Aston Villa start their 2025/26 Premier League campaign this afternoon by hosting Newcastle United at Villa Park. This is the second time in the last three seasons Villa and Newcastle have met in their opening league match of the season, with the Magpies winning 5-1 at St. James’ Park in 2023-24. That campaign, Villa finished fourth to qualify for the Champions League, but missed out on a return to UEFA's elite club competition on goal difference last term, finishing behind Newcastle. Unai Emery will be without the suspended Emi Martinez today, while Andres Garcia and Ross Barkley are both sidelined. Leon Bailey will also not feature as he has been granted permission to speak with AS Roma. Villa beat Newcastle 4-1 in April, but haven’t won consecutive Premier League games against them since completing the double over them in 2004-05. Newcastle have lost five of their last six Premier League away games against Villa, with the exception being a 3-1 victory in January 2024. This afternoon's visitors have also won their opening league match in each of the last three seasons, more times than they had in the previous 14 campaigns combined. Villa, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last 21 home games in all competitions, winning the last eight in a row. It’s their longest run without defeat at Villa Park since a run of 24 between September 1976 and May 1977. Stay tuned for build-up, team news, live coverage and reaction from our Villa correspondent John Townley.