Newcastle were behind after 4 minutes, lost Anthony Elanga to a first-half injury scare and played in 33-degree heat at the Mestalla. They still ended Matthias Jaissle's first game in charge with the Trofeu Taronja, largely because Yoane Wissa came on and scored twice, while Bazoumana Touré gave the second half some badly needed punch.

The result should be kept in proportion because it was a pre-season friendly, but Jaissle will still have learned plenty from it. The shaky opening was real. So was the response.

Wissa's impact off the bench

The bad start came almost immediately. Filip Ugrinić put Valencia ahead with a curling effort after just 4 minutes, and Newcastle never looked settled enough in the first half to suggest a smooth first night for their new coach.

Half-time changed the game. Chronicle Live reported that Wissa, Sean Steur, Mason Miley and Toure were among the players introduced, and Wissa needed only seven minutes to make it count. The outlet said he "cashed in on a backpass before keeping his composure and slotting through the goalkeeper's legs" to level the score.

That matched the tone of BBC Sport's verdict on him. Their ratings desk wrote: "Yoane Wissa (on 45): Sharp from the moment he entered the fray. Took his goals coolly. Looking to build on some promising signs with DR Congo at the World Cup after a difficult first season at Newcastle. 8."

The wider numbers at least support the idea that this was not a random cameo. Wissa has 3 goals in 4 World Cup appearances this season across 381 minutes, so he arrived in decent touch. Using one friendly as proof of a bigger revival would be overdoing it, but the sharpness was there and Newcastle needed it.

Toure helped drive the turnaround too. He played a role in both goals and set up the winner, which is exactly the sort of first impression Jaissle would have wanted from a new signing. His recent 7.3 rating at Hoffenheim suggested form rather than pure novelty, and he looked like a player willing to attack the game rather than drift through a summer workout.

The first-half problem Jaissle still has to solve

Newcastle's comeback should not hide how awkward the first half looked. Going behind inside 4 minutes is one thing in pre-season, but the more relevant issue was how little control they had before the break. A new manager can excuse rust in early August. He will be less happy with how open the side looked before the changes.

There was another issue beyond the football. Elanga's night ended early after a challenge from José Luis Gayà, and Sky Sports described it as a red-card horror tackle that led to both sets of players clashing. Other reports were less definitive on the dismissal itself, so that part is not entirely clean-cut, but the incident clearly sparked the melee and took attention away from the game for a while.

The better news for Newcastle was the update afterwards. Elanga was said to be OK after medical tests, with only a knock to his shin. Given how the challenge looked in real time, that is a relief more than anything else.

Jaissle also handed Malick Thiaw the captain's armband on his 25th birthday, a small detail but one that stood out in a first match full of lineup experimentation. Newcastle finished 12th in the 2025 Premier League table, so this is not a squad coming off a season strong enough to treat pre-season as a formality. The second-half reaction was useful. The first-half wobble still needs work.

For a first night, that is a fair summary of where Newcastle are: loose early, sharper after the break, and carried home by Wissa's finishing and Toure's energy. Jaissle's first game ended with the Trofeu Taronja in Newcastle's hands, even if the bigger conclusions will have to wait.

FAQ

How did Yoane Wissa perform in Newcastle United vs Valencia?

Wissa changed the game after coming on at the break. He scored twice in Newcastle's comeback win, first by punishing a backpass and finishing through the goalkeeper's legs, then by converting after good work from Bazoumana Toure. BBC Sport's ratings desk said he was sharp from the moment he entered and took his goals coolly.

What happened to Anthony Elanga in Newcastle's friendly against Valencia?

Elanga was stretchered off in the first half after a tackle by Jose Gaya that also sparked a clash involving both sets of players. Reports later said he was OK after medical tests and had only taken a knock to his shin, so the early signs were more reassuring than the incident itself looked.

Did Bazoumana Toure make a good debut for Newcastle?

Yes. Toure came on at half-time and played a role in both goals, including setting up the winner for Wissa. His debut impact mattered because Newcastle had started poorly and needed more drive after the break. He arrived with a recent 7.3 rating at Hoffenheim and looked lively straight away.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →