Gvardiol on target but City have to settle for a point against Magpies

Josko Gvardiol fired City into a first-half lead after a cleverly-crafted goal that saw him convert Jack Grealish’s threaded pass.

But Newcastle equalised form the penalty spot midway through the second half with Anthony Gordon scoring after he had been brought down by Ederson.

City kept pushing for a winner with Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva having strong efforts on goal but both sides had to settle for a point.

WHAT HAPPENED

Newcastle and City has almost always been a must-watch game throughout the Premier League era, with so many classic matches over the years including last season’s incredible last-gasp 3-2 win at St James’ Park. 

However, City were missing our clutch heroes from that victory with Kevin De Bruyne and Oscar Bobb out due to injury as well as Nathan Ake and Rodri who both started that clash. 

Ballon d’Or frontrunner Rodri is set to miss the entire season after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal but Guardiola says we must find a solution to his absence, and opted for Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovacic at the centre of midfield against a strong Newcastle team.

The former Academy player was quickly into the action, getting caught by Joelinton making a clearance in the opening minute as the home side tried to make a fast start.

And Newcastle forward Gordon thought he might have Ederson in danger as he pressed high up the pitch, but the Brazilian keeper was typically unflustered and an audacious backheel kept City in control.

City had early attempts through Manuel Akanji and Erling Haaland but there were few chances in the opening half hour despite a frenetic pace.

Lewis made a clever run behind the Newcastle defence from Gvardiol’s free-kick and the ball was worked to Ilkay Gundogan on the edge of the box but he miscued his attempt.

Haaland then showed his strength to hold off Dan Burn’s challenge and was close to finishing off a sweeping move at the backpost but Kieran Trippier just beat the Norwegian to Bernardo‘s low cross.

A physical encounter saw Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes receive yellow cards for late tackles, but it was a touch of finesse that led to the breakthrough.

Grealish, brilliantly rode a Trippier challenge before an incisive pass picked out Gvardiol who turned inside Burn and sidefooted home a clever finish past Nick Pope.

Moments later, the English keeper tried to match Ederson’s calmness on the ball and could only give it away to Gundogan but scrambled back to keep out the midfielder’s long-range attempt.

Ederson, meanwhile, was called into action on the stroke of half-time, reacting expertly to keep out Joelinton’s vicious strike.

But just before the hour the Brazilian was adjudged to have caught Gordon as he raced into the box.

He was unhappy with the decision, believing that the winger initiated the contact, but Gordon made no mistake from the spot.

The equaliser raised the temperature inside the stadium with Kovacic, Grealish, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton all booked in the space of three minutes as the game threatened to boil over.

Foden came on to try to help us wrestle back control and hit a fierce volley that was stopped by Pope.

Haaland had a header off-target and Newcastle’s Sean Longstaff dragged a shot wide as both sides tried to get a winner.

And the closest either side came was in stoppage time when Bernardo‘s superb turn and volley was tipped over the bar.

TEAMS

NEWCASTLE: Pope, Trippier (Livramento 78), Schar, Burn, Hall, Joelinton, Guimaraes, Tonali (Longstaff 78), Gordon, J Murphy, Barnes (Willock 77).

Subs not used: Dubrabvka, Krafth, Osula, Almiron, Kelly, A Murphy.

CITY: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis (Doku 81), Kovacic, Gundogan (Foden 66), Bernardo, Grealish (Savinho 81), Haaland

Subs not used: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Stones, Nunes, McAtee.

HOW WE LINED UP

City made eight changes from the side that beat Watford in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night with Kyle Walker the only player to start our last three matches.

He was in the same back-four that started against Arsenal in the Premier League last weekend alongside Ruben Dias, Akanji and Gvardiol.

A new-look midfield saw Lewis and Kovacic as a double pivot at the base of midfield with Gundogan ahead of them.

Grealish started on the left, with Silva shifting out to the right and Haaland leading the line.

MAN OF THE MATCH

No Premier League defender has scored more goals in 2024 than Gvardiol and a lot of them were important ones during our title run-in.

A run of five goals in seven matches showcased a calmness and gave us yet another attacking threat and he did it again.

It’s not just the goals that the Croatian gets, it’s also his intelligent movement that helps to pull opponents out of position while maintaining his main job as a no-nonsense defender.

Signed as a centre-back from his days at RB Leipzig, he was surprised to play so much on the left but Guardiola sees things that others don’t, including Gvardiol’s natural talent to play the role.

PEP GUARDIOLA REACTION

“After the goal they scored, they had five or 10 minutes but it’s always like that at St James’ Park.

“In general, we played really good. At 0-1 we made bad decisions or we could have made it 0-2.

“It was difficult, with their physicality because they defend so deep.

“It’s what happened lately but we had the chances and Pope was brilliant but we take a point.”

KOVACIC REACTION

“I think it was a tough game, it always is here - high intensity, duels, tackles, it’s always a battle here.

“We could have won the game we had the chances before the penalty but we have to live with the draw.

“We have to improve some parts of the game.”

WHAT IT MEANS

City remain top of the Premier League, extending our advantage to two points.

But as the first game of the weekend, our rivals are still to play and could leapfrog City at the summit.

WHAT’S NEXT

The games are coming thick and fast with a Champions League clash away to Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday night. 

City drew 0-0 in our opening match against Inter at the Etihad Stadium while the Slovakian side were beaten 5-1 at Scottish champions Celtic.

Kick-off is at 20:00 (UK) and we will have all the details and build-up for the match on mancity.com and the official Manchester City app.