Alexander Isak’s clinical finishing helped Newcastle United to an emphatic victory against Aston Villa on the opening weekend of the new Premier League campaign.
Newcastle tore into the visitors from the early stages at St James’ Park and new signing Sandro Tonali made their early dominance count when he converted Anthony Gordon’s inviting sixth-minute cross.
Moussa Diaby cancelled out his fellow debutant’s goal within five minutes, though, beautifully controlling a half volley with his weaker foot after Ollie Watkins’ flick on.
But, in a frantic opening period, Isak regained the lead for the Magpies as he slid home from Sven Botman’s cut-back across the box.
Isak delicately chipped Emiliano Martinez for his second to give the home side a two-goal cushion after Ezri Konsa inexplicably left the ball in his own penalty box.
Callum Wilson added a fourth following a slick passing move and Harvey Barnes raced clear to score on his competitive debut, ensuring the Magpies followed up their superb 2022-23 campaign with an ideal start this time around..
More to follow.
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Newcastle United
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Squad number22Player namePope
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Squad number2Player nameTrippier
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Squad number5Player nameSchär
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Squad number4Player nameBotman
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Squad number33Player nameBurn
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Squad number8Player nameTonali
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Squad number39Player nameBruno Guimarães
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Squad number7Player nameJoelinton
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Squad number24Player nameAlmirón
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Squad number14Player nameIsak
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Squad number10Player nameGordon
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Squad number9Player nameWilson
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Squad number15Player nameBarnes
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Squad number23Player nameMurphy
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Squad number32Player nameAnderson
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Squad number36Player nameS Longstaff
Aston Villa
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Squad number1Player nameE Martínez
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Squad number2Player nameCash
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Squad number4Player nameKonsa
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Squad number5Player nameMings
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Squad number12Player nameDigne
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Squad number44Player nameKamara
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Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz
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Squad number31Player nameBailey
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Squad number19Player nameDiaby
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Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
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Squad number11Player nameWatkins
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Squad number3Player nameDiego Carlos
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Squad number8Player nameTielemans
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Squad number14Player nameP Torres
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Squad number23Player namePhilippe Coutinho
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Squad number33Player namePhilogene
Line-ups
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Pope
- 2Trippier
- 5Schär
- 4BotmanBooked at 45mins
- 33Burn
- 8TonaliBooked at 90minsSubstituted forAndersonat 90+2′minutes
- 39Bruno GuimarãesBooked at 67minsSubstituted forS Longstaffat 85′minutes
- 7Joelinton
- 24AlmirónSubstituted forMurphyat 86′minutes
- 14IsakSubstituted forWilsonat 68′minutes
- 10GordonBooked at 53minsSubstituted forBarnesat 68′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Dúbravka
- 6Lascelles
- 9Wilson
- 13Targett
- 15Barnes
- 21Livramento
- 23Murphy
- 32Anderson
- 36S Longstaff
Aston Villa
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1E MartínezBooked at 45mins
- 2CashBooked at 48minsSubstituted forPhilogeneat 87′minutes
- 4Konsa
- 5MingsSubstituted forP Torresat 31′minutes
- 12DigneBooked at 32mins
- 44Kamara
- 6Douglas LuizBooked at 6mins
- 31BaileySubstituted forTielemansat 45′minutes
- 19DiabySubstituted forCoutinhoat 87′minutes
- 7McGinnSubstituted forDiego Carlosat 64′minutes
- 11Watkins
Substitutes
- 3Diego Carlos
- 8Tielemans
- 14P Torres
- 16Chambers
- 23Coutinho
- 25Olsen
- 33Philogene
- 35Archer
- 71Kellyman
- Referee:
- Andy Madley
- Attendance:
- 52,207
Live Text
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Match ends, Newcastle United 5, Aston Villa 1.
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Second Half ends, Newcastle United 5, Aston Villa 1.
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Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Dan Burn.
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Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Nick Pope.
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Attempt saved. Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is saved in the top left corner.
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Foul by Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United).
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Lucas Digne (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Attempt saved. Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jacob Murphy.
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Elliot Anderson replaces Sandro Tonali.
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Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card.
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Goal! Newcastle United 5, Aston Villa 1. Harvey Barnes (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jacob Murphy with a through ball.
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Attempt missed. Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Youri Tielemans.
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Substitution, Aston Villa. Jaden Philogene replaces Matty Cash.
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Substitution, Aston Villa. Philippe Coutinho replaces Moussa Diaby.
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Offside, Newcastle United. Kieran Trippier tries a through ball, but Sven Botman is caught offside.
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Jacob Murphy replaces Miguel Almirón.
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Sean Longstaff replaces Bruno Guimarães.
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Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Diego Carlos.
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Attempt blocked. Joelinton (Newcastle United) header from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Kieran Trippier with a cross.
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Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Emiliano Martínez.
