This is one of the most enticing oppositions of this first day in the Premier League. This Saturday, at the end of the afternoon, Newcastle and Aston Villa met on the lawn of the first cities. And the match started with a bang. On one of his first balls, Sandro Tonali opened the scoring by throwing himself in front of the empty goal (1-0, 6th). Recruited at a hefty price this summer by the Magpies from Milan (against 70 million euros), the Italian midfielder took perfect care of his baptism of fire at St-James Park. And he is not the only one to have made a successful debut: a few minutes later, Moussa Diaby allowed the Villans to put the two teams up to a good half-volley (1-1, 11th). In a first half hour at an unsustainable pace, the locals regained the advantage thanks to Alexander Isak, found at close range by the clever delivery of Sven Botman (2-1, 16th).
After a lively first period where the two teams went blow for blow, the second act started on a peaceful pace. However, Eddie Howe’s men quickly took the lead until they broke thanks to the inevitable Alexander Isak. Shortly before the hour mark, the Swedish striker showed off his aggressiveness and then his technique to cleverly lob Emiliano Martinez (3-1, 58′). Unai Emery’s flock took on water at the start of the last quarter of an hour. Callum Wilson increased the score (4-1, 77th) before rookie Harvey Barnes added even more weight (5-1, 90 + 1st) in favor of the men in black and white. A perfect start for the Newcastle players who, in the shadow of the ogres Arsenal and Manchester City, confirm to all their opponents that they will have to be counted on again this season. For its part, the ambitious Aston Villa takes an inaugural slap in this new exercise. We will have to put our ideas back in place during the next day against Everton. A meeting that will be played without Tyrone Mings, seriously injured this Saturday in Newcastle.
