NEWCASTLE know all-too-well that competing in the Champions League can be both a blessing and a curse. By the end of this weekend, Villa may be on board too.
Last season, after securing a top four spot against the odds, the Magpies embarked on a thrilling European adventure, one that saw them beat PSG at home in spectacular fashion, as well as hold an Italian giant to a draw.
But this adventure came at a cost, namely an inability to juggle commitments abroad with domestic duties. So by the time that Eddie Howe’s stretched squad exited the competition in a valiant but heartbreaking manner, on an emotional night at St James Park vs AC Milan, Newcastle were residing seventh in the league table. They were ranked as outsiders in the latest Champions League chase.
Only then it got worse because then came the hangover. After throwing everything they had at Milan, the Magpies subsequently suffered four defeats in five, spiraling them down to mid-table.
There would be no more European jollies for the time being.
The parallels with Villa this term are hard to ignore. They, too, surprised everyone by attaining top four. They too have beaten the French champions on home turf, while earlier in their continental campaign, they held Juventus to a draw. They too went into their final Champions League fixture placed seventh in the league and are rated as underdogs to topple Man City and Chelsea.
They too went out on an emotional night, complete with heartbreak.
Three questions therefore arise from this. Will Villa similarly endure a hangover, and will it begin in the Midlands this Saturday? How much does Unai Emery’s men have left in the tank, because watching their exploits midweek, utterly enthralled, it felt like they invested all they had and more?
The third query is more of a projection: What must it be like to play with tired legs and a spent mind when facing Alexander Isak, Harvey Barnes, and Jacob Murphy?
We will get to Newcastle’s fabulous front three imminently. First, let’s contradict much of the above by offering up some positives about Aston Villa, of which there’s a lot to choose from.
They last lost at Villa Park in the league way back in August, a 15-game unbeaten streak that is all the more impressive given they have only kept two clean sheets in that time. That makes both teams to score a great shout for this weekend, incidentally.
They have also scored first in nine of their last ten across all competitions; not only that, but they are scoring with abandon too. Ollie Watkins and co. have notched three in six of their last nine.
What’s more, they have successfully assimilated five January signings into their setup and improved as a consequence.
Each signing, when judged individually, made sense when the Midlands giant beefed up their options mid-season, but bringing in several new faces could easily have thrown Villa off-kilter. Instead, Rashford has enlivened their left flank while ensuring Watkins doesn’t rest on his laurels into the bargain. Asensio has added a touch of pure class, assisting and racking up key passes as he goes.
Donyell Malen, meanwhile, has flown slightly under the radar, but the Dutch winger has scored three in his last three, two of which came from the bench. His cameos have been crucial to Villa’s achievements to date.
As a significant bonus to all this, their arrivals have also propelled Morgan Rogers into finding a whole new level of play, keeping out a three-time Champions League winner with a series of superb displays.
The 22-year-old boasts five goal involvements in five in the league and all season long has carved out 12 big chances.
Roger’s big chances stat is bettered by Jacob Murphy (14), a player who has similar traits to his counterpart. Both are a menace down the right and both – for whatever reason – are continually undervalued, certainly in relation to their teammates and attacking peers.
It’s as if we all suspect their exemplary form to be temporary, whereas the likes of Rashford and Isak are deemed capable of sustaining it. It’s as if they are overachieving.
If that is indeed the case – and it’s not – Murphy is absolutely making hay while the sun shines as present. Against Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening, the winger tore into proceedings from the opening whistle, creating two opportunities before his 14th minute screamer.
Then it was the turn of Harvey Barnes on the other flank to take centre stage, first manipulating an own goal before tucking away a fine finish. Barnes has taken on four shots on target in his last three games and converted each of them. It doesn’t get more clinical than that.
An emphatic display was wrapped up on the hour-mark by Isak. Of course it was. The Swede has to score these days or the world feels discombobulated.
Since the tail end of October, the prolific frontman has fired a goal every 74 minutes.
It is a testament to this trio’s accomplishments that we’re not even mentioning here the Magpies’ midfield, which many believe is the best balanced and most impactful in the top flight.
Lastly, there’s the defence, that has been breached only twice in the last seven-and-a-half hours of league football.
All told, then, it is the visitors who are fancied to prevail in his crucial clash. Persuasively, only Liverpool and Arsenal have picked up more points on the road in 2024/25 while pertinently 14 of their last 17 goals scored on their travels have come in the first half.
Moreover, Villa Park at the weekend pits a team who are flying against a side equal in stature who are emotionally on the floor.
That has to count for something, doesn’t it? That might even count for a lot.
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