On Saturday, March 4, at 3:30 p.m., the match of the 26th round of the English Premier League will be played between Manchester City and Newcastle. Both teams are in the top 5 of the standings, both have the most goals, so this matchup can be called central this coming weekend on a par with Liverpool – Manchester United. And this matchup is interesting for several reasons.
Are Manchester City overrated?
The coefficient of the bookmakers for the victory of Manchester City is approximately 1.5. And this is a clear exaggeration. His opinion was surely influenced by Newcastle’s four-game winless run, which included Manchester United’s defeats by Liverpool and draws by Bournemouth and West Ham. But before that, the team was fine.
Photo source: IMAGO
Before the game against the Reds, Newcastle was unbeaten in 17 games. Including the Magpies can be proud of their matches against the best clubs in the Premier League:
– 0:0 against Arsenal
– 1:0 against Chelsea
– 2:1 against Tottenham
– 0:0 against Manchester United
And most importantly – 3:3 in the first round against Manchester City. Newcastle lost just twice in 23 rounds, the best result of any team in the league. For example, the same “MS” lost 4 times, the leader “Arsenal” – 3.
Will Kevin de Bruyne join an elite club?
City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is traditionally top of the Premier League assist table with 12 goals, three assists ahead of closest pursuer Bukayo Saka. If he throws one more assist this weekend, it will be his 100th in all his years in the league. Only the following Premier League legends did more than him:
Frank Lampard-102
Wayne Rooney-103
Cesc Fabregas – 111
ryan giggs-164
He’s already scored 5 goals against Newcastle in the past, so why not do it again?
Photo source: IMAGO
Who will be the Newcastle goalkeeper?
The sanction of Nick Pope continues, so the goalkeeper issue is once again the most relevant for Newcastle. Formally, Martin Dubravka is considered the second goalkeeper, but he has few games in the season, the last one more than three months ago. Also in Arsenal is the third goalkeeper Loris Karius, who has played only one game this season, but more importantly, he only arrived a few days ago, which makes him more ready for the next Premier League game.
It is very interesting which of them will give preference to Eddie Howe.
Photo source: Reuters
Will there be goals?
Looking at the previous meetings of the opponents, one could safely conclude that a fun match awaits us, because in the last four 22 goals were scored, that is, an average of 5.5 per match.
But in the next round you have the feeling that the goalscoring madness may end. Newcastle rank third in scoring chances of any team in the league and have conceded the fewest goals in the league with 15. Even Manchester United (28) and Arsenal (23) have more. I can’t believe the Newcastle defense is suddenly crushed in front of the home team. Rather, a more cautious and tactically difficult match awaits us, in which the result of the match will be decided by 1-2 goals.
