Newcastle United vs Manchester City. Prediction and Preview. Probable Lineups, Team News, Stats and more
Newcastle United will host Manchester City in the English Premier League third-tour match at the St James’s Park. The fixture will take place on August 21, beginning at 21:00 IST.
Parimatchnews will tell you everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming match.
Newcastle United News & Current Form:
The Magpies have managed to produce a magnificent finishing run in the English league last season, winning 6 of the last 8 fixtures. They beat Arsenal 2-0 in the penultimate fixture to deny any hopes for the Champions League, followed by a 2-1 win over Burnley in the final fixture, sending them to the Championship.
All told, Newcastle scored 49 points last season to finish 11th, just 3 points behind 8th-placed Leicester City – their best result in the last 4 years. And that’s given the fact that with 10 rounds to go they were a step away from the relegation zone. Oh, and in the first 14 rounds of the EPL, things were so hopeless that the Black-Whites desperately couldn’t win a single match. Even against low-tier teams. That was just painful to watch.
The main underlying root of the rescue is the arrival of the Sheikhs, who bought the club at the right time. They brought in Eddie Howe, who has good experience with teams of this calibre, as well as supplying him with all the necessary transfers – the Englishman has managed to mobilise all the resources and turn the tide. Now it’s time to aim much higher. In the summer transfer window, the Black and Whites still lack the status to invite superstars, but managed to sign some decent players: Nick Pope from Burnley and Sven Botman from Lille, who became the most expensive defender in the history of the club.
Given that most of the players were not involved in international matches – they were able to get the rest they needed and regain the energy to be fit for the pre-season. The 44-year-old has had plenty of time to fine-tune the processes and synergies of his charges, as well as testing this in action in 6 friendlies. Four of them have been won, with the last two victories worth mentioning: over Atalanta (1-0) and Athletic Bilbao (2-1).
Talking about 22/23 campaign, the Magpies started well: in the first round of the EPL they defeated the newcomer of this season Nottingham Forest (2-0), but in the second leg they were at peace (0-0) with Brighton and are now sitting in the 5th position, two points behind the leading side Manchester City.
The Magpies, apropos, have significantly improved their defensive play so far, as evidenced by their xGA of 1.4, with only Manchester City doing better (0.5). Whether this is an illusion or the truth will be revealed in the upcoming match; facing such an attack is the most obvious test.
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Manchester City News & Current Form:
Another club with the capital from the Western Asia, Manchester City, represent a giant of world football right now. There is no other team with such quality in every position, with all the processes at the club so well organised that it is unclear who is really capable of competing with them now? With the transfer of Erling Haaland, Pep Guardiola finally has the missing tool to achieve perfection. For several seasons, the Citizens have played without a profile striker, which has deprived them of certain options and scenarios – such as playing crosses against low block. Such power (195cm) combined with speed is a unique case.
What we saw in the first game is a clear indicator of the metamorphosis, it seemed that in one much City made more crosses than in in the whole previous season. Now Man City will be much more dangerous, let’s not forget that the Norwegian is far from his prime, and his maximum will be likely to come at Manchester. It’s just getting started.
The main target is to win the UEFA Champions League, well, the chances are much higher now. The 22-year-old has already made some noise there, scoring 23 goals in 19 games. And if you need a bit different qualities at any moment, there is Julián Álvarez, a very talented player more of a Kun Agüero type.
The other positions are also in perfect balance, there are 2-3 players in the main squad for each place, which gives the squad an incentive to improve their playing qualities.
The scouting department is doing a fantastic job, for example, instead of paying a fortune for Marc Cucurella, the Citizens have decided to acquire the young talent from Anderlecht – Sergio Gómez for just €13.00m.
At the same time, the team is also actively selling players on the peak of their value, keeping their balance in surplus.
In terms of results, the Skyblues got off to a blazing start with a 0-2 win over West Ham that saw Haaland net a brace in his opening game. In the second leg, they beat Bournemouth 4-0.
Newcastle United form guide: W-D
Manchester City form guide: W-W
Newcastle United vs Manchester City Head-To-Head Record:
| Newcastle United | Draw | Manchester City |
| 72 | 40 | 74 |
Last five head-to-head games:
- 08.05.22 Manchester City v Newcastle 5-0;
- 19.12.21 Newcastle v Manchester City 0-4;
- 14.05.21 Newcastle v Manchester City 3-4;
- 27.12.20 Manchester City v Newcastle 2-0;
- 08.07.20 Manchester City v Newcastle 5-0.
Newcastle United vs Manchester City Predicted XI:
Newcastle United possible starting lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Botman, Schar, Burn; Willock, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.
Manchester City possible starting lineup (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, Haaland, Foden.
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Statistical preview of the match Newcastle United vs Manchester City:
- Josep Guardiola is Eddie Howe’s most undefeatable opponent, with the Spanish coach having 10 wins in 10 previous meetings under these coaches (9 of which came when the current Newcastle manager coached Bournemouth).
- By the way, in 9 of those 10 games, the Citizens have scored at least 2 goals.
- Manchester City have now an unbeaten EPL run of 14 successive games, with 11 vicrories and 3 draws.
- City’s away record is even better – 19 matches without losses (14 wins and 4 draws).
- It should be noted that in 19 previous away games in the EPL the Sky-Blues failed to score only once.
- Manchester City have scored over 1.5 goals in each of their last 11 Premier League away games.
- Newcastle United have not lost in 9 of the last 10 home games.
What has been said before the match:
Eddie Howe, the Newcastle gaffer:
“I always say to them, ‘judge yourself against the best’. It’s a challenge to be attacked and relished rather than feared. I think our defenders are in a good place at the moment – I think as a team we’ve defended well. There’s always room for improvement but I think this is the ultimate test, not just as a back four but the team in front.”
“We have to protect our defenders, but we also have to give Manchester City a threat the other way and a problem the other way. We can’t be too passive in what we deliver. It’s a good game, at a really early stage of the season, to see how far we’ve come as a team.”
Pep Guardiola, the Man City gaffer:
“Their numbers and style of play speak for itself. He arrived in a difficult position last season, when the owners took over he went on an incredible run of games.”
“I saw the game when we won 5-0 again and we struggled for second balls. Allan Saint-Maximin, Miguel Almiron are exceptional players in terms of how direct and aggressive they are. Of course, there is Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton – (they’re a) physical team. Kieran Trippier is back. He is an important player with his balls in the channels.”
“Eddie Howe in Bournemouth and now here always creates a real competitive team. Newcastle away is always an incredible environment. The fans… it’s one of the best stadiums since I have been here in England. I know how they support the team. It’s a good test for us.”
Newcastle United vs Manchester City Prediction:
Going to St. James’s Park is always difficult, the atmosphere there is really pressurizing for the opponent, and now, with a reinforced and improved Newcastle, any team should be concerned about the result. Eddie Howe’s charges will definitely give a fight, but they should not count on the idea that they can win, Pep Guardiola has a full-stack orchestra with almost no weak links. Too much quality and chemistry. And now even in case of playing low block the Magpies should have any delusions that they have high probaility of at least a draw. However, we should not count on some kind of demolition too, after all, 0 goals conceded after 2 tours is a telling indicator.
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Parimatch News staff prediction:
We say: Manchester City to win with a Hancicap (-1).