Villa, currently seventh with 54 points, are just one point behind fifth-place Chelsea. Newcastle, in third with 56 points, have a five-point cushion within the Champions League qualification spots.
Villa enters the match with strong momentum, having won nine of their last ten matches and maintaining an impressive home record at Villa Park. Newcastle, on the other hand, are coming off a dominant 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace, marking their sixth straight win.
Historically, Newcastle has had the upper hand in recent encounters, winning five of the last six matches against Villa. However, Villa’s current form and home advantage make this an evenly poised contest.
For both teams, this match is a must-win. Both teams want to return to the Champions League. Newcastle missed out on this year’s competition, while Aston Villa were knocked out recently from the Champions League by PSG. Both teams are fighting for crucial points that matter in this stage of the season, which makes this tie a very interesting one to watch.
