Serie A new boys Hellas Verona were beaten 2-0 by Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United in today’s friendly at St James’ Park.
While the Italians kept the ball well early doors, they were undone within five minutes by Ayoze Perez meeting a Javier Manquillo cross.
Not long after that, Christian Atsu drilled in from a tight angle to double the Magpies’ lead.
Fabio Pecchia’s Verona looked very sluggish and players regularly went down injured, requiring treatment.
Serie A new boys Hellas Verona were beaten 2-0 by Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United in today’s friendly at St James’ Park.
While the Italians kept the ball well early doors, they were undone within five minutes by Ayoze Perez meeting a Javier Manquillo cross.
Not long after that, Christian Atsu drilled in from a tight angle to double the Magpies’ lead.
Fabio Pecchia’s Verona looked very sluggish and players regularly went down injured, requiring treatment.
Marco Silvestri had to beat away strikes from Rolando Aarons and Matt Ritchie, while he was rescued by the upright on a Ritchie curling free kick.
Ritchie went close again from a free kick in the final minutes.
Newcastle 2-0 Verona
Perez 5 (N), Atsu 12 (N)
Newcastle: Elliot (Darlow 65), Manquillo (Merino 65), Lejeune (Aarons 65), Clark (Gambez 65), Dummett (Mbemba 65), Ritchie, Shelvey (Diame 65), Hayden, Atsu (Lascelles 65), Perez (De Jong 72), Mitrovic (Murphy 65)
Verona: Nicolas (Silvestri 46); Bearzotti (Zaccagni 60), Kumbulla (Ferrari 60), Souprayen, Fares; Bessa, Buchel, B Zuculini (Valoti 60); Cerci, Pazzini (Romulo 65), Verdi