The festive season has found Newcastle and Aston Villa firmly in the hunt for European spots, with both teams eager to claim one of them. Newcastle’s impressive home form contrasts sharply with Villa’s recent struggles on the road. All in all, this promises to be one of the most exciting and closely contested Boxing Day matchups.
Newcastle United News
Eddie Howe and his team are having a rather underwhelming season, falling short of the lofty expectations set by Newcastle’s ambitions. With no European football this season, many expected the team to focus heavily on the Premier League and secure strong results. However, they currently find themselves outside the top six. While the gap to 6th-placed Aston Villa is just two points, and there’s still ample time to secure a European spot, Newcastle’s performance so far has been disappointing. On a positive note, they will host Villa with the confidence of three consecutive wins, including two at home.
Aston Villa Team News
Villa enjoyed a strong start to their campaign, both domestically and in Europe, but they have recently lost some momentum. Although they’ve won 4 of their last 5 competitive matches, the Villains have slipped down the table and are now barely holding onto a spot in the top six. To make matters worse, they will travel to St. James’ Park having suffered four consecutive Premier League defeats on the road. Unai Emery will be particularly concerned about his team’s defensive form, as Villa conceded an average of 2.75 goals per game during these four losses.
Head-to-Head-Games
Newcastle holds a strong advantage in recent head-to-head meetings with Aston Villa, having won four of the last five encounters, including the two most recent. As hosts, Eddie Howe’s side has triumphed in their last three home games against Villa. In fact, Villa’s last victory at St. James’ Park dates all the way back to 2005.
| Rank | Teams | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | Points | Current form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Newcastle United FC | 17 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 26 | DDLWW |
| Rank | Teams | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | Points | Current form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Aston Villa | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 28 | LWWLW |
Newcastle United – Aston Villa Betting Prediction
I’m backing Newcastle to win this game. They have been solid at home and consistently pose a significant challenge for any visiting team. With the added motivation of potentially breaking into the top six with a win over Villa, this could spur them on. Given recent results, Aston Villa’s visit to St. James’ Park comes at an inopportune time. They have historically struggled at this stadium and are currently in poor away form, which makes it hard to see them taking all three points.
Betting Tip: Newcastle United To Win
Bookmaker: BC.Game
Odds: 1.98
BC.Game
Place your bet on Newcastle United – Aston Villa at BC.Game