Manchester City vs Newcastle United: A Premier League Showdown
The reigning English champions, Manchester City, return to domestic competition following a tense UEFA Champions League clash with Real Madrid. On Saturday, they welcome Newcastle United to the Etihad Stadium, a game that promises to be a thrilling encounter. The midweek match against Real Madrid saw City take an early lead through Erling Haaland’s penalty, only to see Kylian Mbappé equalize. Haaland scored again to reclaim the lead, but Mbappé and former City player Brahim Díaz ensured a 3-2 victory for Real Madrid in extra time.
Match Details
The highly anticipated match kicks off at 15:00 (UK) on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium. Both teams are currently level on points in the league table, with Manchester City leading due to a superior goal difference. The match is crucial for both teams, as it could significantly impact their standings and the title race.
Team News
Manuel Akanji will be a notable absentee for Manchester City, as he is set to undergo surgery for an abductor injury sustained in the midweek match. Manager Pep Guardiola confirmed, “He will undergo surgery on Saturday, and will be 8-10 weeks out.” Jack Grealish, who was substituted early against Real Madrid, is a doubt for Saturday’s match, with Guardiola stating, “I don’t know if he’ll be ready tomorrow. We will see and assess in the next hours.” Nico González, who missed the midweek game due to pain, could make a return, as he is “getting better day by day.”
Head to Head
Historically, Manchester City has dominated their encounters with Newcastle United. The Cityzens have won two of their last three matches against Newcastle and drew their most recent meeting in September 2024. Newcastle’s last win against City was a 2-1 victory at St James’ Park in January 2019. The Magpies have not won any of their last 15 Premier League away games against Manchester City and have failed to score in the last five.
Statistics
Manchester City’s home form against Newcastle is particularly formidable, having won their last 15 Premier League home games against the Magpies. Only three teams have had longer winning runs against a single opponent in English top-flight history. Additionally, City has scored in each of their last 32 Premier League games against Newcastle, a streak only eclipsed by Chelsea against Newcastle (37 games), Tottenham against Newcastle (35 games), and Everton against Blackburn (34 games). Newcastle, however, has shown recent form, winning their last four away games in the Premier League, a run they last achieved in October 1994.
How to Watch
For viewers in the United Kingdom, the match will not be televised due to the 3PM blackout. However, fans in the United States can watch the game on Peacock, with kick-off scheduled for 10:00 a.m. EST. Full global TV listings for the match are available here. City Xtra will provide comprehensive live coverage across their X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram channels, with additional content on cityxtra.co.uk and YouTube.
This Saturday’s match at the Etihad Stadium is set to be a compelling battle between two teams in excellent form, with significant implications for the Premier League title race.
