Newcastle United – Chelsea

The home teams will not lose in a match against evenly matched opponents.

Ahead of the match between Chelsea and Newcastle in the next round of the English Premier League, there are many differences as well as similarities. On the one hand, both clubs represent the Premier League in the Champions League. Both do this essentially at the same level, after six rounds of the group stage occupying adjacent positions in the second ten of the table. In midweek both Newcastle and Chelsea played in the English League Cup, facing opponents of different quality. On the other hand, in the league the London club is currently much more successful than its upcoming opponent. And that does not mean that the visitors to Newcastle will be comfortable. At their home ground, the Magpies have not tasted defeat since the end of September, although the strongest clubs of the top English division have visited St James' Park. Bookmakers did not name a favorite for the upcoming clash, offering roughly even odds on the two sides. Newcastle this season at home has hosted Tottenham (twice), Manchester City, Athletic Bilbao, Benfica, Arsenal, Barcelona and Liverpool. Only to three of the last mentioned opponents have the Magpies lost, with each defeat by a one-goal margin. Meanwhile, almost all of the other mentioned clubs were comfortably beaten. In addition, Newcastle's average goals per home game stands at about two. It cannot be said that Howe's charges are executing everything planned this season, as they currently sit in twelfth place in the Premier League table. However there are no signs of a systemic crisis in the Magpies' camp, and there is serious potential to improve results. Chelsea occupy fourth place in the league, eight points behind the leader. The Blues cannot boast much from their previous trips to Newcastle. Five recent away visits to St James' Park ended for Chelsea in four defeats and one draw. Chelsea's last away win over Newcastle came in 2021. In the season preceding the Magpies' rise into the Champions League zone, Chelsea have dropped points in four of the six most recent official meetings since the end of November. It seems the hosts will manage to take at least one point.