Aston Villa Clash with Newcastle: Bold Predictions and Starting XI Revealed
The opening Saturday afternoon fixture of the 2025–26 Premier League campaign features Aston Villa hosting Newcastle United at Villa Park.
Both clubs entered the concluding matchday of the previous season harboring Champions League ambitions, with Villa needing just a victory over Manchester United to secure qualification for Europe's elite competition. However, they suffered a 2–0 defeat, compounded by the contentious disallowing of Morgan Rogers' early strike.
Newcastle also fell to defeat at home against Everton, though Villa's failure meant the Magpies claimed fifth position in the final standings.
Consequently, Newcastle were anticipated to build momentum during the summer transfer period, yet their window has proven deeply problematic. Most crucially, last season's standout performer Alexander Isak has expressed his desire to leave, while Eddie Howe has struggled to enhance his squad to the extent he had hoped.
Unai Emery's Villa have been constrained by the Premier League's profit and sustainability regulations (PSR), resulting in a relatively subdued transfer period following their busy winter activity. Circumstances would likely have unfolded differently had they overtaken Newcastle in the table on the final day.
Here is Sports Illustrated's preview of Saturday's Premier League encounter.
What Time Does Aston Villa vs. Newcastle Kick-Off?
Aston Villa vs. Newcastle Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
Current Form (All Competitions)
Aston Villa | Newcastle |
|---|---|
Villarreal 0–2 Aston Villa - 10/08/25 | Newcastle 0–2 Atlético Madrid - 09/08/25 |
Marseille 3–1 Aston Villa - 09/08/25 | Newcastle 2–2 Espanyol - 08/08/25 |
Aston Villa 4–0 Roma - 06/08/25 | Tottenham 1–1 Newcastle - 03/08/25 |
Nashville 2–2 Aston Villa - 02/08/25 | K-League XI 1–0 Newcastle - 30/07/25 |
St. Louis 1–2 Aston Villa - 31/07/25 | Arsenal 3–2 Newcastle - 27/07/25 |
How to Watch Aston Villa vs. Newcastle on TV
Country | TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
United States | fuboTV, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App, UNIVERSO NOW, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, USA Network, UNIVERSO |
United Kingdom | discovery+, discovery+ App, TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate |
Canada | DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network Canada |
Mexico | Caliente TV |
Aston Villa Team News
Villa will be without Emiliano Martínez, who serves a suspension following his dismissal for a reckless challenge during their 2–0 loss to Manchester United on the season's final day. Dutch goalkeeper Marco Bizot will earn his Premier League debut in place of the suspended Argentine.
Emery has an otherwise complete squad available, though the loan signings from the latter half of 2024–25 - Marcus Rashford, Axel Disasi and Marco Asensio - have returned to their parent clubs.
Their core structure remains unchanged, and new signing Evann Guessand from Nice is expected to feature as a substitute.
Aston Villa Predicted Lineup vs. Newcastle
Newcastle Team News
The majority of Newcastle's summer headlines have centered around Isak, who remained absent from Howe's pre-season tour and will miss this weekend's fixture amid speculation linking him with Liverpool. The unsettled forward has declared he will not represent Newcastle again.
Jacob Ramsey is poised to complete his move from Aston Villa, though he's unlikely to feature on Saturday against his previous club. Ramsey's arrival is designed to address the gap created by Sean Longstaff's departure, while Joe Willock remains sidelined through injury.
Without Isak available, Howe will probably deploy Anthony Gordon in a false nine role, supported by Harvey Barnes and summer recruit Anthony Elanga on the flanks. Newcastle continue their search for a new striker, with Brentford's Yoane Wissa among their targets.
Newcastle Predicted Lineup vs. Aston Villa
Aston Villa vs. Newcastle Score Prediction
When these sides last met on an opening weekend at St. James' Park two campaigns ago, the hosts secured a commanding victory, with Newcastle generally holding the upper hand in recent encounters.
Nevertheless, Villa dominated this fixture at home earlier this year, while the Magpies approach the season opener in disarray following an unconvincing pre-season overshadowed by the Isak transfer saga.
The visitors may find opportunities against Villa's characteristically aggressive defensive line, and Martínez's absence could prove costly. This encounter promises to be an entertaining clash between two clubs facing similar challenges, though the more settled home side may edge the contest.