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Newcastle vs Aston Villa betting tips:
- Newcastle to win - 3/4 with Bet365
- Both teams to score - 3/4 with Unibet
- Under 4.5 cards - 10/11 with Betway
Following a successful season for both sides last term, Newcastle open their 2023/24 Premier League campaign by welcoming Aston Villa in what promises to be an intriguing clash between two big summer spenders.
Newcastle have obtained the services of Sandro Tonali (£55 million), Harvey Barnes (£39 million) and Tino Livramento (£32 million) in a busy window that has seen the North East side bolster their squad in preparation for Champions League football for the first time since 2003.
The Magpies aren’t the only side splashing the cash this summer, with fundamental changes arriving at Villa Park too.
Youri Tielemans joined Unai Emery’s squad on a free from Leicester while Pau Torres (£31.5 million) has arrived from Villarreal and club record signing Moussa Diaby has been bought in a deal worth a staggering £51.9 million.
Villa are also preparing for European football for the first time since 2011, qualifying for the Europa Conference League with a seventh-placed finish last term but football betting sites are anticipating a home win here.
Howe looking to continue home dominance over Villa
The Magpies haven’t tasted defeat at home in their last 15 against this weekend’s visitors and UK betting sites expect the trend to continue.
The duo’s most recent encounter in Tyneside – a 4-0 thrashing – was the heaviest defeat of Villa's 2022/23 campaign.
Despite their torrid record up north, Unai Emery’s men will be spurred on by their unbeaten pre-season campaign (W2, D4) which featured a draw with this weekend’s hosts.
However, Newcastle eclipsed Villa’s impressive pre-season run and boasted a superior set of results spanning seven games unbeaten (W5, D2), a more than ideal way to prepare for the vigorous season ahead.
As mentioned, Emery’s side haven’t claimed all three points up at St James’ Park since 2005 and if they are to narrow the 10-point gap that separated the two last season, they need to come out all guns blazing on Saturday.
We're expecting a fast and frantic start but with the deafening chorus of the St James’ Park terraces backing the home side, the Toon should edge a tight affair.
Tip: Newcastle to beat Aston Villa - 3/4 with Bet365
Attacks to flourish following goal-heavy pre-seasons
With confidence soaring from pre-season and a fresh canvas ready for marks to be made, we reckon this one is ripe for goals.
Aston Villa netted 14 goals in six pre-season fixtures, while Newcastle managed 17 in seven games respectively.
With this considered, we expect attacks to flourish and given their 3-3 meeting in the States less than a month ago, we know both strikeforces will fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet.
The Magpies found the back of the net on 68 occasions in the Premier League last season, compared to Villa’s 51, and with new signings bolstering attacks, those figures could rise this term.
Unai Emery’s side will be looking to hold out the home side and prevent conceding their 1400th Premier League goal, but ceasing an attack comprising of Alexander Isak, Callum Wilson and Barnes will be no easy task.
Eddie Howe’s men conceded 0.86 goals per league game last season, but the frightening pace of Villa's Diaby and Ollie Watkins will prove difficult to contain so we believe goals are inevitable at both ends.
Tip: Both teams to score at 3/4 with Unibet
Expect the cards to stay in the referee’s pocket
The last meeting between the two at St James’ Park saw only two cards distributed. This clash sees Andy Madley take charge of the whistle – a referee who has failed to dish out more than four cards in his last five matches.
With all the focus being on the attacking flair in this contest, a lot of the action should escape the midfield battle and instead see a foray of crosses and moments of excellence from two exciting teams.
Another contributing factor to our final tip is that Newcastle averaged 1.63 yellow cards last season to the 2.10 of Villa’s, so if the stats are anything to go by, this one should lack the involvement of the referee’s notebook.
The price of 10/11 with Betway for under 4.5 cards seems a sensible one if considering a punt.
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Last Updated: 14th March 2024, 07:22 AM
