Aston Villa vs Newcastle United
It’s back to Premier League matters for Aston Villa after they fell short in their Champions League quarter-final tie against PSG. After going down 3-1 in the first leg, the Villans fought back and almost completed a stunning comeback but ultimately fell short.
Following their European setback, Unai Emery’s men face the daunting task of stopping Newcastle United in their tracks. Aston Villa are seventh in the English top-flight standings with 54 points and are keen on extending their league winning streak to five games to boost their hopes of getting into the top five.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United are still on a high following their EFL Cup triumph last month against Liverpool. Eddie Howe’s side has won five consecutive league games, elevating itself to third place with 59 points.
Despite their gap in the table, the pregame SBOTOP betting odds predict a close fight between the Villans and the Magpies, making this a potential cracker of a contest.
Talking Points
McGinn could do more for Aston Villa
Aston Villa captain John McGinn is in positive form heading into this contest against Newcastle United, as he recorded three goal contributions in his last two appearances. He came off the bench and scored the Villans’ final goal during their 3-0 win over Southampton last Saturday, and he followed it up with a goal and an assist during their second leg against PSG.
The 30-year-old forward has been in and out of the starting XI this season due to injuries and the emergence of Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Donyell Malen, Marco Asensio, and Marcus Rashford. Despite this, McGinn stayed professional and contributed when he was called upon. He only has one league goal and three assists this season, and Aston Villa fans know what he’s capable of on any night. Don’t be surprised if McGinn draws another start against Newcastle United.
Unai Emery could revert to Ollie Watkins as his lone striker, relegating Marcus Rashford to the bench. The Spanish coach will unlikely make changes at the back, with Dibu Martinez in goal and Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa, Matty Cash, and Lucas Digne as their back four.
Newcastle United are scoring goals for fun
Newcastle United are in a great position to lock up a spot in the Champions League next season. They’ve been firing on all cylinders since winning the EFL Cup, scoring 12 goals while conceding only twice in their last four league games.
During their 5-0 win against Crystal Palace last weekend, head coach Oliver Glasner admitted that the Eagles “couldn’t cope” with the Magpies’ intensity. From top to bottom, everyone from Eddie Howe’s side put up a near-five-star performance.
Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes, Fabian Schar, and Alexander Isak scored the goals (including an own goal from Marc Guehi). Goalkeeper Nick Pope also set the tone for Newcastle United with his early penalty save when Eberechi Eze tried to make it 1-1.
With no fresh injuries, Howe will likely keep the same starting XI he had against the Eagles, with Anthony Gordon, Sean Longstaff, Callum Wilson, and Joe Willock likely to come off the bench.
History
Newcastle United walloped Aston Villa 3-0 in their reverse fixture at St. James Park. Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak, and Joelinton found the back of the net for the Magpies, and it didn’t help the Villans when Jhon Duran received his marching orders during the 32nd minute for his unsportsmanlike conduct after a challenge on Fabian Schar.
Aston Villa have lost five of their last six Premier League matches against Newcastle United (W1), as many as they had in their previous 16 against the Magpies (W4, D7). During Newcastle United’s three-game winning streak over Aston Villa, Eddie Howe’s side has scored at least three goals each time.
Betting Tip
As mentioned, the Premier League 2025 odds expect a tight contest at Villa Park this Saturday. Because they’re the hosts, Aston Villa have the edge at 2.42 odds, while Newcastle United aren’t far behind at 2.59, and a draw is at 3.29 in the 1X2 market.
The Magpies’ recent form is hard to ignore, so betting on another win seems safe. Besides our recommended option, bettors can also go for alternatives like Over 2.50 at 1.63, Over 2.75 at 1.81, Over 3.00 at 2.05, and even Total Goals 4-6 at 2.73 for better value. Moreover, a Correct Score of 3-0 in favour of the Magpies – the result of the reverse fixture – could yield a huge 36.00 payday.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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