Don’t mention the Bernabeu. The traveling Newcastle supporters did so, although they felt they might get away with it. For Manchester City, it was all about trying to move forward. The wounds from the Champions League horror show last Wednesday at Real Madrid, when they gave up a two-goal lead in overtime before they came out, may never heal completely.
It’s about learning to live with them, to enter a new reality and it is Pep Guardiola who intends to win a fourth Premier League title in five seasons. Competition is the surest measure for a team during the season, and if City could do it again, then how could they feel empty? right?
City took a break from fate on Saturday night when Liverpool were held on a par by Tottenham at Anfield. This meant that City had a place for a draw in their match, but no one at the club wanted anything more than a victory here over a team from Newcastle, which was reinforced by Eddie Howe.
Inspired by Kevin De Bruyne, they understood. There were a few nerves in the beginning, but City soon took a step, Rahim Sterling marked the beginning, and Aymeric Laporte took advantage of a mistake in manipulating Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
The second half will be a procession. Rodri won third and with prominent Jack Grillish, City will increase their goal difference later, with substitutes Phil Foden and Stirling interfering again.
The City players had warmed up with T-shirts number 10, “Agueroooo” over the numbers – a hint of the upcoming 10-year celebration of the most famous moment in the history of the club. But it was about writing a new chapter.
Guardiola had said in advance that the mood at the club was much better than on Saturday, which was again better than Friday, although what happened to Anfield was clearly a bigger healer than the weather. The idea was that Liverpool’s slippage would have a liberating effect on City, giving them the pocket they needed to breathe, but what Guardiola’s team really wanted was an early goal. They understood, though there would have been some nerves before.
Laporte grabbed a decent chance in a corner from De Bruyne’s corner, and Joao Cancello did the same from a similar position when another Belgian cross came to him on the far post. And before that, Newcastle had to find the result.
When Alan Saint-Maximin raised the ball to the right after a quick counterattack, he had Joelinton in yards in the area, so much so that he felt incompatible. He could not work the cross. But he would do moments later, and Chris Wood was all alone for a header. He pointed it extravagantly at Ederson.
The breakthrough in City came in the 19th minute and was created by Ilkay Gundogan, whose cropped cross to the far post was made to measure for Cancello. Kare with his head on his back and Stirling were the first to nod home.
Rahim Stirling rolls over after scoring Manchester City’s first goal against Newcastle. Photo: Matt West / Shutterstock
City came in control of the first half, with De Bruyne in the mood to prevail. He drove with the ball at his feet, leaving black and white shirts behind, while his pass was the classic mix of spikes and precision.
Newcastle flashed again in the 24th minute when Jamal Laskeles headed a corner into the goal and saw the ball hit Bruno Guimaraes, who was offside. Wood hit the loose ball past Ederson, but the flag would rise against Guimaraes.
City turned the screw. Sterling defeated Matt Target to introduce Cancello, who was rejected by Dubravka on a nearby beam; De Bruyne chose Gabriel Jesus, who he could not control, and Alexander Zinchenko almost contacted Jesus after more tips from De Bruyne. Jesus would stretch again in the added time of the first half to center De Bruyne, but again he could not convert.
City’s second was disastrous for Dubravka. He couldn’t keep Gundogan out of the zone after De Bruyne’s corner, and although it came through the crowd, he had to do better. He almost redeemed himself by pulling the loose ball from Ruben Diaz, but it struck Laporte, who scored.
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Two goals up and in control. What can go wrong? Nothing, as it turned out. City set the tone for the dormant position they set in the second half, taking 99% of the possession in the first eight minutes.
They were convinced of the result of the time point, when Rodry reported his run to the nearby beam to hit the corner of De Bruyne. It was not a goal that the guests would be happy to watch. Among the blocks and screens in the Rodri area, he was allowed to find the place too easily.
Guardiola led the applause for Jesus when he replaced him, urging the audience to recognize the striker, just as he did in the 33rd minute when Gundogan chased back to push out the crumbling Saint-Maximin.
Howe introduced Callum Wilson and Kieran Tripier after long dismissals from injuries and they both looked rusty. Wilson missed one-on-one with Ederson in the 83rd minute and Tripper was easily defeated by Grilish in City’s fourth goal. When Grilish backed away, Zinchenko’s cross was returned by Foden.
City kept the best for last. Grillish turned left again, and after receiving a wonderful shot from Foden, he introduced Sterling, who fired. Two goals after the 90th minute. This time City could enjoy them.
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