Aston Villa put their Champions League disappointment behind them with an emphatic 4-1 win against in-form Newcastle as Unai Emery’s men continued their bid to return to European football’s top table in style.
Four days on from falling agonisingly short in a pulsating quarter-final clash with Paris St Germain, Villa Park rocked once again as the third-placed Magpies saw their six-match winning run in all competitions come to a shuddering halt.
Ollie Watkins opened the scoring 33 seconds into Saturday’s entertaining encounter and Villa reacted well after Fabian Schar avoided a red card and then levelled.
What a win. pic.twitter.com/rAJH9LngvV
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 19, 2025
Ian Maatsen’s second-half strike put the hosts on course for a potentially vital victory which was wrapped up thanks to Emery’s inspired double substitution.
Jacob Ramsey saw a low cross deflected in off Dan Burn and fellow replacement Amadou Onana lashed home the goal of a breathless game shortly after as absent Eddie Howe watched Newcastle stumble for the first time under stand-in Jason Tindall.
Villa sit sixth after Saturday’s statement victory, cutting the gap to third-placed Newcastle to two points as attention turns to Tuesday’s trip to Manchester City and their FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace.
Emery made four changes from Tuesday’s energy-sapping 3-2 second leg win against PSG and Watkins immediately justified his return.
Youri Tielemans collected a clearance from Sandro Tonali under pressure from Watkins, who was found by the Villa midfielder and cut away from Schar before hitting a low strike which went in off the Newcastle defender.
It was a dream start which nearly improved in the fifth minute as Villa’s striker followed a confident run with a fizzing effort that rattled the crossbar.
Watkins was at the heart of everything and Schar hauled down the flying frontman as he tried to meet a clipped Ezri Konsa ball from the back in the 13th minute.
Villa Park raged as referee Jarred Gillett showed yellow rather than red, with their anger only growing five minutes later.
Emery’s men half cleared a free-kick and allowed Harvey Barnes time to send over a cross from the left to the far post, where Schar squeezed a header through Emiliano Martinez’s legs.
Villa quickly attempted to bounce back from that setback, with Marco Asensio somehow failing to cleanly connect with a cross before sending over a free-kick that Watkins met with a thumping header off the post.
Newcastle eventually settled and Tonali saw a skipping strike from distance denied by Martinez, with opposite number Nick Pope thwarting Morgan Rogers before Watkins saw a penalty appeal against Schar ignored.
Villa flew out of the traps after half-time, with John McGinn and Rogers knocking on the door and Tielemans seeing an attempt cleared by Tonali.
Ineffective Alexander Isak saw a low shot saved by Martinez as Newcastle looked to kickstart their performance in a game that the hosts went back ahead in after 64 minutes.
Quick incisive play ended with Watkins slipping in overlapping Maatsen to slam home in front of the Holte End.
Full-time smiles 😊 pic.twitter.com/0dZ5OEfxEW
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 19, 2025
Emery turned to his bench as he sought to tip the scales in Villa’s favour and his 72nd-minute introductions proved inspired.
A minute later substitute Ramsey saw a driven cross deflect in off Burn’s heel, with fellow introduction Onana adding further gloss in the 75th minute.
Rogers was denied by Pope, but Villa kept the ball alive and the England international laid back for the substitute to slam into the top left-hand corner from the edge of the box.
Ramsey hit the woodwork as Villa continued an ultimately fruitless hunt for a fifth.
[(Gil Vicente FC) Strength]: 1. Gil Vicente FC finished 13th in the league last season. They aim to avoid relegation and fight for a Conference League spot in the new season. Facing FC Porto, the team are motivated to take points in this home game.2. Gil Vicente FC won the recent two games in a row across all competitions. They won 2-0 over CD Nacional in the last league game, smoothly starting wi...
[(Dynamo Dresden) Neutral]: 1. Both sides have never met before, so there were no records to refer to.[(Dynamo Dresden) Weakness]: 1. As the newly promoted team in the 2. Bundesliga, Dynamo Dresden suffered a losing streak in the first two rounds, being demoralized a lot. Facing 1.FSV Mainz 05 in the first game of the DFB-Pokal at home, the team find it hard to secure a win, indicating doubtful mo...
[(Jaro) Strength]: 1. Jaro are 8th in the table and still need points to secure a Championship play-offs spot, indicating full motivation in this match.2. Forward Kerfala Cissoko scored the winner in the last game, helping his side win.3. Jaro won 2-1 over FC Haka in the last game, securing a 2-game winning streak and showing outstanding recent form.4. Jaro were unbeaten with 1 win and 1 draw in t...
[(SC Preussen Munster) Strength]: 1. In the new season, SC Preussen Munster's 3 goals in two league games were scored by 3 players, showing multiple scorers on offense.2. SC Preussen Munster won 4 of the last 5 home games in AH, boasting a decent home trend.[(SC Preussen Munster) Neutral]: 1. SC Preussen Munster drew 1-1 with SC Paderborn 07 in the last 2. Bundesliga game, showing average performa...
[(Rot-Weiss Essen) Strength]: 1. Rot-Weiss Essen are playing in the 3. Liga this season. Despite their inferior strength to their rivals, the team will still go all out to secure a qualification spot in this home game.2. Tobias Kraulich scored a goal in the last game, showing his outstanding form.3. Rot-Weiss Essen scored 2 goals and conceded 2 in the last 2 competitive games, boasting decent offe...
[(IFK Varnamo) Strength]: 1. IFK Varnamo are at the bottom of the table this season. If they want to avoid relegation, they have to go all out for points in every game, indicating strong motivation in this match.2. Kai Meriluoto scored a goal and made an assist in the last game, helping the team tie with IF Elfsborg.3. IFK Varnamo won the last 2 games in AH, demonstrating recent performances in li...
[(Le Mans) Strength]: 1. Le Mans drew with En Avant Guingamp in the last league game, failing to start with a win. In this home match, they are motivated to secure their first win of the new season.2. William Harhouz scored an equalizer before the end of the last game, helping the team tie with En Avant Guingamp.3. Le Mans secured a 3-game winning streak in recent warm-up games at home, showing de...
[(Mirassol FC) Strength]: 1. Mirassol FC midfielder Gabriel Santana scored a goal in the last league game, performing actively.2. Mirassol FC scored 10 goals in the last 5 league games, averaging 2 goals per game, showing full offense.3. Mirassol FC conceded 5 goals in the last 5 league games, with an average of only 1 goal per game.4. Mirassol FC boast reliable home strength, remaining unbeaten w...
[(Leeds United) Strength]: 1. After relegation, Leeds United returned to the Premier League this season as the EFL Championship winners. The team significantly strengthened their squad during the summer transfer window, with the goal of staying in the Premier League this season. For their opening home game against Everton, they are determined to secure a winning start to the league, showing strong...
[(Elche) Strength]: 1. As the newly promoted team this season, Elche are motivated to start with a home win in their debut.2. In the summer window, Elche signed midfielder Federico Redondo, Real Madrid loan forward Alvaro Rodriguez, and Valencia CF striker German Valera.3. Elche finished 22 wins, 11 draws, and 9 losses in the Segunda Division last season, smoothly being promoted as the 2nd-placed ...
- 1 Brentford Agree Deal to Sign Dango Ouattara From Bournemouth
- 2 TIPS - Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas VS Liga Deportiva Universitaria
- 3 Hummels snubs son for match with new model girlfriend
- 4 TIPS - Villarreal VS Real Oviedo
- 5 ngland cricket legend’s granddaughter stuns in bikini
- 6 Lamela explains retirement decision: It started 11 years ago...
- 7 Estevao Willian set for 'key' Chelsea role after debut vs Palace
- 8 Agent of Real Madrid defender David Alaba responds to Saudi Pro League transfer speculation as Spanish giants ponder selling 33-year-old after injury woes
- 9 TIPS - Club Necaxa VS Club Leon
- 10 Emotional Arne Slot admits he had wanted to bring late Diogo Jota on as a substitute in Liverpool's dramatic victory over Bournemouth