After disappointing at the World Cup, Atlético de Madrid faces Newcastle in a friendly
Atlético de Madrid will meet Newcastle United this Saturday (9) at 12:00 Brasília time in their final pre-season friendly before the 2025/26 campaign kicks off. The Spanish side are seeking redemption after a poor showing in the Club World Cup, where they were eliminated in the group stage dubbed the “group of death” alongside Botafogo and PSG.
Bouncing Back From Setbacks
The clash, broadcast live on Disney+, comes after a difficult summer for Atlético. Following their early World Cup exit, they also fell 1-0 to Porto in a friendly earlier this month. Manager Diego Simeone, entering his 15th season in charge, is under pressure to restore the club’s competitiveness against La Liga rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Busy Transfer Window for Atlético
The club’s squad has undergone major changes. Departures include veterans César Azpilicueta, Axel Witsel, Thomas Lemar, Rodrigo De Paul, Saúl Ñíguez, and Samuel Lino the latter two joining Flamengo. Reinforcements include Ruggeri, Álex Baena, Johnny Cardoso, Thiago Almada, and David Hancko, as Atlético aim to rebuild for the new season.
Newcastle in Crisis Mode
Newcastle arrive in Madrid also in poor form, winless since May and with five defeats in their last seven matches. Their pre-season woes include heavy defeats 4-0 to Celtic, 3-2 to Arsenal, and 1-0 to the K-League All-Stars and a 2-2 draw with Espanyol.
Uncertainty surrounds the future of star striker Alexander Isak, with transfer speculation linking the Swede to a move away from St. James’ Park. Potential replacements under discussion include Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea) and Samu Omorodion (Porto).
