Aston Villa visited Newcastle for a crucial Round 23 fixture. Despite recent mixed results, Villa started the day third in the table after a strong run of 13 wins in their first 22 matches.
Building on the importance of the match, Villa delivered a composed and disciplined performance against a strong Newcastle side. Goals from Buendía and Watkins secured a 2–0 victory.
The win saw Villa draw level on points with Manchester City, extend their gap over Liverpool, and continue to apply pressure on league leaders Arsenal.
Starting Line-ups and Tactical Setup
Aston Villa lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Watkins led the line as the central striker, supported by Buendía, Morgan Rogers, and Sancho in an attacking trio behind him.
In midfield, Tielemans partnered Amadou Onana as a double pivot. The back four consisted of Maatsen, Pau Torres, Konsa, and Cash, with Emiliano Martínez starting in goal.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United fielded an attacking front three of Barnes, Isak, and Anthony Gordon, aiming to use pace and direct running to break down Villa’s defence.
First Half: A Wonder Goal Breaks the Deadlock
The match began at a high tempo, with both sides quickly settling into rhythm. Newcastle created the first clear chance when Tonali drove into the penalty area and fired a low shot, only for Martínez to produce a brilliant leg save to deny him.
Shortly after, Watkins found himself one-on-one on the right side of the box, but his effort was also kept out by the goalkeeper.
The breakthrough came in the 19th minute. Morgan Rogers squared the ball to the edge of the area, where Buendía took a touch before unleashing a powerful strike into the corner. The goalkeeper stretched to his limit but could not prevent the ball from hitting the net.
In the 27th minute, Joelinton was shown a yellow card for a foul, the only booking of the first half. Aston Villa went into the break with a 1–0 lead.
Second Half: Controlled Performance as Watkins Seals the Win
After the restart, Newcastle made the first change. In the 48th minute, Jacob Ramsey came on to replace the injured Joelinton. Villa nearly doubled their advantage in the 56th minute, but Rogers’ long-range effort was brilliantly saved.
Villa then made a substitution of their own, with Leon Bailey replacing Sancho. Although Bailey later sent a long-range shot over the bar, Villa remained firmly in control of the game. In the 88th minute, Watkins found the net to seal the victory and put the result beyond doubt.
Match Summary
Aston Villa ultimately claimed a convincing 2–0 away win over Newcastle United. The result ended their recent winless run and once again underlined their competitiveness in this Premier League season.
With a high-quality victory in a difficult fixture, Villa remain firmly in the title race and have laid a solid foundation for the challenges ahead.
