Pre-Season Friendlies: Newcastle's streak to continue

Yoan Gouffran has been a Newcastle scorer this pre-season

Unlike the revolution, the Schalke 04 Cup will be fully televised, as Newcastle and West Ham fight for "silverware"...

The brand new Schalke 04 Cup might lack the glamour of several other pre-season competitions, but it is one of the few (besides the stacked International Champions Cup) to involve multiple Premier League teams, as Newcastle and West Ham jostle with Malaga and hosts Schalke.

The tournament's appeal is also enhanced by the deal struck with Quest - a channel known more for lifestyle programmes than live football, available at 167 on Sky, 172 on Virgin and 37 on Freeview - to broadcast every game. Here are some thoughts on the two openers...

Malaga v Newcastle
Saturday, 14:30
Live on Quest

Match Odds: Malaga 2.6613/8, Newcastle 2.68/5, The Draw 3.39/4

The dangerous sensation of optimism is threatening to pervade Newcastle. They have excelled in the transfer window, recruiting six players - Daryl Janmaat, Jack Colback, Siem de Jong, Ayoze Perez, Emmanuel Riviere and, most excitingly, Remy Cabella - while Mathieu Debuchy was the only likely starter to depart.

That business has caused them to be backed in from 2.68 to 2.35/4 for a top-half Premier League 2014/15 finish, and pre-season results have added to the feel-good vibe. The Magpies have won three in a row without conceding and are a healthy 2.68/5 to triumph over Malaga, who ranked in La Liga's bottom half last term and have done little of note to strengthen, despite links to Ronaldinho.

Schalke v West Ham
Saturday, 16:30
Live on Quest

Match Odds: Schalke 1.910/11, West Ham 3.814/5, The Draw 3.55/2

West Ham's transfer success this summer has been overshadowed by both uncertainty surrounding Sam Allardyce's future and wretched friendly results. They are yet to win in four attempts, with the losses to Wellington and Sydney particularly demoralising because Newcastle conquered both.

It is therefore an easy call, having already profited from opposing the Irons twice in their two prior fixtures, to back Schalke at 1.910/11. The Champions League qualifiers are at home and have invested wisely in Sidney Sam, Dennis Aogo and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to emerge as 2.26/5 candidates to be the Bundesliga's best of the rest (ie besides enemies Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich).

If you like what you see on Saturday, the tournament continues on Sunday with Malaga v West Ham and Schalke v Newcastle. Both games are again available on Quest.