Newcastle's pressure meets an Aston Villa attack that has shown how quickly a midfield recovery can become a chance for Jackson. The important contest is the first pass and the support around it, with Barnes and Hall supplying Newcastle's strongest reply. Red Star and Saint-Etienne bring functioning attacking connections into a meeting where recent defensive records tell less than the chances conceded.
Newcastle continued to lose central possession at Coventry even with Nico playing throughout and Joelinton joining the match. Kamara's recovery and pass to Jackson produced a goal against Fenerbahce, while Manzambi and McGinn have supplied the supporting runs. That gives Villa a specific way to attack before Newcastle's centre-backs reset.
Joelinton's possible starting return adds carrying and strength, with his minutes still being managed according to the club. Villa remain without Onana, Maatsen and Ruggeri, and Barkley needs assessment after playing in Europe. Gomes offers a recently used midfield replacement after starting against Brentford and playing a shorter European stint; Buendia was unused in that match. I expect Newcastle to push the early tempo and Villa to seek those recoveries and forward connections. That's why I'm siding with Aston Villa to win, with the draw protected.
At Stade Bauer, Red Star's Renel-to-Ikanga and Ikanga-to-Durand goals at Clermont show the connection behind their recent attacking output. Their home match against Metz also produced nineteen shots and seven on target. Saint-Etienne have their own supply through Breum and Boakye, with Ballo and Cardona offering further targets; Breum supplied both goals against Rodez, a match in which Saint-Etienne still allowed seven box shots.
Red Star's listed absentees were already outside the Clermont team, preserving the attacking group behind that performance. Saint-Etienne lose Larsonneur, while Le Cardinal and Davitashvili are reported ready again. Ndiaye is the expected goalkeeper and Le Cardinal's return adds a senior central option. The attacking argument rests on the retained connections and recent access to the box.
I expect the opening exchanges to test both teams' passing through pressure, followed by chances for the receivers beyond it. Red Star responded to Clermont's equaliser with further goals, while Saint-Etienne's recent away leads at Dunkerque and Metz were overturned or erased. That's why I'm backing a game with goals between Red Star and Saint-Etienne.
