There was a lot of action on Friday night as the tournament returned to the 2025-26 season but many of the continent’s best teams were also in action.
In the middle of Alexander Isak’s storm, Newcastle faced the Spanish Espanyol side, while Brentford-without Wantaway Yoane Wissi-took the Bundesliga opposition to Borussia Monchengladbach.
Last season’s Serie A runners-up also faced Monaco’s side with a new look in France.
Read to see how each side went on the last round of pre-season friendship.
Newcastle 2-2 Espanyol
Newcastle was kept for a 2-2 draw by Espanyol in a friendship at St. James Park.
Although Jacob Murphy’s good goal seems to have secured the victory for the late Magpies, Kike Garcia’s header in the 89th minute ensured that visitors seized the draw of the last gasp.
The game started shouting for Espanyol, who took the lead in the 17th minute through Edu Exposito.
The midfielder sparked a sublime strike on the right from outside the box in the upper left corner, brilliantly set up by Roberto Fernandez.
Newcastle responded quickly, with the Matt Targt coming only four minutes later by working closely the Espanyol goalkeeper after a teasing cross from Lewis Miley.
The first half also saw Espanyol a penalty after a foul on Roberto Fernandez inside the box from Target. However, the post-kick by Javi Puado was rescued by Aaron Ramsdale, who maintained the level of score in the heading at half-time.
Jacob Murphy put Newcastle ahead in the 77th minute with a left clinical finish from inside the box, which appears to give the side of the victory.
But Espanyol’s persistence paid when Pere Milla whipped a cross that Kike Garcia met a strong header in the 89th minute, by directing the ball in the upper right corner to smooth the score again.
Newcastle will take positive from the spirit of the fight and attack the intention, while Espanyol showed their threat on set pieces and composition to get back late.
Brentford 2-2 Borussia Monchengladbach
Brentford and Borussia Monchengladbach played a 2-2 fun draw, with both sides producing quality moments at a lively meeting.
Visitors first hit the half-hour mark. After Joe scally saw two efforts blocked in a row, Haris Tabakovic’s header went wide-but moments later, Grant-Leon Ranos threw close to a slot in the lower corner, giving Gladbach a 1-0 advantage.
Brentford answered well, with Sepp van den Berg and Igor Thiago both going close before rest.
The second section broke out in life after restarting. Fabio Carvalho, lively during, forced Nicolas to save strong before getting last in the 69th minute, ending from inside the box after a set-piece.
Only a minute later, Mikkel Damsgaard produced a moment of magic, near her right strike from distance in the lower corner to turn the game on his head at 2-1.
Gladbach, however, refused to fold. Substitute Robin Hack has made an immediate impact, stopped Franck Honorat, dropping a low shot from outside the box in the lower left corner with four minutes remaining.
Monaco 1-2 Inter Milan
Inter Milan came from behind to call a 2-1 victory over Monaco in a friendly action packed at Stade Louis-II.
The hosts started the dream, taking the lead after only two minutes when Maghhn Akliche fired a stunning strike left in the upper corner from outside the box.
Monaco looked the most powerful side, with Lamine Camara twice forcing Yann Sommer in Save and Denis Zakaria hitting the place from distance.
Inter’s task became more difficult in the 36th minute when Hakan Calhanoglu received the second yellow card for a late challenge, reducing visitors to ten men.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Italian side responded after the rest.
Lautaro Martinez brought the score on the mark of the hour, ending clinically from close range after Nicolo Barella led a Swift counter-attack.
Monaco pushed to restore their lead, with AkliChe hit the place and Soungoutou Magassa.
However, Inter hit the decisive blow in the 80th minute. Substitute Ange-Yoan Bonny threw another quick break with a finish composed of the center of the box, making it 2-1.
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2025-08-08 20:26:53