Aston Villa Vs Newcastle United: The Premier League Opening Hot Duel, Who Will Be The First Victim?

Watkins remains Aston Villa's mainstay (photo: x @AVFCOfficial)

JAKARTA Aston Villa and Newcastle United will face each other in the opening match of the 2025/26 Premier League at Villa Park, Saturday night 16 August. The two teams, who finished last season with the same points, were reunited in the first week, and this duel is believed to be full of goals.

Last season, Villa closed the competition in sixth place and broke into the Champions League quarter-finals. Despite failing to return to appear in Europe's highest competition after losing to Manchester United in the last week, Unai Emery's men still have Europa League tickets. Villa also keep most of their key players despite being rumored to leave, while signing a number of new recruits.

Villa's pre-season preparations were quite convincing. After losing in a row at the start, they were unbeaten on the United States tour including a 4-0 win over AS Roma. In the last test match, they lost to Marseille but closed it with a win over Villarreal.

Their home record is also extraordinary, unbeaten in 21 matches at Villa Park in all competitions, including eight consecutive wins. In fact, Villa won five of the last six home games against Newcastle, including a score of 4-1 last April.

On the other hand, Eddie Howe's Newcastle United actually overtook Villa in the final table last season to win Champions League tickets thanks to a goal difference advantage. The 2024/25 season is also historic for The Magpies after they ended their 70-year wait without a trophy by winning the League Cup (EFL Cup).

However, Newcastle's pre-season this time was far from ideal. They failed to win in six test matches, lost to Celtic, Arsenal, and the K-League XI teams, and were held to a draw by Espanyol and Tottenham, before falling from Atletico Madrid.

Conditions are getting more difficult because major striker Alexander Isak has not been played and is rumored to want to leave. Anthony Gordon is also doubtful about appearing due to injury, while Joe Willock is absent due to an Achilles tendon problem.

However, Newcastle have a good record in the Premier League opener. They have always won in the last three seasons, more than the total opener wins in the previous 14 seasons.

Villa lost main goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to a red card suspension last season. Ross Barkley and Andres Garcia were injured, while Morgan Rogers is still in doubt.wal Watkins remains the mainstay after appearing productive, scoring goals or assists in seven appearances against Newcastle in the league.

Newcastle has signed Aaron Ramsdale, Anthony Elanga, and Malick Thiaw, but without Isak the limited front line option. If recovered, Anthony Gordon is likely to be played as a false nine.

Villa have an impressive home record, while Newcastle performed poorly throughout pre-season. The game is expected to be tight, but the home advantage gives Villa a greater chance of a narrow win.

Estimated line-up:

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; Malen, McGinn, Rogers; Watkins.Newcastle United (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.