What’s not to like?

Harrison Ashby

The 23-year-old looks to have benefited from his two seasons on loan with Swansea City and Queens Park Rangers, although he has not yet started 50 competitive games.

Usually a right-back, Ashby played in midfield today and he offered energy, poise and speed in the first half against Athletico.

Could he be a ready-made replacement for Sean Longstaff or the injured-again Joe Willock in a season that is bound to stretch our resources to the limit?

The wait is almost over

Okay, I’m clutching at straws a bit here but the scenes before kick-off at a sold-out St James’ Park, with black-and-white flags fluttering in the sunshine as Local Hero was blasted over the PA system, were enough to remind me why football still matters.

United will go to Villa Park next Saturday having lost to Celtic, Arsenal, the K League All-Stars and Atleti but at least we can look forward to a match that counts for a lot.

Toothless, not ruthless

Fans of a certain age will recall the Seventies rear windscreen sticker of Supermac with the legend “Toothless but ruthless”.

We matched Atleti in the first half without severely testing their keeper, except from one powerful free kick by Kieran Trippier. Joelinton dominated his opponents in the air when we attacked but was off-target with three headers before sending a fourth straight at the keeper. Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon and Elanga made inroads, as did Ashby, but there was nobody capable of scoring.

Gordon was being touted as the man most likely to play centrally in attack. He made umpteen sprints to close down the keeper and defenders until, chasing another lost cause in the closing minutes, he seemed to damage a leg muscle in a non-contact incident. Unlike Willock, he walked off the pitch in no apparent pain but the way he carried on straight down the tunnel makes me wonder if he will be available for the big kick-off.

Tough opposition

For the final pre-season match you want a proper test.

There are few tougher than Diego Simeone’s outfit, who have been ever-present in the Champions League for more than a decade. Atletico Madrid know how to win and are prepared to defend a lead by fair means and foul. If a player beats you with skill, grab his shirt. Or leave a foot in. Or dive to win a free kick.

As preparation for what awaits United in Europe, it perhaps served a purpose. Whether Elanga, Gordon and Barnes, among others, enjoy counting their bruises today is another question.

Techno no no no!

First half good, second half not so good. The club’s official coverage died just before the first goal. Good old Radio Newcastle told us what had happened and no pictures were needed to realise the atmosphere had vanished almost as quickly as the clean sheet.

By the time somebody corrected the technical fault there were only 15 minutes to play, most of which the Spaniards spent ensuring they would not concede. At least United’s new strip seems to be made from decent fabric; a shoddier product would have split at the seams.

Final score:

Newcastle 0 Atletico Madrid 2

Goals:

Newcastle:

Atletico Madrid: Alvarez 50, Griezmann 63

Attendance:

51,584

Newcastle team v Atletico Madrid:

Pope, Ashby (Alfie Harrison 61), Lascelles, Botman (Alex Murphy 46), Livramento, Trippier (Shahar 87), Joelinton, Tonali, Elanga, Gordon (Neave 84), Barnes

Unused Subs:

Ruddy, Gillespie, Charlton, Kuol, Sanusi

Newcastle United pre-season friendly schedule 2025/26

Saturday 12 July – Newcastle 4 Carlisle 0 (Behind closed doors)

Saturday 19 July – Celtic 4 Newcastle 0

Sunday 27 July – Arsenal 3 Newcastle 2

Wednesday 30 July – Team K-League All Stars 1 Newcastle 0

Sunday 3 August- Spurs 1 Newcastle 1

Friday 8 August – Newcastle 2 Espanyol 2