BBC Sport explores some of the major talking points surrounding the opening day fixture between Unai Emery's Aston Villa and Eddie Howe's Newcastle United, with both clubs experiencing a turbulent pre-season. Only goal difference separated these sides in 2024-25, with Newcastle returning to the Champions League by finishing fifth and denying Aston Villa the chance to repeat their run to last season's quarter-finals. Villa were fined £9.5m by Uefa in July for breaching the European governing body's financial rules last season, including spending more than the permitted 80% of income on player wages.
BBC Sport explores some of the major talking points surrounding the opening day fixture between Unai Emery's Aston Villa and Eddie Howe's Newcastle United, with both clubs experiencing a turbulent pre-season.
Only goal difference separated these sides in 2024-25, with Newcastle returning to the Champions League by finishing fifth and denying Aston Villa the chance to repeat their run to last season's quarter-finals. But the two clubs to disrupt the established order in recent years have struggled to build on their success this summer.
Villa were fined £9.5m by Uefa in July for breaching the European governing body's financial rules last season, including spending more than the permitted 80% of income on player wages. Reports suggest they have also sold their women's team to parent company V Sports to comply with the Premier League's profitability and sustainability regulations (PSR).
"There are rules which are pretty much unfair if you ask me," said Villa captain John McGinn when asked about PSR earlier this month. "We have got owners who want to invest in the team and want to spend to kick the club on, but they are not allowed to do it."
Forward Evann Guessand is Villa's only major signing for an initial £26m and key midfielder Boubacar Kamara has signed a new contract, but there were no significant outgoings until the imminent £40m sale to Newcastle of boyhood Villa fan Jacob Ramsey.
This is Unai Emery's sixth transfer window since he took charge in November 2022 and in that time Villa's net spend is negative, with the club £10.7m in profit once Ramsey's departure is accounted for. By comparison, Chelsea's net spend in that same timeframe totals more than half a billion.
Newcastle have also endured a turbulent summer with a string of failed bids for high-profile players.
To make matters worse, star striker Alexander Isak is reportedly attempting to force through a move to Liverpool. The Magpies rejected a £110m bid for the Swede who will not feature this weekend.
Isak scored 23 times and provided six assists in last season's Premier League and was directly involved in more than 40% of the club's total league goals, scoring 33.85% of them.
Replacing his output will be a tough ask as no other Newcastle player reached doubles figures for league goals last season. The nearest was winger Harvey Barnes with nine.
The Magpies have at least strengthened their squad with the additions of winger Anthony Elanga, 23, and centre-back Malick Thiaw, 24, plus a loan deal for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. Despite the new additions, Eddie Howe's side face a tricky opener and have lost five of their last six visits to Villa Park.
Aston Villa ended the season on a 21-match unbeaten home streak across all competitions (W15, D6), their longest since a run of 24 games between September 1976 and May 1977. However, they were thrashed 5-1 by Newcastle when the sides last met on the opening day, at St James' Park just two years ago.
Category: General Sports
