Man City vs. Newcastle score, stats, talking points with Haaland benched for Carabao Cup semifinal
Manchester City hold a 2-0 advantage over Newcastle United heading into the second leg of their Carabao Cup semifinal.
A final date with Arsenal at Wembley on Sunday, March 22 is the prize on the line after the Gunners completed their semifinal task against Chelsea last night.
Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki got the goals in an impressive City showing at St James’ Park but their form elsewhere in 2026 has been largely poor.
Sunday’s 2-2 draw against an injury-hit Tottenham, a match where Pep Guardiola’s team established a comfortable 2-0 lead at halftime, should give Newcastle cause for encouragement. However, their record at the Etihad Stadium is awful.
The Carabao Cup holders have only won once at this venue, back in 2014, while no team has ever come from behind to win a League Cup semifinal after losing the first leg at home by two or more goals.
RECAP: Newcastle vs. Man City, Carabao Cup semfinal, 1st leg as it happened
Man City vs. Newcastle score
| Score (agg.) | Goalscorers | |
| Man City | 0 (2) | _ |
| Newcastle | 0 (0) | _ |
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester (UK)
Referee: Tony Harrington
Man City vs. Newcastle talking points, analysis
Match analysis from Man City vs. Newcastle will appear here after fulltime.
Man City vs. Newcastle lineups, team news
Pep Guardiola makes six changes from the team that spurned a two-goal lead at Tottenham, with Erling Haaland among those dropping to the bench. Omar Marmoush starts alongide Antoine Semenyo in attack, while Phil Foden gets his first start since the Manchester derby on January 17.
Ruben Dias is among the substitutes after a month on the sidelines, as is teenage midfielder Sverre Nypan following his recall from a loan spell at Middlesbrough. Captain Bernardo Silva is out after sustaining a hamstring injury at Tottenham.
While Semenyo is eligible to participate, Marc Guehi is cup-tied for this and a potential final, as he was not acquired by Man City prior to the start of the semifinals as required by this season’s new relaxed rules.
Man City starting XI (4-2-2-2 right to left): Trafford (GK) — Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, Ait-Nouri — Nico, O’Reilly— Foden, Reijnders — Semenyo, Marmoush
Man City subs: Donnarumma (GK), Dias, Haaland, Cherki, Rodri, Nypan, McAidoo, Alleyne, Lewis
Newcastle had an even more disappointing weekend as they lost 4-1 to Liverpool, despite Anthony Gordon opening the scoring at Anfield. The England winger retains his place fellow forwards Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga drop out.
Nick Woltemade joins Gordon in attack, with Sven Botman the other outfield player to come in as Eddie Howe reverts to a back five.
Newcastle starting XI (5-3-2, right to left): Ramsdale (GK) — Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Hall — Willock, Tonali, Ramsey —Gordon, Woltemade
Newcastle subs: Pope (GK), Wissa, Barnes, Osula, Elanga, J. Murphy, A. Murphy, Shahar, Neave
Man City vs. Newcastle reaction
Pep Guardiola and Eddie Howe’s post-match reaction will appear here.
Next games for Man City vs. Galatasaray
Manchester City travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, February 8
A day earlier, Newcastle host Brentford at St James’ Park.
