Striker-less Newcastle United endured a irritating opening sport of their 2025-26 Premier League marketing campaign as they drew 0-0 with 10-man Aston Villa.
Shorn of wantaway star attacker Alexander Isak, Newcastle had the higher of the possibilities at Villa Park, the place Ezri Konsa was despatched off for the hosts.
Konsa’s 66th-minute dismissal for a last-man foul on Anthony Gordon got here after a glut of first-half alternatives handed Newcastle by, with Anthony Elanga passing up the perfect of these.
Elanga, a big-money arrival from Nottingham Forest this summer season, shot at Marco Bizot when put by on objective within the third minute.
Harvey Barnes had the perfect of the possibilities following Konsa’s pink card, with Matty Money making a courageous block to disclaim the winger.
Newcastle, although, will certainly surprise what could have been with Isak accessible, as they completed with an anticipated targets (xG) worth of 1.47 to Villa’s 0.13.
A degree on the highway in our opening sport of the season pic.twitter.com/5W1Y139Uvv
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) August 16, 2025
Knowledge Debrief: Villa survive after Konsa slip-up
It was poor defending from Konsa within the build-up to the pink card, as he obtained caught the improper aspect of Gordon and had little alternative however to haul his England team-mate again. The centre-back has now been despatched off thrice within the Premier League for the reason that begin of the 2021-22 season, which is greater than every other participant within the competitors in that point.
Villa, although, held agency. They’re unbeaten of their final 19 house matches within the Premier League (W11 D8) – it’s their longest such run on house soil within the competitors.
Newcastle, in the meantime, have didn’t win any of their final six Premier League video games with out Isak (D4 L2), failing to attain in every of their final 4, regardless of accumulating 75 pictures and 9.4 xG throughout these matches.
