Newcastle-Wolverhampton is a match valid for the twenty-seventh day of the Premier League and is played on Sunday at 17:30: TV, predictions.
Newcastle have been winless in the month of February. The last one was last January, when in the space of a few days they got the better of Southampton twice in the League Cup semi-final. In the Premier League, on the other hand, Eddie Howe’s men have not won for much longer. In the last five matches only two points have come their way, numbers in stark contrast to the excellent first half of the season.
Since the former Bournemouth coach has been on the bench, able in a short time to bring the Magpies back to fight for prestigious goals, this is certainly the most difficult moment for the club. At this rate, fourth place – which was not the season’s target anyway – is in danger of slipping away: that would be a real shame, given that Newcastle have been in the top four for months. Instead, Saint-Maximin and his teammates are now sixth, momentarily -7 behind fourth-placed Tottenham, who have however played three more games and on paper would still be ‘recoverable’. But beyond the fact of whether they will manage to reach a Champions League placement or not, the Magpies’ season can only be judged positively, especially if qualification for a European cup arrives at the end of the games. Not forgetting that for the first time in over 20 years Newcastle are back in the final of a domestic competition.
Wolverhampton, on the other hand, will have to postpone their return to Europe, as they are pulling themselves out of a bad situation with the help of a coach with great international experience like Julen Lopetegui. Since the arrival of the Spanish ex-Sevilla coach they have changed pace and are now +5 over the relegation zone, while remaining involved in the fight for safety. Wolves after three games without a win last weekend took the scalp of Antonio Conte’s Tottenham, who were beaten 1-0 at the Molineux.
Ruben Neves
The Prediction
There’s a good chance Newcastle can break free after a run of underwhelming performances. The Bianconeri are slight favourites for victory and should return to pierce the opponent’s goal, breaking a 270-minute fast. The total goals are likely to be less than three.
Newcastle-Wolverhampton’s likely line-up
- NEWCASTLE (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Botman, Schar, Burn; S. Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, Willock; Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.
- WOLVERHAMPTON (4-3-3): Jose Sà; Nelson Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Jonny; Ruben Neves, Lemina, Moutinho; Adama Traoré, Raul Jimenez, Sarabia
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-0
