Man City booked a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 3-1 comeback win at Newcastle on Saturday. Pep Guardiola’s side overturned an early Newcastle lead despite making 10 changes for the fifth-round tie.
Harvey Barnes gave Newcastle a rapid start, finishing a fine Sandro Tonali through ball into the top corner for his first goal in 13 games. Newcastle threatened further — Nico Gonzalez had to clear a Nick Woltemade header off the line after James Trafford’s poor parry — and City looked exposed early on.
City turned the game around through Savinho and Omar Marmoush. Jeremy Doku’s low cross caused panic in the six-yard box; Lewis Hall miscued a clearance and Savinho prodded the ball over the line to level. City had other chances before half-time as Tijjani Reijnders shot narrowly wide, Nico O’Reilly failed to convert from Aaron Ramsdale’s error, and Savinho saw a close-range attempt blocked.
At the start of the second half, Matheus Nunes’ low pass met Marmoush in the six-yard area and he tucked home to put City ahead. Marmoush then sealed the win with a thumping strike from just outside the box to make it 3-1. The Egyptian, who scored twice against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup earlier this season, finished strongly and there was no route back for Newcastle.
Guardiola, who celebrated the third goal wildly on the touchline, hailed the performance: “We played so good!… The best performance we have played in this stadium in our time together here. Really, really good.” Marmoush said: “Amazing performance. We showed our mentality and passion… I’m very happy to help the team with the goals.”
For Newcastle it is another cup exit at the hands of City this season following the Carabao Cup semi-final defeat. Eddie Howe reflected: “A good start from us… We couldn’t sustain the level we were playing out in terms of our energy and intensity and they certainly responded… We have the biggest game in the club’s history coming up in no time at all.”
Which teams are in the FA Cup quarter-finals?
– In the quarter-finals: Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City.
– Still to play: Fulham vs Southampton, Port Vale vs Sunderland, Leeds vs Norwich, West Ham vs Brentford.
Team news headlines
– Man City made 10 changes for the tie, with only Matheus Nunes retaining his place. Erling Haaland was not in the squad.
– Newcastle made four changes; Will Osula started after his heroics against Man United and Nick Woltemade returned from illness.
With the win City remain strong contenders across multiple competitions; they travel to Real Madrid on Wednesday. Newcastle have little time to dwell on the defeat as they host Barcelona in the Champions League last-16 on Tuesday. City will learn their FA Cup quarter-final opponents in Monday night’s draw.