In a compelling FA Cup fifth-round encounter at Villa Park, Sandro Tonali delivered a masterful performance, netting a decisive brace to propel Newcastle United to a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa. The Italian midfielder, whose goals proved instrumental in securing his team’s passage to the quarter-finals, emphatically refuted any suggestions of discord with manager Eddie Howe during his post-match celebrations, firmly dismissing speculation of a rift as the squad sets its sights on a trip to Wembley.
The match itself was not without its contentious moments, largely stemming from the notable absence of the Video Assistant Referee system. A significant officiating controversy arose when Aston Villa’s Tammy Abraham found the net from a position that appeared offside, a decision that went unchecked. Further debate ensued regarding the punishment for Villa defender Lucas Digne, while a pivotal handball call, which led to Tonali’s equalising free-kick, was adjudged to have occurred just outside the penalty area.
Team News and International Updates
Looking ahead to domestic commitments, Newcastle’s upcoming opponents, Manchester City, are anticipating the return of key attacking personnel. Wingers Jeremy Doku and Savinho are both nearing fitness and could be in contention for the fixture against the Magpies, according to reports monitored by Livescore.
On the international front, Scotland national team manager Steve Clarke has provided clarity regarding the future of Newcastle’s Harvey Barnes. Despite the forward’s impressive tally of 12 goals for his club this season, Clarke has confirmed that Barnes will not be pursuing eligibility to represent Scotland and remains committed to securing a place in the England squad.
Elsewhere in European football, the focus shifts to the impending Champions League knockout stages, with predictions for all play-off matches being circulated, though no specific details concerning Newcastle were included in the latest updates from Livescore.