Newcastle United Under-21s 0 Real Sociedad Under-21s 0 | OneFootball

The young Magpies, competing in the tournament for the first time since reaching the semi-final stages in 2017/18, were unable to record a winning start in their first of four fixtures in Group C but were steady in defence at Whitley Park, recording their second clean sheet of the season in a tight tussle on Tyneside.

Newcastle will be aiming to progress into the quarter-finals from the eight-team group, including Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion and defending champions Nottingham Forest, ahead of facing Paris Saint-Germain, Dinamo Zagreb and Benfica.

Adam Lawrence made one change from last week's Vertu Trophy defeat away at Harrogate Town as Scott Bailey, who joined Newcastle's Academy as a nine-year-old, replaced Sam Alabi in the middle of the park.

Newcastle almost got off to a flying start as Alfie Harrison's in-swinging corner landed on the crossbar, with scrambling goalkeeper Theo Folgado breathing a sigh of relief.

Sean Neave went close to netting his tenth goal of the season at under-21 level as the England Under-18 international, named on the bench for Newcastle's 2025 Carabao Cup final victory against Liverpool, completed a neat turn and after a dangerous run, saw his deflected strike fly narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

Newcastle continued their pursuit for an opener as Anthony Munda, who joined the Magpies' Academy as a nine-year-old, controlled Seung-soo Park's pass inside the penalty area before his low drive was blocked inside a crowded penalty area.

The hosts ought to have broke the deadlock shortly after Folgado rushed out of his goal to deny Ben Parkinson before the loose ball fell into Harrison's path but the 19-year-old's first-time effort was directed over the crossbar.

Newcastle headed into the half-time break on level terms although Sociedad skipper Arkaitz Mariezkurrena went narrowly close to firing the visitors in front as the attacking midfielder's bending effort from the edge of the box flew inches wide of the left-hand post, with Magpies goalkeeper James Taylor rooted on his goal line.

In the second-half, Magpies captain Cathal Heffernan produced a crucial block to deny Sydney Osazuwa as the Sociedad striker controlled the ball inside the box but his powerful drive at goal was heroically blocked by the Irish centre-back.

United goalkeeper James Taylor produced an important to prevent Dario Ramirez from breaking the deadlock as the Sociedad substitute's stinging effort was crucially pushed out for a corner by the Kettering-born teenager.

Neave went close to netting an impressive solo effort as the Winlaton-born teenager completed a mazy run from distance before his low drilled effort was comfortably held by Folgado.

Newcastle ensured a second clean sheet of the 2025/26 campaign despite Sociedad midfielder Unax Ayo almost sealing maximum points for the Spanish side, latching onto Taylor's punched clearance on the edge of the box before firing his effort wide of the left-hand post.

Newcastle's youngsters are back in Premier League International Cup action on Friday night when hosting their PSG counterparts at Whitley Park [kick-off 7pm GMT].

Newcastle United Under-21s: James Taylor, Harrison Ashby, Charlie McArthur, Cathal Heffernan (c), Miodrag Pivaš, Scott Bailey, Alfie Harrison, Anthony Munda, Ben Parkinson [Joe Brayson 70], Sean Neave [Thomas Bryant 76], Seung-soo Park.

Subs not used: Ciaran Thompson, Adam Harrison, Fraser Harper, Darren Palmer, Matheos Ferreira.