On Saturday, 13th of April, as part of the 33rd round of the Premier League (PL), Newcastle United is set to host Tottenham on their home turf. The Magpies are currently on a roll and haven't been defeated in their last three matches, while the Spurs have solidified their position in the Champions League spot and cannot afford any slip-ups.
Newcastle: Dubravka; Kraft, Sher, Bern, Hall; Longstaff, Gímaraes, Anderson; Barnes, Isak, Gordon.
Tottenham: Vícarío; Porro, Romero, Van de Veen, Udógie; Bentancur, Bissúma; Johnson, Maddison, Werner; Son.
Despite reaching the top 4 at the end of last season, Newcastle seems to be struggling this term. Currently in the 8th position on the Premier League standings, the Magpies are entirely out of the Champions League contention. However, Eddie Howe's side still have a shot at the lower-ranked European tournaments as they are just 2 points behind the sixth spot. Moreover, their successful run in April has been quite delightful for the fans with the hosts having won 3 out of 5 latest games in the national championship with only one defeat. After scoring a draw at home with Everton (1:1), Newcastle continued their unbeaten run by defeating Fulham last weekend with a score line of 1:0 - Bruno Gímaraes scoring the solitary goal nine minutes before the end of the match. It is important to note that the Magpies haven't tasted defeat in their last five home games, having scored 14 goals in the process. Newcastle will miss several key players this weekend. Names on the injury list include: Pope (goalkeeper), Botman and Trippier, Livramento, Joelinton, Almirón and Wilson (7 goals scorer), as well as substitute defender Lascelles and the promising 17-year-old midfielder Myli.
Tottenham currently sits at the 4th spot in the Premier League table and having a game in hand, they have bagged the same number of points as the following Aston Villa (both on 60 points) – which provides an excellent opportunity for the Spurs to get back in the Champions League spot. Their confidence is boosted by the fact that in the last six rounds, they have conceded only once, with four victories and one draw.
The Londoners have defeated Newcastle in four of the last six visits to St James Park, and the first-round meet ended in a big win for the Spurs with a score line of 4:1.
Both teams understand the importance of bagging maximum points this weekend. Newcastle still stands a chance at finishing in the European tournament zone, while Tottenham have the same number of points as Aston Villa in the fight for the Champions League spot. My prediction is a draw.
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