Date: Saturday, 16 August 2025
Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
Referee: Craig Pawson
The curtain-raiser at Villa Park saw Aston Villa vs Newcastle United in EPL 2025/2026 end in a goalless stalemate. Both sides had contrasting narratives entering the new campaign: Unai Emery’s Villa looking to bounce back from narrowly missing out on Champions League qualification last season, while Eddie Howe’s Newcastle arrived amid transfer speculation around star striker Alexander Isak.
Despite Villa going down to ten men after Ezri Konsa’s red card in the 66th minute, Newcastle United could not break the deadlock. Marco Bizot, making his Premier League debut for Villa, produced a commanding display between the posts, frustrating Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga.
For Newcastle, it was a story of missed chances and lack of cutting edge without Isak. For Villa, it was resilience, discipline, and grit that earned them a point in front of their home crowd.
Aston Villa vs Newcastle United Head-to-Head
- Previous Meeting (2024/25 at Villa Park): Aston Villa 4-1 Newcastle United
- All-Time EPL Meetings: 54
- Aston Villa Wins: 15
- Newcastle Wins: 22
- Draws: 17
- Recent Form at Villa Park: Villa unbeaten in last 19 home EPL games
The clash of Aston Villa vs Newcastle United in EPL 2025/2026 highlighted how Villa’s defensive strength at home and Newcastle’s away struggles continue to shape their rivalry.
Aston Villa vs Newcastle United Lineups
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1)
Manager: Unai Emery
- 40. Marco Bizot (GK)
- Matty Cash
- Ezri Konsa (RCB – Red Card 66’)
- Tyrone Mings
- Lucas Digne
- Boubacar Kamara (YC 58’)
- Amadou Onana (84’)
- John McGinn (C) (84’)
- Youri Tielemans
- Morgan Rogers
- Ollie Watkins
Substitutes:
10. Emiliano Buendía | 14. Pau Torres | 17. Donyell Malen (84’) | 19. Samuel Iling-Junior | 20. Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba | 22. Ian Maatsen | 26. Lamare Bogarde | 29. Evann Guessand | 64. James Wright
Newcastle United (4-3-3)
Manager: Eddie Howe
- Nick Pope (GK)
- Kieran Trippier
- Fabian Schär
- Dan Burn
- Tino Livramento (C)
- Bruno Guimarães
- Sandro Tonali (83’)
- Joelinton (YC 45’, 78’)
- Anthony Elanga (78’)
- Anthony Gordon (90’)
- Harvey Barnes (90’)
Substitutes:
3. Lewis Hall | 4. Sven Botman | 12. Malick Thiaw | 17. Emil Krafth | 18. William Osula (90’) | 23. Jacob Murphy (78’) | 32. Aaron Ramsdale | 64. Park Seung-Soo | 67. Lewis Miley (83’)
Aston Villa vs Newcastle United First Half (HT: Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle United)
The opening half belonged to Newcastle. Elanga could have scored in the 3rd minute, but Bizot’s reflexes kept Villa level. Gordon missed a header from close range, while Barnes tested Bizot with a curling effort. Villa, however, failed to register a single shot in the first half – their first such blank since 2022.
Aston Villa vs Newcastle United Second Half (FT: Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle United)
Villa improved after the restart with Kamara heading straight at Pope before Watkins forced a save. Just when Villa gained momentum, Konsa’s tug on Gordon saw him dismissed – the first red card of EPL 2025/26.
Newcastle pressed hard, but Matty Cash blocked Barnes’ volley, and Bizot denied Gordon late on. Malen’s introduction gave Villa a counter-attacking outlet, but the match ended goalless.
Aston Villa vs Newcastle United Match Timeline & Commentary Highlights
| Minute | Aston Villa vs Newcastle United Event |
|---|---|
| 3’ | Elanga’s shot saved by Bizot – strong start Newcastle. |
| 16’ | Gordon’s low strike saved – Villa under pressure. |
| 27’ | Schär fires wide from distance. |
| 45’ | Joelinton booked for a late challenge. |
| HT | Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle United. |
| 47’ | Kamara header saved by Pope. |
| 58’ | Kamara booked for a foul on Elanga. |
| 66’ | RED CARD – Konsa hauls down Gordon; Villa to 10 men. |
| 73’ | Barnes’ volley blocked by Cash. |
| 87’ | Malen’s shot saved by Pope. |
| 90+1’ | Gordon’s long-range shot saved by Bizot. |
| 90+7’ | Schär shoots wide from distance – final chance wasted. |
| FT | Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle United. |
Aston Villa vs Newcastle United Stats
| Aston Villa vs Newcastle United Stats | Aston Villa | Newcastle United |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 40.6% | 59.4% |
| Shots | 3 | 16 |
| Shots on Target | 3 | 3 |
| Corners | 6 | 3 |
| Saves | 3 | 3 |
| Fouls | 13 | 11 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 1 |
| Red Cards | 1 | 0 |
| Distance Covered | 103.8 km | 108.5 km |
Result & Impact on Points Table
Final Score: Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle United
- Villa extended their unbeaten home run to 19 Premier League matches.
- Newcastle’s struggles without Isak continued, now failing to score in six straight league matches without him.
- Both clubs sit mid-table after Matchweek 1 with 1 point each.
Updated EPL 2025/26 Table (Top 7):
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunderland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 3 |
| 2 | Tottenham | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 3 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 3 |
| 4 | Brighton | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | Fulham | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Aston Villa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Newcastle United | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Aston Villa vs Newcastle United Player Achievements & Man of the Match
- Marco Bizot (Aston Villa) – On debut, kept a clean sheet with 3 crucial saves.
- Matty Cash (Villa) – Heroic defensive display, including key late blocks.
- Anthony Gordon (Newcastle) – Dangerous throughout, won the red-card foul.
🏆 Man of the Match: Marco Bizot (Aston Villa)
The clash of Aston Villa vs Newcastle United in EPL 2025/2026 was a battle of resilience vs frustration. Villa, despite being reduced to 10 men, showcased defensive grit, while Newcastle rued missed opportunities without their talisman Isak.
The result leaves both teams with work to do: Villa must find attacking sharpness, while Newcastle need a reliable striking option before their Champions League campaign kicks off.
FAQs – Aston Villa vs Newcastle United in EPL 2025/2026
Q1: Who received the red card in the Aston Villa vs Newcastle United match?
Ezri Konsa of Aston Villa was sent off in the 66th minute for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
Q2: Who was the Man of the Match in the Aston Villa vs Newcastle United?
Marco Bizot (Aston Villa) was awarded Man of the Match for his clean sheet on debut.
Q3: Did Newcastle miss Alexander Isak?
Yes. Newcastle failed to score despite creating 16 shots, highlighting their lack of finishing without Isak.
Q4: How did Aston Villa perform defensively in the Aston Villa vs Newcastle United?
Villa blocked 7 shots, made 20 clearances, and defended resiliently after going down to 10 men.
Q5: What’s next for both teams?
- Aston Villa face Brentford in Matchweek 2.
- Newcastle host Liverpool on 25 August – a huge early-season test.
