Newcastle United vs Aston Villa Prediction: Who will be able to win the game?

Newcastle and Aston Villa, as recognised EPL giants, are also on tour in the USA. Who will be able to win the game, which will take place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

The team unexpectedly finished fourth in the EPL last season and secured a place in the Champions League group stage - the first for the club since the 2002/03 season. So far, Newcastle is preparing for the most important challenge with virtually no reinforcements. Forward Chris Wood has been sold to Nottingham Forest while supporting midfielder Sandro Tonali has been signed from AC Milan.

Before the meeting with Aston Villa, Newcastle played two friendly matches. They beat a modest English side Gateshead 3:2. Then Newcastle beat Rangers 2:1 away in Glasgow, scoring the decisive goal towards the end of the match - young defender Harrison Ashby scored.

The team also had a good last season. The team under Unai Emery was in the top-3 of the EPL at the end of the second round and only, due to a poor start, only got into the Conference League, finishing in seventh place. In the new championship, Aston Villa may well expect more. Moreover, the reinforcement has already arrived - defender Pau Torres from Villarreal and midfielder Yuri Telemans from Leicester. Only Ashley Young has left Villa of the main players so far - the 38-year-old footballer as a free agent moved to Everton.

The first friendly match of the off-season Aston Villa played in England against Walsall, a club from League 2, and unexpectedly played a draw - 1:1.

Both Howe and Emery are specialists, in general, of a defensive nature. It is no coincidence that Newcastle finished last season with the best goals conceded rate in the English league, along with Manchester City, while Aston Villa shared fourth place with Brentford in the same ranking. Most likely, even the status of a friendly match will not prevent the rivals from playing their football and finishing the meeting with a minimum of goals scored.