Newcastle United opened their Premier League campaign with a convincing 2-0 home victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, highlighting the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs early in the season. The win marked a positive start under new manager Matthias Jaissle, who took charge following Eddie Howe’s departure.
Anthony Elanga broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute, with Yoane Wissa adding a second goal 10 minutes later to secure the points. Newcastle's midfield was notably bolstered by Nico Gonzalez, making his debut after transferring from Manchester City for £52 million. Gonzalez completed 48 passes during the match, equaling the highest number of passes by a Newcastle debutant since Sandro Tonali recorded the same figure in August 2023. The midfielder was directly involved in the build-up to Elanga’s opening goal and expressed satisfaction with both his individual performance and the team’s overall display.
Newcastle goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, a £25.7 million signing from Braga, contributed significantly by making several critical saves to maintain a clean sheet against Tottenham’s attack.
In contrast, Tottenham’s struggles continued despite an expensive summer transfer window exceeding £300 million. The London club remains bottom of the Premier League table, having yet to score or earn any points after the opening matches. Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi acknowledged his team’s shortcomings but urged patience, emphasizing the difficulty of reversing two seasons’ worth of poor results so quickly. “To change two seasons like the last two is impossible in ten days or in the transfer market,” De Zerbi said. He also described Tonali as a “crucial player” but admitted the Italian midfielder was not at full fitness, leading to his substitution in the 75th minute for Dominic Solanke.
The match also featured moments of fan discontent toward Tonali, with boos from the Newcastle supporters reflecting frustration over his performance. Additionally, some home fans directed chants at certain players they perceived as underperforming or considering transfers.
Forward Yoane Wissa praised Jaissle’s influence on the team, citing the new manager’s dynamic approach and emphasis on precision throughout the game. The 38-year-old German coach described the victory as an encouraging start to the season.
Despite the difficult beginning for Tottenham, De Zerbi insisted the club would not panic and is focused on improving results in the weeks ahead. Meanwhile, Newcastle fans have found renewed optimism in their team’s dynamic play and promising contributions from new signings under Jaissle’s leadership.