Tonali scores 2 goals vs. Aston Villa as Woltemade reveals pre-match joke

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 14: Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park on February 14, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Italy international Sandro Tonali inspired Newcastle’s victory over Aston Villa in the FA Cup with his first two goals this season: ‘Yesterday I was telling him, ‘you never score goals,” said his teammate Nick Woltemade.

Italy star Tonali scored a brace in Newcastle’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Saturday, inspiring the Magpies’ qualification for the FA Cup fifth round.

As reported by Squawka on X social media, Tonali has now scored three of his nine Newcastle goals against Aston Villa.

“Yesterday I was telling him, ‘you never score goals’, and today he scored two,” Newcastle striker Woltemade, who scored the other goal for the Magpies, said at full-time.

“We are both happy, of course.”

Tonali went on to praise his teammate, too.

“He plays as a midfielder, like an experienced midfielder. He plays very well,” the Italian said.

As reported by Opta, Tonali is the first Newcastle player to score two goals from outside the box in a single game since Mohamed Diamé vs Preston in the League Cup back in October 2016.

“I was saying to Sandro ‘you never score goals’, and today he scored two!”

Nick Woltemade and Sandro Tonali are full of compliments for each other after Newcastle’s 3-1 victory over Aston Villa 🤝

🎙@Becky_Ives_ | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/GpOwdCSUie

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 14, 2026

Sublime from Sandro Tonali 👏

Two quick goals from the midfielder surge @NUFC into the lead.

📺 Watch live on @BBCMOTD, @footballontnt and @discoveryplusUK #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/jPVP1h2m49

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 14, 2026

What a hit from Sandro Tonali! 🚀⚽🔥

His second strike completes Newcastle’s comeback from a goal down to taking the lead against Aston Villa ⚫⚪💪 pic.twitter.com/cP0sROWt87

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 14, 2026