Jaissle's First Home Game Ends in Defeat — but the Miley Brothers Light Up St James' Park
Newcastle United lost 2-1 to Bayer Leverkusen in Matthias Jaissle's first match at St James' Park, with Victor Bonifice striking late to settle a friendly that drew more than 39,000 fans on 15 August 2026.
Leverkusen needed barely a minute. Ibrahim Maza shot past new goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek inside the opening sixty seconds, giving the visitors a lead before many supporters had found their seats. Newcastle equalised shortly before half-time, Malick Thiaw heading in from an Anthony Elanga corner. The game looked headed for a draw until Boniface found the net late to win it for the German side (The Guardian).
Jaissle, 38, replaced Eddie Howe at the end of July after Howe's sudden departure. The German had previously coached Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia and won his first match in charge of Newcastle, a 2-1 comeback against Valencia. This, though, was his home bow — and the first chance for supporters to see what a Jaissle team looks like on Gallowgate soil (The Guardian).
The backdrop is one of upheaval. Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães — three of Newcastle's most influential players — all left the club in the summer of 2026. Dan Burn will wear the captain's armband this season, with Joelinton as his deputy, though Joelinton was injured and is set to miss the Premier League opener against Liverpool on Sunday. Tino Livramento was also sidelined with a calf problem against Leverkusen. The club were pushing to sign full-back Amar Dedic from Benfica before the Liverpool match (The Guardian; Yahoo Sports).
Amid the churn, the night belonged to two local teenagers. Lewis Miley, back from a broken leg suffered in the spring, started in central midfield. Alongside him at right-back was his 17-year-old younger brother Mason, who impressed on what was a remarkably composed debut. The siblings started together for the first time in Jaissle's first home game — a small piece of club history for a family already threaded through Newcastle's recent story. An older brother, Jamie Miley, had previously featured in a handful of friendlies for the first team (The Guardian; NUFC.co.uk).
There was a curious moment in the first half when Newcastle changed their shirts mid-game, a sight that briefly puzzled the crowd before play resumed (BBC Sport).
For Jaissle, the result matters less than the information. Liverpool arrive on Sunday with a Premier League campaign to begin and a squad still taking shape. The Miley brothers offered something to build on. The rest of it — the late goal, the injuries, the incoming transfers still unresolved — is the to-do list.
