Manchester City, comfortable leaders of the Premier League, visits St James' Park this Wednesday to face Newcastle United in the 3rd round of the League Cup, in the most attractive match that has a recent background.
Why it is important
For Manchester City, the League Cup, the only trophy they didn't win last season, can be an incentive to try to achieve another perfect campaign. Guardiola's team will rotate their rich squad, showing off the depth of their replacements. Although a completely new starting eleven is not expected, since the power of the opponent will require managing rest minutes for the stars.
On the other side will be Newcastle, who reached the final in the previous season but lost against the other team from Manchester. The Magpies, the great revelation of England in the last campaign, had a shaky start this season, in both the Premier League and the Champions League. It remains to be seen if they have enough energy to compete in this tournament again. A trophy that is both accessible but is usually overlooked by the most established clubs.
Players to watch
It is expected that Guardiola will rest several of his key players in this match. Manchester City's schedule is demanding, as they are obligated to win everything. However, it is unclear how much the quality of the opponent will influence this rotation. A clash between Champions League teams in the 3rd round is a problem for both. Whoever plays, the biggest threat to Guardiola's team will be in their offensive line. Norwegian Erling Haaland or Argentine Julián Álvarez, maybe both, have been the highlights of a talented team.
On the other side, Newcastle has similar questions with a less luxurious squad. After a slow start in the Premier League and a debut draw in the Champions League, the Magpies must decide how much risk it is worth taking with their players in this match against the best team in Europe. Sandro Tonali, who started the season as a starter but lost his place, should return to the starting lineup. The Italian needs to regain dominance in the midfield. As for the attacking line, Alexander Isak's situation is similar. He was a substitute in the last game and will probably have a chance this Wednesday. He must take advantage of it.
Recent form
Manchester City's season has started as well as the previous one ended. After the penalty shootout defeat against Arsenal in the Community Shield, Guardiola's team has won their last 8 official matches, including 6 in the Premier League, the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla, and their debut in the Champions League with a 3-1 victory over Red Star Belgrade. An ideal current form.
Newcastle, on the other hand, seems to be resembling the dominant team that surprised in the last Premier League. After the great debut, a 5-1 win against Aston Villa, the Magpies lost 3 consecutive matches against direct rivals Liverpool, Brighton, and City. The goalless draw in the Champions League against Milan was seen as a step forward, a sign that the team is competing again. Wins in the league against teams fighting for survival, a 1-0 victory over Brentford and, especially, the recent 8-0 win over Sheffield United, provide a good platform for what's to come. Eliminating City in this League Cup is an ideal chance to restore their image as contenders.
Last meeting
In Matchday 2 of this Premier League season, Manchester City overpowered Newcastle. The 1-0 final score in Manchester didn't reflect the extent to which Guardiola's team outperformed the Magpies. More was expected from Eddie Howe's team, but they didn't live up to the challenge. The expectation for this League Cup match is that the home advantage will be reversed.
The last time they faced each other at St. James' Park was in the previous Premier League season, on August 21, 2022, and they treated us to an exciting 3-3 draw. Hopefully, we will see something similar in this great clash, the most attractive one in the 3rd round of the League Cup.
How to watch
The match will be broadcasted on Star+.