Manchester City will need to put their UEFA Super Cup celebrations on hold with a difficult-looking Premier League encounter against Newcastle United on Saturday night.
Probably the most fascinating match-up of the second Premier League matchday pits Manchester City and Newcastle United against each other at the Etihad Stadium.
It is another trophy in the bag for Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side took home their fourth piece of silverware of 2023 on Wednesday night as the Cityzens saw off Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup in Greece. They were made to sweat for their victory. A well-balanced 1-1 draw after extra time resulted in penalty kicks, which City won 5-4 after Nemanja Gudelj missed the tenth kick of the shoot-out.
That triumph came after a 3-0 victory over Burnley last Friday in their Premier League opener. City did not get out of second gear at Turf Moor, yet they still won comfortably. The Cityzens may be the odds-on favourite to defend their Premier League crown. But a high-flying Newcastle juggernaut may have something to say about it here today.
UEFA SUPER CUP WINNERS 2023! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/cdtjEtxNYL
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 16, 2023
The Magpies made a real statement with their 5-1 victory against Aston Villa, a team tipped to be finishing in or around the top six of the Premier League, in their season opener. Fresh arrivals Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes starred, with the latter notching a goal and an assist after coming off the bench.
Newcastle did lose 2-0 in the corresponding fixture at the Etihad in March last season. But they created several goalscoring chances that they blew away due to poor finishing. And on another day, they could have easily drawn that one. Meanwhile, they played out a 3-3 thriller at St. James. Park earlier in the campaign.
A similar exciting showdown seems like a fitting way to round off an action-packed Saturday schedule. The Hard Tackle will now analyse both teams and how they are shaping up ahead of the much-anticipated clash.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester City
Manchester City will be without the services of Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who is struggling with a niggling hamstring problem and may require surgery, which would threaten to rule him out for the remainder of 2023.
Cole sparking the comeback! 💥 pic.twitter.com/Nza6vls1gB
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 17, 2023
On the flip side, Bernardo Silva could be back in contention after he did not travel with the squad to Greece for their Super Cup triumph due to a reported fever.
After successfully experimenting with the unusual 3-2-5 system in the treble-winning season last time out, Pep Guardiola looks to have reverted to a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 for the start of the new campaign. But that was more down to John Stones and Ruben Dias starting the season on the treatment table.
The Catalan boss welcomed back the defensive duo to the matchday squad against Sevilla, where Josko Gvardiol made his first start as a left-back. So, it remains to be seen how Guardiola sets up his defence for this one.
Whatever the setup is, it is certain that Rodri will sit at the base of midfield, with summer recruit Matteo Kovacic perhaps slotting in the Gundogan role. Jack Grealish will stretch the opposition backline with his mazy runs down the left, while Cole Palmer, who scored the equaliser against Sevilla and played the majority of the 90 minutes, could be handed another chance to impress here.
Up top, there is no reason to drop the best finisher on the planet, Erling Haaland, after his brace on the opening day of the Premier League season. The Norwegian hitman will probably be supported by second striker Julian Alvarez or Phil Foden, whose primary job will be to link the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Palmer, Alvarez, Grealish; Haaland
Newcastle United
Newcastle United will make the trip to the Etihad without the services of Javier Manquillo, Emil Krafth, and Joe Willock, which is unlikely to faze Eddie Howe’s starting XI selection from last weekend.
It was earlier expected that Howe would embed blockbuster summer signing Sandro Tonali slowly into starting in the Premier League, much like he did with Bruno Guimaraes. However, the Italian midfielder was handed his Magpies’ debut straightaway and wasted little time proving he is the real deal at a rapturous St. James’ Park as he acrobatically volleyed in the opener.
Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, and Joelinton showed every indication of proving a formidable midfield trio in Howe’s team. Pace, power, combativeness, vision, class, and elegance — the aforementioned trio have a bit of everything in them and are perfectly capable of making life hell for the opponent’s midfield.
🇵🇾😊
🔜 #MCINEW pic.twitter.com/sZyfPAbRL6
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 17, 2023
Newcastle’s attack impressed in their demolition of Aston Villa, particularly Swedish striker Alexander Isak, as he scored twice. Summer addition Harvey Barnes, who scored from the bench on his league debut for the Magpies, is battling it out with Anthony Gordon for a starting spot off the left.
Howe may stick with Gordon and Miguel Almiron on the flanks for this one, though, to power Newcastle’s high-energy press with high-voltage electricity. The Magpies now also have some real attacking weapons on the bench in Callum Wilson, Barnes, Jacob Murphy, and Elliot Anderson, all of whom will be looking to make a positive impression to break into Howe’s preferred starting XI.
At the back, there should be no changes whatsoever, with Nick Pope a mainstay in goal behind a pretty consistent back-four of Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman, and Dan Burn. Summer signing Tino Livramento will provide cover for Trippier, while Toon are closing in on another exciting capture of 18-year-old Lewis Hall from Chelsea to compete with Burn for the starting berth.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Isak, Gordon
Key Stats
- Manchester City have won their last eight home games against Newcastle United in all competitions.
- The Cityzens have netted at least two goals in their last nine matches against Newcastle United in all competitions.
- The hosts have also kept a clean sheet in their last four home matches against Newcastle United across all boards.
- Newcastle won four of their last seven league games towards the end of the previous Premier League campaign (D2 L1).
- Both Newcastle United and Manchester City shared the honour of conceding the least amount of goals in the Premier League last season.
Player to Watch
Sandro Tonali
Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak could have been the more obvious picks here after their braces against Burnley and Aston Villa, respectively. But we decided to go for something different than run-of-the-mill scorers in Newcastle United’s £52 million Tonali, who really stood out to him as the best player on the park on his debut.
The former AC Milan playmaker took just six minutes to announce himself as Newcastle’s latest hero with a sensational volley, which was the fastest-ever strike by a Newcastle player on debut in the Premier League. Not only that, the Italian international went on to run the show in the middle of the park and was instrumental in three others, with two pre-assists.
Newcastle’s Italian stallion’s performance was close to perfection; he was everywhere, intercepting passes, making challenges, carving out through balls, exploiting spaces in behind, making late runs into the box, and spreading the play.
The 23-year-old was like a masterful magician performing his show in the extraordinary atmosphere at St. James’ Park. He has exceptional control, in-game intelligence, and spatial awareness, which gives him all the time in the world to make the right decisions when in possession. Manchester City will pose new challenges for Tonali as he will be up against arguably the best defensive midfielder on the planet, Rodri. But it is a battle he will relish all day long.
Prediction
Manchester City 2-2 Newcastle United
Manchester City should be expected to win here, particularly with home advantage. But the Cityzens have a hectic start to the season, with Saturday’s banana skin being their third game in eight days.
The treble-winners have a notorious habit of starting their season in a sluggish manner and will also be without star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. So Eddie Howe’s confident Magpies would perhaps fancy themselves getting something against the best team in the world.
Goal-happy Newcastle United looked excellent against Villa this game, and they should take plenty of encouragement from watching Sevilla’s bright attacking display in the Super Cup. Had the Andalusian outfit been more prolific in and around the penalty area, the result could have been very different.
That is why this match looks set to be a nailed-on entertaining affair and an intriguing spectacle, with no side backing down easily. With that in mind, The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 thriller, with both teams sharing the honours.
