The last time these two met, Villa ran out emphatic 4-1 winners
It’ll be Villa’s 112th season in the competition, while the Magpies clock up their 95th. Both sides come in off the back of contrasting pre-season results – Unai Emery’s men wrapped things up with a confident 2-0 win over Villarreal, while Eddie Howe’s side slipped to a 2-0 defeat against Atlético Madrid.
The last time these two met, Villa ran out emphatic 4-1 winners, and there’s no shortage of motivation this time around. Newcastle edged the Villans out of fifth place last season on goal difference to snatch a Champions League spot, so the home side will be eager to land an early blow on the team that denied them.
Aston Villa’s off-season has been predominantly a game of “keep what we have,” and in the main, they have been successful in that.
Saying that this weekend’s opponents have just signed Jacob Ramsey, the most high-profile sale so far this season, and it goes to show how important Champions League qualification can be. Newcastle got it on the last day of the season, and Villa didn’t and that has dictated Aston Villas offseason immensely
Saying that Aston Villa fans can be optimistic given the pre-season they have had. Ollie Watkins has been firing, as has Malen. Villas’ additions of Marco Bizot as back-up keeper and talented Ivorian International Evann Guessand are very promising. 18 year old Dutch forward, the brilliantly named, Zépiqueno Redmond, along with the off-season emergence of Youth League and Cup winners Tristan Rowe, George Hemmings, and Jamaldeen Jimoh Aloba, make the squad selection hard, so I have gone with what I would do on Saturday at 12:30.
This game will be tough as Newcastle have a fantastic balance to their first 11, but Newcastle haven’t had an ideal off-season either, so I think Villa might be catching them at the right time. That, along with Villa’s great home record, could see them sneak this.
MANAGERS
Unai Emery has faced Eddie Howe on eight occasions, recording five wins and three losses
Eddie Howe has faced Aston Villa on 12 occasions, recording eight wins and four losses
Unai Emery has faced Newcastle on eight occasions, recording five wins and three losses
HEAD TO HEAD
Aston Villa and Newcastle have faced each other 175 times, with Newcastle having the advantage: 76 wins, against 60 victories for Aston Villa.
At Villa Park, Aston Villa has an advantage in duels against Newcastle: 46 wins in 88 games. Newcastle has 21 victories.
In the English League, 162 games have been played between the two teams, with Aston Villa winning 54, 37 draws, and 71 victories for Newcastle.