Analysing Newcastle ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash | OneFootball

Taking an in-depth look at our opponents this weekend…

Men's Team

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We welcome Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United to the Etihad Stadium at 20:00 (UK) on Saturday 21 February.

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With 53 points from 26 games so far, we go into the weekend second in the Premier League and five points back from leaders Arsenal having played a game fewer.

It’s our fourth meeting of the season with Newcastle, with a fifth already scheduled in the FA Cup next month.

With the help of Opta data, we look at the threats they pose…

Recent form

Newcastle don’t arrive at the Etihad in the best of form, having won just one of their last five Premier League games.

That did come last time out against struggling Spurs though, while they were 6-1 winners over Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

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They sit 10th in the Premier League, with 36 points from 26 points and know that a win could see them challenging for European spots and a defeat could drop them down a couple of places.

Preferred formation

Newcastle have almost exclusively played in a 4-3-3 shape since Eddie Howe’s appointment.

This season, that has seen Nick Pope in goal behind a rotating defence including full-backs Lewis Hall and Dan Burn on the left and Kieran Trippier and Tino Livramento on the right.

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Through the middle, Fabian Schar, Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman have all been used regularly.

Howe’s first choice midfield trio is undoubtedly Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, but the former is likely to be out injured until the March international break. That means Jacob Ramsey, Joe Willock or Lewis Miley could all feature in midfield.

Up top, Newcastle’s wing options are Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes, Anthony Elanga and Jacob Murphy.

Gordon has played through the middle more this season, but when he doesn’t, one of Nick Woltemade or Yoane Wissa will lead the line.

Manager

Forced into early retirement from his playing career, Howe became a coach while most footballers are still in their prime.

He made a big success of it, taking Bournemouth from the fourth tier to the Premier League – with a brief time at Burnley in the middle of that run.

Howe joined Newcastle in 2024 and has objectively become one of their most successful managers, ending a 56-year wait for a trophy with last season’s Carabao Cup and qualifying for the Champions League twice.

He’s won 136 of his 357 Premier League games in total and 80 of his 167 at Newcastle.

Head-to-head record

City are unbeaten in our last 21 Premier League home games against Newcastle, winning each of the last 16 – it’s the second longest such run in English football history.

However, after their 2-1 win at St James’ Park earlier in the season, Newcastle are looking to complete their first league double over City since 1983/84 and first in the top-flight since 1955/56.

However, their 20 games at the Etihad Stadium is the most a team has played at a venue without ever winning in Premier League history.

In total in the Premier League era, City have won 32 of the meetings with Newcastle victorious nine times.

We’ve scored 107 Premier League goals against the Magpies, conceding 48 times.

How they attack

Newcastle’s 37 goals so far is the eighth most in the division, while their xG of 39.9 suggests they generally score the opportunities you’d expect them to.

They have been one of the unluckiest teams in terms of hitting the woodwork, doing so 14 times this season.

They’re also hugely dangerous aerially, with their eight headed goals the fourth most in the division so far. Newcastle are clearly well aware of that too, with no side sending more open play crosses into the box than them.

Captain Bruno Guimaraes is their top scorer with nine strikes, while Nick Woltemade is top when it comes to players available for this one with seven.

Harvey Barnes scored both of Newcastle’s goals in the reverse fixture.

The last Magpies player to score home and away against us in the same league season was Alan Shearer in 2004/05.

How they defend

With 37 goals conceded, Newcastle’s defence is the 11th best in the Premier League.

However, they’ve only allowed an xG of 31.1 suggesting that teams have scored from range or taken very difficult chances against them.

Goalkeeper Nick Pope is sixth in the Premier League for save percentage, stopping 69% of the shots on his goal.

While being dangerous from their own set plays, Newcastle are vulnerable when defending them – with their 15 conceded sixth most across the league.

They are yet to concede in the opening 15 minutes of any game, but they’re the worst finishers – allowing 14 goals in during the final 15 minutes.

With only 257 fouls so far, they’re the second cleanest team in the league.

Be at City v Nottingham Forest!

We welcome Forest to the Etihad Stadium at 19:30 (UK) on Wednesday 4 March.

And you can be there to see it as Pep Guardiola’s City continue to chase Premier League glory.

Tickets for this game are now on sale to all fans, starting from just £43 for adults and £23 for U18s.

Or, if you fancy something more special, hospitality packages start from just £199 with other experiences tailored for every budget!

Buy your City v Forest tickets here!