BBC Sport explores some of the major talking points surrounding the opening day fixture between Unai Emery's Aston Villa and Eddie Howe's Newcastle United, with both clubs experiencing a turbulent pre-season. Only goal difference separated these sides in 2024-25, with Newcastle returning to the Champions League by finishing fifth and denying Aston Villa the chance to repeat their run to last season's quarter-finals. Villa were fined £9.5m by Uefa in July for breaching the European governing body's financial rules last season, including spending more than the permitted 80% of income on player wages.
Original Source:
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c8x5dl75pjdo?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Bheadline%5D-%5Bsport%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D
