The Premier League season kicks off with a compelling fixture as Aston Villa prepares to host Newcastle United. The match is scheduled for Saturday, August 16, 2025, at Villa Park, with kickoff at 5:00 PM Indian Standard Time (IST). Football fans in India can catch all the live action on the Star Sports Select network and stream the game on the JioHotstar app.
Aston Villa enters this opening match as the clear favorite. The team comes into the season with strong momentum, having secured three wins in their last five pre-season games. They have been clinical in front of goal, and their attack looks sharp and ready to challenge any defense.
Conversely, Newcastle United stumbles into the new season. The Magpies are struggling to find their form, failing to win any of their last five friendly matches, which included three losses and two draws. Their defense appears particularly vulnerable, having conceded nine goals in that period. Considering Newcastle’s poor preparation and Villa’s current rhythm, our match forecast strongly points toward a victory for the home side.
Both managers face selection challenges due to key player absences.
Aston Villa will be without their star goalkeeper, Emi Martinez, who is serving a suspension. The team also has injury concerns, with Ross Barkley and Jacob Ramsey sidelined.
Newcastle United faces a significant blow as their main striker, Alexander Isak, is not registered for the match. They will also miss the injured Joe Willock, while Anthony Gordon’s availability remains uncertain. These absences will likely force the manager to adjust the team’s usual attacking strategy.
While the historical head-to-head record over the last five encounters slightly favors Newcastle, the most recent result at Villa Park tells a different story. In that match last season, Aston Villa completely dismantled Newcastle with a stunning 4-1 victory. That dominant performance will undoubtedly give Villa a major psychological edge as they step onto their home pitch.
Given Aston Villa’s potent attack and Newcastle’s recent defensive woes, fans can expect an exciting, high-scoring affair. The evidence strongly suggests Aston Villa will capitalize on their home advantage and Newcastle’s lack of readiness to secure all three points in their opening game of the season.
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