Newcastle United: 5-1 Aston Villa: Alexander Isak nets twice, Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes bag debut goals in easy win

  • August 12, 2023
Newcastle United: 5-1 Aston Villa: Alexander Isak nets twice, Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes bag debut goals in easy win

VIA: TNT SPORTS

Newcastle United enjoyed a superb start to the new Premier League season with a comfortable victory over Aston Villa at St James’ Park on Saturday evening. Swedish forward Alexander Isak enjoyed his evening in front of the Magpies faithful as he netted twice, while summer signing Sandro Tonali marked his Premier League debut with a goal, as Villa were well beaten.

A few years ago, Newcastle United against Aston Villa in the Saturday teatime slot would have received despondent eye-rolls. But as the new Premier League season’s first 5.30pm offering, there was something different about this encounter, which dripped in fervent antcipation.

Two star-studded squads, led by two world-class managers, were to do battle, with excitement heightened by a high-octane 3-3 draw the pair played out in Philadelphia last month.

The game did not disappoint and was worth its hype, with two debut goals from a pair of high-reputation, big-money signings, and a furious tempo driven on by a raucous St James’ Park.

It was Newcastle who flew out of the blocks on their return to Premier League action, and it was their standout summer purchase, Sandro Tonali, who had them in front just six minutes into their new season, and six minutes into his St James’ Park debut.

Worked intricately between Anthony Gordon and Joelinton down the left, Gordon, the Newcastle winger, got to the byline and stood up a delicious cross. Tonali gambled at the far post, stooping lowest to power The Magpies into the ascendancy, and send the Toon Army into an early delirium.

Tonali was halted just a minute after by the onrushing Emiliano Martinez, the Villla goalkeeper, as more neat work in the left half-space between Joelinton and Gordon found the Italian clean through, but a strong arm from the Martinez denied him.
The festivities were abruptly halted by another high-profile debutant, Moussa Diaby, who had admirers aplenty – including Newcastle – before his move to Villa Park this summer. Merely five minutes had been played before the Frenchman stroked Villa level, as Lucas Digne, the left-back, got to the far byline and hung a ball into the area, just begging to be put away. His compatriot Diaby duly obliged, ghosting in at the far post to side-foot home with his right – his swinger – and tame the sting of the St James’ roar somewhat.
On 16 minutes – to give a loose Oppenheimer comparison – the atmosphere reignited, with Newcastle’s second, met with an explosive crescendo of noise.
A neat free-kick routine, passed simply by captain Kieran Trippier to Tonali to his right, before the Italian floated a ball to the far post in search of Sven Botman, the Dutch centre-back, on the slide.
Botman improvised brilliantly to knock it back for the onrushing Alexander Isak, who swept home to put the hosts back into the driving seat.
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Fabrizio Romano has just revealed the huge length of Moises Caicedo’s Chelsea contract

Newcastle United: 5-1 Aston Villa: Alexander Isak nets twice, Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes bag debut goals in easy win

 
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