Reigning champions, Manchester City entertain Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium in the Quarter-Finals of 2023-24 FA Cup.
Victory would see Man City reach the semi-finals for a sixth consecutive season, whilst Newcastle are chasing a first semi-final appearance in 19 years.
Team News
Kevin De Bruyne is ruled out for Man City with a groin injury.
Ederson (muscle) will also miss out but Jack Grealish (groin) is in contention for an early return.
Newcastle will be without Harvey Barnes after he suffered a hamstring injury in their Premier League loss at Chelsea.
Dan Burn (back) and Anthony Gordon (knee) face late fitness tests but Lewis Hall (ineligibility) is available for selection.
Kieran Trippier (calf), Matt Targett (hamstring), Nick Pope (shoulder), Sandro Tonali (suspension), Callum Wilson (chest) and Joelinton (quad) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Man City host Newcastle at Etihad Stadium on Saturday 16 March at 5:30pm GMT, live on BBC1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man City have won two of their last five FA Cup ties against Newcastle (W2, L3).
- Newcastle have won two of their three previous FA Cup away trips to Man City (W2, L1), although this is City’s first FA Cup clash against Newcastle to be played at the Etihad Stadium.
- Both Man City and Newcastle each won one of their last two FA Cup meetings in Manchester by a 2-0 result.
- Five of Man City’s 12 FA Cup goals this season have been scored by Erling Haaland, which all came in their Fifth Round victory at Luton by a 6-2 result.
- Newcastle have scored six goals and conceded just one goal in this season’s FA Cup.
Prediction
Having luckily snatched a point through some VAR incompetence at Liverpool which denied the Reds a penalty, Man City will surely feel confident that they can continue their FA Cup title defence but I would like to see them be more clinical in open play than they were at Anfield.
Newcastle meanwhile were lacklustre at Chelsea despite two clinical goals but they were overall wasteful in their end product, although their slow start really cost them so a more energetic start is needed if want to avoid a second Quarter-Final exit in domestic cup competitions this season.
Man City though should really have too much quality for Newcastle who haven’t fared well away to City once the Cityzens moved to the Etihad Stadium, but Eddie Howe’s men should go defensive and hope that they can be clinical on the counter-attack and City have an off-day.
I however don’t see that happening for Newcastle unfortunately as this should be an one-way result.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-0 Newcastle United
Result: Manchester City 2-0 Newcastle United
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