Season Opener Pits Closely Matched Rivals at Villa Park
The 2025/26 Premier League season begins with a compelling fixture as Aston Villa host Newcastle United on Saturday, August 16. The early kick-off at Villa Park sees two teams who finished last season on level points battle for an early advantage. Unai Emery’s Aston Villa secured sixth place, narrowly missing out on a Champions League spot to the Magpies, who finished fifth thanks to a superior goal difference. Both clubs enter the new campaign with high expectations but have experienced contrasting fortunes in their pre-season preparations and transfer activities.
Aston Villa Team News: New Goalkeeper to Debut
Aston Villa will be without their first-choice goalkeeper, Emiliano Martínez, for the opening match. The World Cup winner is serving a suspension following a red card he received in the final game of the 2024/25 season against Manchester United. In his place, new signing Marco Bizot is set to make his debut. The Dutch goalkeeper was acquired from Brest for an undisclosed fee and has been confirmed as the starter by manager Unai Emery, according to reports from Yahoo Sports. Another new face, striker Evann Guessand, who joined from Nice in a £30 million deal, is also available to feature for the first time.
There is further positive news for the Villans, as defender Tyrone Mings is reportedly back to full fitness and poised to bolster the backline. Winger Morgan Rogers has also shaken off a recent ankle injury and is expected to be available for selection. However, Villa will be without midfielders Ross Barkley and Andres Garcia, who are sidelined with minor injuries. Additionally, Jacob Ramsey will not be involved, as a fee has been agreed for his transfer to Saturday’s opponents, Newcastle, though the deal is not complete in time for him to play.
Newcastle’s Turbulent Summer and Isak’s Absence
Newcastle United arrive at Villa Park following a challenging summer. The club has endured a difficult pre-season, failing to win their warm-up games, and has been embroiled in a high-profile transfer saga involving star striker Alexander Isak. Manager Eddie Howe has confirmed that Isak will not feature in the match as speculation continues to link the Swedish international with a move away from St James’ Park, as reported by The Independent. The Magpies’ only other confirmed absentee is midfielder Joe Willock, who is recovering from an Achilles injury.
Despite the off-field distractions, Newcastle have strengthened their squad. New signings Anthony Elanga, Aaron Ramsdale, and Malick Thiaw are all available to make their competitive debuts. Howe noted that while Thiaw has only had a couple of training sessions, he will be part of the squad. Anthony Gordon and Sven Botman have also recovered from minor knocks sustained during pre-season and are fit to play.
Predicted Lineups and Match Details
With key players missing on both sides, the opening-day lineups will feature some fresh faces. Villa’s attack will likely be led by Ollie Watkins, who will be keen to start his season with a goal in front of the home crowd.
Aston Villa Predicted XI: Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Malen; Watkins.
Newcastle United Predicted XI: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 12:30 PM BST on Saturday, August 16, 2025. Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the game live on TNT Sports, with coverage beginning at 11:30 AM BST. The match will also be available to stream via the TNT Sports app and discovery+ for subscribers.
