Aston Villa vs Newcastle prediction, odds, tips & team news | OneFootball

Aston Villa and Newcastle United get their 2025-26 Premier League campaigns underway when they face off at Villa Park on Saturday 16th August at 12:30pm. Both sides will hold Champions League aspirations ahead of the long campaign and this is the second time in the last three seasons Aston Villa and Newcastle have met in their opening league match of the season, with the Magpies winning 5-1 at St. James’ Park in 2023-24. The game will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1.

Ollie Watkins to score or assist (1/1 with Sky Bet)

Ollie Watkins has made Villa Park a nightmare for Newcastle in recent years. The Aston Villa striker has found the net in all four of his Premier League home appearances against the Magpies, scoring five times in total, while also providing two assists. The only side he’s been directly involved in more home league goals against is Brighton, with eight.

Match Handicap: Aston Villa -1 (7/2 with Sky Bet)

Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last 21 home games in all competitions (W15 D6), winning the last eight in a row. It’s their longest run without defeat at Villa Park since a run of 24 between September 1976 and May 1977. Furthermore, Unai Emery’s men have won five of their past six home games against Newcastle, with each victory coming by at least two goals.

Newcastle, on the other hand, have had a turbulent summer with numerous transfer targets opting for different clubs. At the same time, the Alexander Isak saga continues as he tries to force a move away from the club. It’s been far from ideal preparation for this match, with just one win in pre-season, and the hosts can take advantage with a win on the opening weekend.

How both teams go into Aston Villa vs Newcastle

Aston Villa aren’t making headlines this summer, with no blockbuster signings and PSR whispers in the background. However, don’t mistake quiet for weakness. Unai Emery has kept his key players intact, and if Villa can finally sort out their patchy away record, another top-four tilt is well within reach.

Last season, they missed the top five only on goal difference despite juggling Champions League commitments. Emery’s two full campaigns at Villa Park have yielded 68 and 69 points, numbers that demand attention. With Ollie Watkins refreshed, Emi Martinez between the posts, and Morgan Rogers on the rise, Villa remain a side no one can afford to underestimate.

Right now, Newcastle feel stuck in neutral and if Alexander Isak gets his wish to leave, they could be rolling backwards. Last season’s late surge edged Aston Villa for a Champions League place, but that ticket to Europe’s top table also guarantees a heavier workload for a squad in need of fresh legs.

The buzz from May has cooled. A repeat of last year’s highs will be a serious ask, even with their midfield still packing plenty of quality. Add in a brutal opening run of fixtures, and the risk is clear: by the time the Champions League kicks off, Newcastle could already be chasing the pack.

Aston Villa team news

Emiliano Martinez is suspended for Villa’s opening game of the season after the goalkeeper was sent off on the final day of the 2024-25 campaign. Morgan Rogers is a doubt with an ankle sprain, while Ross Barkley is ruled out.

Newcastle team news

Alexander Isak will not feature on Saturday. Joe Wilock is currently being assesed, but isn’t expected to return until September.

Aston Villa vs Newcastle head-to-head

Aston Villa won the most recent meeting between these two sides, but Newcastle have generally dominated the fixture. The Magpies have won five of the past seven — though just one of those wins has come at Villa Park.