Looking to pick up where they left off in the reverse fixture, Manchester City welcome Newcastle United to the Etihad Stadium for the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final clash on Wednesday night.
With the Magpies keen to turn things around with a finals place on the line, sports today ahead of what is expected to be another Premier League contest between these two sides.
Match preview
Manchester City are in firm control of their EFL Cup semi-final after an emphatic 2-0 first-leg win over Newcastle at St James’ Park three weeks ago.
Goals from Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki put Pep Guardiola’s side on course for what could be their 23rd domestic cup final at Wembley Stadium.
In the last six occasions they have won a semi-final first leg, reaching the final on five occasions, with the only setback against Manchester United in the 2009/10 season.
Guardiola’s men are now chasing their first EFL Cup title since 2020/21, and with eight trophies in their coffers, only Liverpool have lifted the trophy more times (10).
Since that first-leg win, City’s form has faltered. They have managed just two wins from their last five games in all competitions (D1, L2), a run capped by a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
This stalemate hugely affected their Premier League title challenge, but a return to the Etihad could be the ideal platform for them to win again.
The Cityzens have won 14 of their last 18 home games in all competitions this season (D2 L2). They have also won each of their last 11 meetings with Newcastle at the Etihad.
Newcastle began their EFL Cup title defense with wins over Bradford, Tottenham and Fulham.
However, their 10-match winning streak in the competition since the start of the 2024/25 season came to an abrupt halt at St. James’ Park with a home defeat to Man City in the first leg.
The Magpies have a huge task ahead of them as they try to overturn a two-goal deficit and give themselves a real chance of successfully defending their crown.
Manager Eddie Howe insists his side are still in contention, raising hopes that Newcastle can yet pull off the mother of all comebacks behind enemy lines.
If they do, they will be only the second team to overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit to reach the EFL Cup final after Aston Villa against Tranmere Rovers in 1993/94.
It doesn’t help that Newcastle have an awful record at the Etihad, having lost 17 of their last 18 visits to Man City.
The Magpies have celebrated just one win on Man City’s turf in more than two decades.
But it’s worth noting that solitary success came in this competition when they secured a 2-0 fourth-round win in October 2014.
If Newcastle can somehow turn things around, it will be difficult to stop them from securing back-to-back EFL Cup titles this season.
Team news
Man City have welcomed back Ruben Dias from a hamstring injury, but the Newcastle clash could come too soon for the Portuguese centre-back.
The Cityzens will also be without Jeremy Doku, Josko Gvardiol, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic and Savinho, while January addition Marc Guehi is ineligible.
Meanwhile, Newcastle will be without Bruno Guimaraes, who has struggled to shake off an ankle problem.
Sven Botman has recovered in time for this clash but Lewis Miley is set to miss out after joining Joelinton, Valentino Livramento, Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth in the infirmary.
Manchester City Potential Starting Line-up:
(4-2-3-1): James Trafford; Matheus Nunes, Abdulkodir Khusanov, Nathan Ake, Rayan Ait-Nouri; Rodri, Nico O’Reilly; Ryan Cherki, Bernardo Silva, Antoine Semenyo, Erling Braut Haaland.
Newcastle United’s potential starting line-up:
(4-3-3): Nick Pope; Kieran Trippier, Malick Thiaw, Dan Burn, Lewis Hall; Joe Willock, Sandro Tonali, Jacob Ramsey; Harvey Barnes, Yoane Wissa, Anthony Gordon.
