(Credit: Imago)

Oliver Walton

Sat 16 August 2025 14:39, UK

Aston Villa started their Premier League campaign with a point at home to Newcastle as neither side were able to find a breakthrough and the game ended 0-0 on Saturday (16 August) afternoon.

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Aston Villa began the game on the back foot and allowed Newcastle to have the bulk of the chances in the first-half, with Anthony Gordon going close after he sent a header crashing over the crossbar.

Both sides threatened the opposition’s goalkeepers in the second period, but the main talking point came just after the hour mark as Ezri Konsa was sent-off for bringing Gordon down when he was through on goal.

(Credit: Imago)

Neither team were able to find a winner late on, and it ended 0-0 with both Unai Emery and Eddie Howe likely happy to settle for a point.

Marco Bizot – 8 – Player of the Match

Impressive on his Premier League debut.

He certainly deserved his marching orders, however, and will be pleased that it did not cause his side to lose the game late on.

(Credit Imago)

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Tyrone Mings – 6

Mings was his usual commanding self at the back for Villa.

Digne recently signed a new contract at Villa Park to reward his decent form over the last few years, and he got this new campaign off to a good start with an unwavering performance up against the speedy Anthony Elanga.

Boubacar Kamara – 7

Kamara is often hailed as the unsung hero of Unai Emery’s team by Villa fans, and that proved to be the case here as he controlled the midfield and slotted comfortably into the backline after the sending off.

Amadou Onana – 6

Onana needs to improve more with the Lions to nail down a consistent starting berth, and he will struggle to win many over with performances like this as he was too safe throughout and sometimes struggled to find a teammate with a pass.

Morgan Rogers – 6

Bright.

The England international tried his hardest to make things happen for Villa, particularly in the first-half, but Kieran Tripper had an excellent game and mostly marked him out of it in the second period.

(Credit Imago)

Youri Tielemans – 5

Tielemans is often a lot more controlled and composed than what he was against the Magpies.

He was weak in the tackle too, when Villa needed the complete opposite against a tough midfield.

John McGinn – 5

McGinn was deployed in an unfamiliar left-wing role by Emery, and did not impress at all as he struggled to get up and down the wing and rarely made anything happen in attack.

Ollie Watkins – 6

Watkins had just one shot all game at Villa Park as he was crowded out upfront by the likes of Dan Burn and Fabian Schar.

Did not get much service but will know he can do better with what he did get.

Substitutes

(Credit Imago)

Donyell Malen (for McGinn 84?) – 7

Was a nuisance when he came on, trying to drive the team forward and catch Newcastle on the break.
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