Newcastle United HT player ratings v Bayer Leverkusen: 'Quality' 7/10 & 'unfortunate' Bruno Guimaraes
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Newcastle United half-time player ratings: Here’s how Nick Woltemade, Malick Thiaw, Sandro Tonali and co have fared in the Champions League.
Newcastle United are losing 1-0 at Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday evening - here are the half-time player ratings from the match so far.
Eddie Howe made four changes to his side that beat Burnley 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday with Lewis Hall, Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Harvey Barnes coming into the side with Fabian Schar, Joe Willock, Jacob Ramsey and Anthony Elanga dropping to the bench.
Newcastle went into the game having taken nine points from their opening five Champions League group phase matches but on the back of a 2-1 defeat last time out in the competition at Marseille.
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Bayer Leverkusen took the lead with their first set-piece of the game as Robert Andrich’s header was bundled over the line via a heavy deflection off Bruno Guimaraes.
Things looked to be going from bad to worse for The Magpies when Malick Thiaw conceded a penalty minutes later but a VAR check awarded Leverkusen a free-kick instead.
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Here are the Newcastle United half-time player ratings from the match...
Aaron Ramsdale - 6
Made three saves to stop Bayer Leverkusen making it 2-0. Couldn’t do too much about the opening goal.
Tino Livramento - 6
Pushed forward and was afforded plenty of space down the right but didn’t do much with it.
Malick Thiaw - 6
Showed good composure early on to cut out the danger. Lacked it with his last-ditch foul that was initially given as a penalty but ultimately let Newcastle off with a free-kick and a yellow card following a VAR check.
Dan Burn - 6
Guilty of one poor pass when roaming high up the pitch. Dragged around early on but recovered.
Lewis Hall - 7
The one player showing a few flashes of quality.
Sandro Tonali - 6
Not at his most sharp and poor for the opener. Grew into the game as the half wore on.
Bruno Guimaraes - 5
Conceded possession on a few occasions early on but kept showing for the ball. Unfortunate to see the ball deflect into his own goal for Leverkusen’s opener, though he could have been more alert.
Joelinton - 5
In the right place to block a low shot after 12 minutes. Poor in possession at times.
Harvey Barnes - 6
Started on the right flank on his return to the side. Had Newcastle’s first shots on target by cutting onto his left foot from the edge of the box twice, but was denied comfortably on both occasions.
Anthony Gordon - 5
Tried to run at the defence and pose a threat but never really got close to the box.