City make 10 changes for Newcastle FA Cup clash

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Manchester City F.C.

·7 March 2026

City make 10 changes for Newcastle FA Cup clash

City make 10 changes for Saturday’s FA Cup fifth round trip to Newcastle United.

Men's Team

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From the side that began last Wednesday’s 2-2 Premier League draw at home to Nottingham Forest, James Trafford, Abdukodir Khusanov, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Nico, Jeremy Doku, Tijjani Reijnders, Nico O’Reilly, Omar Marmoush and Savinho all come into Pep Guardiola’s starting line-up.

Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ruben Dias, Rayan Cherki, Marc Guéhi, Rodri, Bernardo, Rayan Air-Nouri, Antoine Semenyo and Phil Foden all revert to the bench.

Erling Haaland is not part of tonight’s matchday squad with City conscious of an intense forthcoming fixture schedule

Mateo Kovacic (ankle) and Josko Gvardiol (leg fracture) both remain sidelined as they continue their rehabilitation with Rico Lewis also not fully fit.

Teams

NEWCASTLE XI: Ramsdale, Trippier (C), Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Tonali, Willock, Woltemade, Elanga, Barnes, Osula Subs: Pope, Joelinton, Wissa, Gordon, Livramento, J. Murphy, Burn, A. Murphy, Neave

CITY XI: Trafford, Nunes, Khusanov, Stones (C), Ake, Nico, Reijnders, O’Reilly, Savinho, Doku, Marmoush

Subs: Donnarumma, Dias, Cherki, Guéhi, Rodri, Bernardo, Ait-Nouri, Semenyo, Foden

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Formation and tactics

James Trafford will be the last line of defence in goal and shielded by a back four of Matheus Nunes, Khusanov, skipper Stones and Ake.

Nico is set to be the holding midfielder with Reijnders and O’Reilly also lining up in the City engine room.

Omar Marmoush will spearhead the City attack with Savinho and Doku also deployed further forward.

However, as always, such is the tactical flexibility and fluidity within Pep Guardiola’s squad that could well be subject to change!

High fives?

City and Newcastle will need no second introduction when we lock horns tonight.

Somewhat remarkably this will be the fifth time we have met this season – and the fourth meeting in less than two months.

The Magpies gained a narrow 2-1 Premier League victory at St James’ Park last November but since then the upper hand has been enjoyed by Pep Guardiola’s men.

We recorded a 5-1 Carabao Cup semi-final aggregate win after a 2-0 success in the Northeast was then then followed by a 3-1 triumph at home.

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And City also prevailed in out last meeting – securing a 2-1 victory at the Etihad in what proved a high quality, absorbing Premier League clash.

Now comes the latest clash with a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals the enticing prize for the victors.

Up for the Cup

Down the years Pep Guardiola has treated the FA Cup with nothing but the utmost respect.

The boss has regularly been at pains to stress his love and regard for the oldest cup competition in the world and that has been amply illustrated by City’s superb FA Cup record under the Catalan.

City have twice won the iconic trophy during Pep’s reign – in 2019 and 2023 – whilst we were finalists in both 2024 and 2025.

What’s more, the Blues have also reached the semi-finals on four other occasions.

It’s a formidable record and a victory this evening would pilot City to within one game of another trip to Wembley.

No lack of incentive then!

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Match stats

This is the 11th FA Cup tie between Newcastle and City – the Citizens have progressed from the last two in the quarter-finals in 2019-20 and 2023-24, having only progressed in two of the first eight ties against the Magpies.
City knocked Newcastle out in the League Cup semi-finals this season – the only two teams to eliminate the Magpies from both the League Cup and FA Cup in a season are Wimbledon in 1987-88 and Arsenal in 2007-08.
Newcastle have progressed from nine of their last 10 FA Cup fifth round ties, although they were beaten 2-1 by Brighton at this stage last season. Two of those nine fifth round wins came against City in 1994-95 and 2001-02.
City have won 18 of our last 20 matches in the FA Cup across the last four seasons, losing only in the finals in 2024 against Manchester United and 2025 against Crystal Palace.
In the third, fourth and fifth rounds, City have won our last 23 games in the FA Cup by an aggregate score of 89-11 since losing 1-0 to Wigan in the 2017-18 fifth round.
Harvey Barnes has been involved in five goals in seven home FA Cup starts (4 goals, 1 assist), while he leads all Newcastle players in this season’s competition for both shots (8) and chances created (4).
City have benefitted from three own goals in the FA Cup this season (two vs Exeter, one vs Salford), a joint-record for a Premier League side in one season along with West Ham in 2005-06 and City themselves in 2018-19.

Find out more about our new North Stand!

We’ve unveiled our plans for bars and hospitality spaces in the North Stand at the Etihad Stadium.

As previously communicated, the new North Stand concourses will feature large TV screens, upgraded sound systems, and self-service kiosks designed to create an amazing matchday experience.

Seasonal Memberships for both Cross Bar and City Hall are now on sale for the 2026/27 season.

To find out more or enquire about purchasing a Seasonal Membership, follow the link below or call 0161 385 2012.

Enquire now!