Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle
Goal: Alvarez (31e) for Citizens
First successful test for Manchester City.
Despite a start to the season plagued by injuries (John Stones, Rúben Dias, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva), Manchester City showcased the depth and power of their squad to win (1-0) against Scarecrow Newcastle this Saturday night. The task was going to be difficult against the fourth of the last Premier League season, and the Citizens were forced to display a high and constant level of play in order not to be surprised by Alexander Isak’s band, well muzzled by the City defense. THE Skyblueson the contrary, proved dangerous although clumsy (fourteen shots to seven, but only four on target to one), apart from Julián Álvarez.
The Argentine international striker, still as valuable despite and who manages to exist in the shadow of Erling Haaland, perfectly exploited Phil Foden’s lag by chaining a shot without momentum at the entrance to the penalty area which comes lodge in the skylight opposite Nick Pope, the keeper of the Magpies can only touch the leather (1-0, 31e). An illumination in this fight of almost 100 minutes which still shows the superiority of the players of Pep Guardiola – decided to keep the same XI all the meeting – across the Channel. Because if the latter won by the smallest of margins, the score could have been much heavier without the failures of Haaland (41e63e65e) or Foden (89e).
A goalless victory for Haaland could even count double.
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ederson – Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol – Rodri, Kovačić – Foden, Álvarez, Grealish – Haaland. Coach : Pep Guardiola.
Newcastle (4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schär, Botman, Burn – Tonali (Anderson, 66e), Guimaraes, Joelinton (Longstaff, 57e) – Almiron (Livramento, 86e), Isak (Wilson, 66e), Gordon (Barnes, 56e). Coach : Eddie Howe.