Newcastle vs. Aston Villa Bet Builder Tips: Joelinton to be carded on opening weekend

Newcastle host Aston Villa at 5:30pm in the Premier League on Saturday with both sides hopeful of progressive campaigns and a European finish. We’ve put together our best bet builder tips for the game, which currently pays 11/1 with bet365. Have a read about our favourite fancies below.

Here we have two sides who both could class last season as a success. Newcastle managed to qualify for the Champions League thanks to a fourth-place finish, with the progress made under Eddie Howe nothing short of remarkable. The Magpies have strengthened with Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes this summer and will look to close the gap between themselves and Manchester City at the top of the table.

Aston Villa won 15 of their 27 league matches since Unai Emery took over from Steven Gerrard. The Spaniard galvanised the squad and looks to have made some smart additions this summer in the form of Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby.

The first selection we are getting behind is an old favourite of ours here at bettingodds.com and we are siding with Joelinton to be carded. Only Joao Palhinha (14), was shown more yellow cards last season than Joelinton with 12 in 32 appearances. 

That alone gives value to the 11/4 on offer for the Brazilian to be carded on the opening weekend, but it is also interesting to see no other player in the division committed more fouls last season. Joelinton (65) was joint top with Moises Caicedo of Brighton, despite having played five games fewer.

One man who really got the bit between his teeth last season under Unai Emery was Ollie Watkins. At the start of the calendar year, Watkins went on a run of 11 goals in 12 matches and if he shows that kind of form again this term, he could well outperform his current odds of 33/1 in the Premier League top scorer market.

When these two teams last faced each other, Watkins managed a brace and an assist in a 3-0 win at Villa Park. We can’t see that scoreline being repeated on Saturday but at north of 2/1 to get on the scoresheet anytime, Watkins looks worth a punt. 

Combining both of those selections pays 11/1 with bet365.