Lackmustest for the best defence!
A top match in the Premier League is coming up with Manchester City against Newcastle. The home side go into the encounter in second place and the visitors in fifth.
The home side will also be relying heavily on the home bonus in this one: No team in the British top flight scores better than the Citizens (10-1-1). Moreover, no other team scores more goals on home soil.
The average number of goals scored by the visitors in league play is 3.4. However, United counter City’s offensive strength with the best defence in the league. The forecast for the undoubtedly exciting clash between Manchester City and Newcastle United is less than three goals for the hosts.
Manchester City – Statistics & current form
Manchester are not only the team with the best home attack, but they usually get off to a fast start in games at the Etihad Stadium. Thus, seven of the ten home victories, including an interval lead, have been recorded.
With this in mind, the odds and betting on the home side to score before the break are also worth considering for the clash between Manchester City and Newcastle.
On the offensive side, City coach Pep Guardiola has the best goal scorer in the Premier League in Erling Haaland. The Norwegian ranks first in the goalscoring charts, a whopping nine goals ahead of Tottenham’s Harry Kane in second place.
In recent weeks, however, his goal-scoring prowess has diminished, with the ex-BVB striker scoring in just two of his last seven competitive matches.
Successful dress rehearsal in the FA Cup
In addition, City have already competed in the FA Cup this week. Against Bristol from the Championship, they achieved a commanding 3-0 away victory.
On top of that, the hosts also have to play matches in the top flight at the moment, with the second leg against RB Leipzig waiting the week after next, which is why the squad is very physically challenged at the moment.
Last games of Manchester City:
FA Cup
01/03/2023 – Bristol City 0 – 3 Manchester City
Premier League
26/02/2023 – Bournemouth 1 – 4 Manchester City
Champions League Final
23/02/2023 – RB Leipzig 1 – 1 Manchester City
Premier League
18/02/2023 – Nottingham Forest 1 – 1 Manchester City
16/02/2023 – Arsenal FC 1 – 3 Manchester City
Newcastle – Statistics & current form
Newcastle had to lick their wounds this week, as last weekend they lost the EFL Cup final against Manchester United with 0:2. This saw Loris Karius make his debut in goal after not playing a competitive game for almost exactly two years.
Against City, however, Nick Pope will return in the visitors’ box as the starting number 1 has served his card suspension for a handball outside the penalty area in the last league game against Liverpool.
United nail the box very efficiently
The Magpies will now rely on their defensive strength, as described. With twelve games without conceding a goal, they have the most clean sheets in the league and no team concedes fewer goals. The visitors have only conceded 15 goals so far and the defence is just as solid away from home as it is at home – only seven goals conceded in eleven away games.
However, the attacking performances have diminished recently, which is why United have established themselves as draw specialists. No less than half of the past ten league games have ended in a draw. In addition, coach Eddie Howe’s side share the most draws with Brentford so far this season (11).
Once again, no more than two goals in a game?
Due to a deficient attacking department and an unwavering defence, the games of the players from St. James’ Park have been low-scoring these weeks. For seven matchdays, they have always ended with a maximum of two goals.
In light of this, the prediction and odds for the clash between Manchester City and Newcastle are again less than 2.5 goals until the final whistle.
Last matches played by Newcastle:
Carabao Cup
26/02/2023 – Manchester United 2 – 0 Newcastle
Premier League
19/02/2023 – Newcastle 0 – 2 Liverpool FC
12/02/2023 – Bournemouth 1 – 1 Newcastle
05/02/2023 – Newcastle 1 – 1 West Ham
Carabao Cup
01/02/2023 – Newcastle 2 – 1 Southampton
Manchester City – Newcastle Direct comparison / H2H record
The teams still parted with a high-scoring 3-3 draw in the first leg, and the home side have gone unbeaten in nine league and FA Cup clashes in this pairing (7-2-0) thanks to the draw.
Furthermore, Manchester have won their last 13 home games in the PL against Newcastle! Everton alone have a longer such run against Fulham among current Premier League representatives, with 14 home wins against a single opponent.
Manchester City – Newcastle Tip
For the match between Manchester City and Newcastle, the tip includes less than three goals by the home side. The admittedly best attack in the Premier League faces a particularly difficult task this time.
After all, the visitors travel with the most successful defence. The prediction is also supported by the fact that the hosts have already competed in the FA Cup this week and, given the many weddings on which they dance both domestically and internationally, City will have to be careful with their strengths.
In addition, the top goal scorer in the division Erling Haaland’s goal tally has diminished of late and the attack has not been as consistently up-tempo as before – four of the past eight competitive games have ended with the champions scoring one goal or less.
On top of that, the visitors are unbeaten in eight away games in the PL. A longer series of this kind in the country’s top division has only been achieved once in their history between November 1907 and March 1908 (10)!
