Aston Villa emphatically returned to winning ways with a commanding 4-1 victory against Newcastle United on Saturday, just four days after their heartbreaking Champions League quarter-final exit to Paris Saint-Germain.
Unai Emery’s side wasted no time putting their European disappointment behind them, with Ollie Watkins opening the scoring just 33 seconds into the match. Though Fabian Schar equalized for Newcastle after earlier avoiding a potential red card, Villa dominated the second half with three unanswered goals.
Ian Maatsen restored Villa’s lead with a powerful finish before Emery’s inspired double substitution sealed the result. Jacob Ramsey’s cross deflected in off Dan Burn, and Amadou Onana added a spectacular fourth with a thunderous strike from the edge of the box.
The victory carries significant implications for Villa’s Champions League aspirations, cutting the gap to third-placed Newcastle to just two points. It also ended the Magpies’ impressive six-match winning streak in all competitions, with Eddie Howe absent and assistant Jason Tindall overseeing his first defeat as stand-in manager.
“This was exactly the response we needed after Tuesday,” Emery remarked post-match. “The players showed incredible character and determination to produce such a performance against an in-form team.”
Villa’s attacking prowess was evident throughout, with Watkins hitting the crossbar early on and later seeing a header strike the post. Morgan Rogers also impressed in midfield, continuing his breakthrough season with another influential display.
The result strengthens Villa’s position in the race for Champions League qualification, though challenges lie ahead with a midweek trip to Manchester City followed by an FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace at Wembley.
For Newcastle, the defeat represents a setback in their own European ambitions, with questions now arising about their defensive solidity after conceding four goals for the first time since January.
