Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace caps its summer preparation on August 16 at 5 p.m. by facing Newcastle United at the iconic St James Park. This high‑profile friendly, scheduled five days before the Ligue 1 opener in Marseille, completes a packed pre‑season schedule.

Why was Newcastle selected?

The club sought a prestigious opponent to fine‑tune its tactics. After the successful Liverpool trip in July 2022, officials wanted to push the preparation further north. Newcastle, with its electric atmosphere and historic stadium, provides an ideal setting to gauge the "Racingmen" before the national challenge.

What are the stakes for Strasbourg?

Beyond the experience of an overseas match, the fixture allows assessment of new signings and promising youngsters. Coach Ismaël Doukouré can test the attacking patterns that have helped the club score 58 goals this season while monitoring defensive solidity, having conceded 47 goals for a +11 goal difference.

Full schedule before the season kick‑off

After resuming training this Wednesday, the squad will travel from July 19‑26 to Faro, Portugal, for two friendlies: against Sporting Portugal on July 20 at 9 p.m. and a closed‑door game versus Blackburn on July 25 at 7 p.m. A double‑header against Brighton is set for August 1, followed by a local clash in Haguenau against SV Elversberg on August 4 at 6 p.m. The program ends with two closed‑door matches in Fribourg on August 8.

Where does Racing stand in Ligue 1?

Currently, Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace sits 8th in the league with 53 points, recording 15 wins, 8 draws and 11 losses from 34 games, and a recent form of WWDLW. The club remains 23 points behind leaders Paris Saint‑Germain, making every point vital for a European push.

What can be expected from the Newcastle game?

Supporters hope to see forwards like Habib Diallo and Amine Bassi exploit the English side’s quick play. A solid performance could boost confidence ahead of the first season test against Olympique de Marseille. The match will be broadcast live on the local channel, giving Alsatian fans one last chance to feel the excitement before Ligue 1 returns.