The title of this article may be a little misleading because it’s hard to imagine anyone other than Manchester City winning this game. Newcastle is currently in the relegation zone and hasn’t won a game in over a month. City, on the other hand, are flying high at the top of the table and are fresh off of a 2-1 victory over rivals Manchester United.
That being said, Newcastle has proven to be a tough opponent for City in recent years. The last time these two teams met, Newcastle stunned City by winning 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium. And while City have won their last four games against Newcastle, those victories have been by a combined margin of just four goals.
So while City are the clear favourites to win this game, it’s certainly not a foregone conclusion. Newcastle will no doubt be motivated to try and pull off another upset, and City will need to be at their best to come away with all three points.
Man City’s Impressive Form Against Newcastle
It was another dominant performance from Manchester City as they cruised to a 3-1 victory over Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s side have now won 18 of their last 19 games in all competitions, with their only defeat coming against Liverpool in the Premier League.
This latest win sees City extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to 11 points, with second-placed Tottenham losing to Wolves earlier in the day. Newcastle actually took the lead in this one, with Salomon Rondon finding the back of the net in the 25th minute. However, City were level just four minutes later through Sergio Aguero, who fired home from close range after some good work from Bernardo Silva.
The home side then took the lead in the second half through Raheem Sterling, who finished off a fine team move. Aguero then added his second and City’s third in the dying moments, with the Argentine striker now level with Alan Shearer on 11 Premier League hat-tricks. This was another impressive performance from City, who continue to set the standard in the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s side are now unbeaten in their last 32 games in all competitions, with their last defeat coming against Liverpool in the Premier League back in January. City have also now scored an incredible 97 goals in all competitions this season, and they look well on course to retain their Premier League title.
Newcastle’s Resilience Against Man City
Pep Guardiola’s side may have won an unprecedented quadruple last season, but they were brought back down to earth with a bump on Saturday as they were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle United at St. James’ Park. The Magpies put in a superb defensive performance to keep City at bay, with Steve Bruce’s side looking particularly resilient in the second half as they held on for a famous victory.
It was a performance that will no doubt have pleased Newcastle’s fans, who have seen their team put in some impressive displays this season despite their lack of investment in the transfer market. So, how did Newcastle manage to beat the reigning champions?
Firstly, they started the game brightly and took the game to City from the off. This put the visitors on the back foot and they struggled to gain a foothold in the game. Secondly, Newcastle were resolute in defence and didn’t give City an inch. They were well organised and disciplined, with Fabian Schar and Federico Fernandez in particular impressing. Thirdly, they took their chances when they came. Joelinton’s goal was a well-taken strike, and when City did finally create some chances late on, Martin Dubravka was on hand to make some excellent saves. It was a performance that will give Newcastle a lot of confidence going forward, and they will now be looking to build on this result and push on up the table.
Man City’s Superiority Against Newcastle
On Sunday, Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League table with a comfortable 4-1 win over Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s side took the lead in the ninth minute through Sergio Aguero and never looked back, with Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva all getting on the scoresheet in the second half.
The victory was City’s 13th in a row in all competitions, equalling the club record set back in 2015, and it was also their ninth consecutive league win, a new record for the club. So, just how dominant have City been in this run of form? Here are four ways in which they have been superior to their opponents.
- Possession
In each of their last 13 games, City have had more possession than their opponents. In fact, they have averaged 66.2% possession in that time, while their opponents have had an average of just 33.8%. Against Newcastle, City had 74.6% of the ball, with the Magpies managing just 25.4%.
- Passes
City have also been dominant in terms of the number of passes they have made in recent weeks. In their last 13 games, City have averaged 608.5 passes per game, while their opponents have managed just 292.5. Against Newcastle, City made 703 passes, with the Magpies managing just 248.
- Shots
City have also been far more prolific in front of goal in recent weeks. In their last 13 games, City have averaged 18.5 shots per game, while their opponents have managed just 9.5. Against Newcastle, City had 23 shots, while the Magpies managed just seven.
- Goals
Unsurprisingly, City’s dominance in possession and in front of goal has led to them outscoring their opponents by a considerable margin in recent weeks. In their last 13 games, City have scored 45 goals, while their opponents have managed just 15.
Newcastle’s Hope Against Man City
Newcastle United will be looking to spring a surprise when they host Manchester City at St. James’ Park on Saturday. The Magpies are currently in the relegation zone and are in dire need of a win to boost their survival chances. Manchester City, on the other hand, are flying high at the top of the Premier League table and are on course to win the title. Pep Guardiola’s side will be favourites to win this game, but Newcastle will be hoping to cause an upset. Here are five reasons why Newcastle can hope for a positive result against Manchester City on Saturday:
- Home advantage
St. James’ Park is always a tough place to visit for away teams, and Newcastle will be hoping to use that to their advantage. The Magpies have picked up some good results at home this season, including a 1-0 win over Manchester United. If they can replicate that performance against City, they will have a good chance of getting something from the game.
- City’s recent form
Manchester City have been in excellent form this season, but they have shown signs of fatigue in recent weeks. The Citizens have dropped points in their last two games, and they looked far from their best in their last outing against Southampton. Newcastle will be hoping to take advantage of City’s dip in form and pick up a much-needed win.
- Rafa Benitez
Rafa Benitez is a world-class manager, and he will know how to set his team up to take on City. The Spaniard has a wealth of experience in European football, and he will be able to motivate his players to get a positive result.
- City’s injury concerns
Manchester City are currently without a number of key players due to injury. Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Gabriel Jesus, and Leroy Sane are all sidelined, and their absences will be a big blow to City. Newcastle will be hoping to take advantage of City’s injury problems and pick up a valuable win.
