STAR FOOTBALL PREVIEW Sat: Aston Villa v Newcastle

We’re only at the beginning of the Premier League season but the first Saturday lunchtime clash between Aston Villa and Newcastle promises to be incredibly instructive for the season ahead, writes WILLIAM KEDJANYI.

The two sides finished level on 66 points last season, with Newcastle taking the final Champions League spot on goal difference after a frantic end to the season. Both sides had strong second halves of the season too, with only a three-point difference between the two over the final 18 games.

The two sides have also had similar transfer windows, although Newcastle’s saga with wantaway striker Alexander Isak, combined with an unsuccessful search for a replacement as Hugo Ekitike went to Liverpool and Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United, has given them a more stressful summer than Villa. The additions of Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey (ironically from Villa, who won’t be registered in time for this game) are smart but ahead of a return to a now expanded Champions League, the Magpies might have hoped for a smoother and more productive window.

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Aston Villa v Newcastle
Premier League
12:30 TNT Sports 1 HD / Discovery+ HD

LAST FIVE STATS

HEAD-TO-HEAD
APR 2025 PREMIER LEAGUE Aston Villa 4-1 Newcastle
DEC 2024 PREMIER LEAGUE Newcastle 3-0 Aston Villa
JAN 2024 PREMIER LEAGUE Aston Villa 1-3 Newcastle
AUG 2023 PREMIER LEAGUE Newcastle 5-1 Aston Villa
APR 2023 PREMIER LEAGUE Aston Villa 3-0 Newcastle

ASTON VILLA
AUG 2025 FRIENDLY Nashville 2-2 Aston Villa
JUL 2025 FRIENDLY St. Louis City SC 1-2 Aston Villa
JUL 2025 FRIENDLY Eintracht Frankfurt 2-2 Aston Villa
JUL 2025 FRIENDLY Hansa Rostock 3-1 Aston Villa
JUL 2025 FRIENDLY Walsall 1-0 Aston Villa

NEWCASTLE
AUG 2025 FRIENDLY Spurs 1-1 Newcastle
JUL 2025 FRIENDLY Team K-League 1-0 Newcastle
JUL 2025 FRIENDLY Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle
JUL 2025 FRIENDLY Celtic 4-0 Newcastle
JUL 2025 FRIENDLY Newcastle 4-0 Carlisle United

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Villa were devastated after throwing in a shocking final day performance to lose at Manchester United, which has hit their transfer window due to the knock on effect of PSR restrictions. The loss of Marcus Rashford to Barcelona is a blow but otherwise they’ve kept their squad – good enough for sixth in the league on goal difference and to push PSG in the Champions League – mostly intact and there is the potential that Marco Asensio could be resigned to boot.

Ollie Watkins continues to lead the line for now and Emery will be hoping for another big season from John McGinn, Donyell Maylen (who like Ollie Watkins, has impressed in pre-season), Youri Telemans, the likes of Lucas Digne, Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa as Villa look to go deep in the Europa League alongside launching a Top 4 challenge.

Newcastle will be hoping for the same thing this season, and there shouldn’t be too much to separate the two over 38 games, all being equal, but home advantage could be absolutely crucial for Villa here. Emery’s men are incredible in front of their own, coming into this game with a 21-match unbeaten record. They lost just twice at home in all competitions, and only Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea won more points at home last season.

Villa ran out 4-1 winners in April when the pair met in April here and appear to have the better preparation, even if pre-season form must be treated with the utmost caution. That and home advantage make them worth backing at 13/10 with starsports.bet.

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