Aston Villa vs Newcastle prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2025-08-15 11:30.
[p]Aston Villa were beaten to UEFA Champions League qualification last season by Newcastle United on goal difference alone, but Unai Emery’s men have the chance to exact some revenge on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Failure to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition has led to a quiet summer on the transfer front for Villa, whose main focus has centred around keeping the spine of their squad together. Emiliano Martinez, John McGinn and Ollie Watkins all remain at the club despite interest from elsewhere, with Ivorian striker Evann Guessand their only big-money recruit so far. Emery will hope continuity within his group helps the Villans to victory on the opening day for a second successive season, something they last managed in 2015/16.[/p]
[p]Despite finally ending their 70-year wait for silverware and securing Champions League football, Newcastle’s summer has been nothing short of a disaster thanks to star striker Alexander Isak’s desire to leave the club and move to Liverpool. The Swede is yet to rejoin full team training as he looks to force a transfer, with the Magpies’ failure to secure a replacement seeing them miss out on the likes of Benjamin Šeško and Hugo Ekitike to Premier League rivals. Eddie Howe therefore has a tough job to keep morale high as he looks to mastermind a quick start to the season.[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]This is the second time in three seasons that these sides collide on the opening weekend, with Newcastle running out 5-1 winners at St James’ Park in August 2023, but it’s been a different story at Villa Park, where the Magpies have lost on five of their last six Premier League visits (W1).[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last 21 home games across all competitions (W15, D6), winning each of the last eight.[/p]
[p]Villa have kept just two clean sheets in their last 11 home league matches.[/p]
[p]Newcastle have won their opening match in each of the last three seasons.[/p]
[p]Newcastle have scored more than once in only one of their last seven Premier League away games.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Villa frontman Ollie Watkins has relished this fixture, scoring in all four of his Premier League home games against Newcastle (G5). Greater responsibility now rests on Anthony Gordon who has been playing up front in pre-season – he opened the scoring inside two minutes of Newcastle’s 3-0 H2H win in December.[/p]
[p]Villa will certainly be without the suspended Emiliano MartĂnez, while Morgan Rogers faces a race against time to be fit for this season opener. Newcastle remain without the wantaway Alexander Isak, but look to have a clean bill of health otherwise.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Winning at Villa Park looks to be a step too far for Newcastle in their current state, but their attacking threat means backing Villa to win with both teams scoring could be a strong bet.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]