John McGinn describes Saturday match as 'six-pointer' | OneFootball

It's known how important Saturday's fixture is for Aston Villa. Heading into Matchweek 37, Unai Emery's side sits in seventh with 54 points. Newcastle are currently in third in the Premier League. Even on games played, the Magpies have 59 points.

Naturally, any match provides something of an opportunity. For AVFC, Saturday brings a chance. There's the chance to further demonstrate what this club is capable of. There is also a chance to stay within reach of a Champions League qualification spot.

The five-point gap between Villa and NUFC is attainable. At this point of the season, a lot of changes can happen in the standings. A lot of movement is still in the cards. Being able to play and take points off someone ahead of you doesn't always happen, though, making the Villa Park fixture an important one.

Winning gives either side a potential six-point swing. A draw could, of course, help both teams. With their goals being still close, both would take a point from the outing. Knowing that a win solidifies their position and sends a message to the rest of the league against a top-quality roster makes it that much more of an important fixture at the fortress.

Winning means more than three points

Speaking before the match against Newcastle, John McGinn spoke on what Villa would need and hope to achieve. He shared the current mentality among his teammates. His confidence in AVFC's ability to rise in the Prem can be seen in his comments, as shared on the club website:

The Villa midfielder knows that the final push will be tough. Surpassing some of the teams ahead will require them to fall off and drop points, not just this week, but in some of the future matchups as well. With the Villans knowing what a win against Newcastle can bring, they'll look to seize the opportunity.

Beating and grabbing the three points against this current NUFC side will say a lot. While Emery continues to express how important playing Champions League matches is for next year, winning on Saturday at Villa Park will put his team in the driver's seat in regard to their pursuit of staying in Europe's highest competition.