Aston Villa v Newcastle result predicted by supercomputer
Aston Villa are set to take on Newcastle United in a crucial game for their top-five Premier League hopes, as they look to recover from their Champions League exit.
Villa were beaten 5-4 on aggregate by Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals, but the Villans have a good opportunity to return to the competition again next season.
The Premier League now have an extra Champions League spot, meaning that if Villa can finish in fifth place, they will remain among Europe’s elite.
Villa will need to be consistent for the rest of the season, and will likely need to beat a high-flying Newcastle side at Villa Park in order to reach the top five.
Villa backed to beat Newcastle
Unai Emery’s side have a busy schedule, having just contested two high-intensity matches against PSG, and their game against Newcastle will be another test of their squad depth.
However, Villa have now been backed to beat the Magpies, despite Eddie Howe’s side heavily impressing in recent weeks.
| Premier League table (3rd-7th) | Games played | Goal difference | Points |
| 3 Newcastle | 32 | 21 | 59 |
| 4 Nottingham Forest | 32 | 13 | 57 |
| 5 Manchester City | 32 | 20 | 55 |
| 6 Chelsea | 32 | 17 | 54 |
| 7 Aston Villa | 32 | 3 | 54 |
Opta’s supercomputer have now given Villa a 40.6 per cent chance of victory, making the home side the favourites.
A Newcastle win has been predicted at 34.3 per cent, while a draw has been given a 25.1 per cent probability.
Aston Villa must beat Newcastle in Champions League pursuit
Villa are currently five points behind Newcastle, making this a vital fixture as both sides chase a spot in the top five of the Premier League.
If Villa lose, they will be eight points behind with five games remaining, a gap that is likely to be too big to close.
However, if they win, the gap will be two points, making this one of Villa’s most important games remaining this season.
Villa will need to regain confidence after their Champions League exit, while Newcastle head into the game on the back of a 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace in midweek.
Although Villa are just one point behind Man City, the confidence they will gain by winning this six-pointer against Newcastle could be vital for the rest of the season, and they must therefore win if they are to achieve their top-five ambitions.