Newcastle United v Manchester City Betting Preview

Back Manchester City to ease to victory over Newcastle

Newcastle United

With a 3-0 win at home to Swansea on Saturday, Newcastle have well and truly staked their claim for Premier League survival, and the relegation battle is back on. The Tyneside club, despite still sitting in 19^th position, have 28 points and are now only three behind Norwich City with a game in hand. A victory over Manchester City looks very unlikely, but a win on Tuesday night would be a massive result for Rafa Benitez’s side.

United’s home form has been reasonably impressive of late, despite their poor run of results. They’ve won just one of their last eight games, but they’ve lost only two of their last nine at St James’ Park. The Magpies have scored seven goals in their last four but they’ve conceded in 17 of their last 19 – so Newcastle fans shouldn’t get carried away after their weekend win over Swansea, and three wins in 2016 isn’t good form to be taking into the season’s final stretch. There’s still five big games to come, but I think Manchester City will ease to victory on Tuesday night.

Manchester City

Manuel Pellegrini’s men have found their form at just the right time, and with three league wins in a row they look set to secure Champions League football for next season. City have four wins in their last five in all competitions, including a draw and a win over PSG to secure their place in the semi-finals of Europe’s elite club competition. Pellegrini’s side face Real Madrid over two legs for a place in their first Champions League final.

A Sergio Aguero hat-trick meant Manchester City comfortably saw off Chelsea in a 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and the Citizens are now four points clear of Manchester United in third position, and level on points with Arsenal after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace on Sunday. City have only lost one of their last seven games, and I can see them winning comfortably on Tuesday night. I’m backing them to win the tie.

Head-to-Head

City have only lost one of the last 20 meetings between the two sides, taking three draws and 16 victories in that time. They’ve won 11 of the last 13, and with Newcastle’s last home win coming all the way back in August 2005, it would be a huge surprise to see Newcastle come away with a win on Tuesday night.

To score – Kevin de Bruyne 6/4

It’s fair to say that he’s been one of the league’s most impressive players this season, and if it wasn’t for his lengthy lay-off with a knee injury, the Belgian could well have led City to the Premier League title. Pellegrini’s men only managed two wins from seven games in his absence. De Bruyne has six goals and ten assists in 22 league appearances this season, and 15 goals in all competitions. In the reverse fixture at the Etihad back in October he contributed with a goal and two assists for his side, and I can see him bagging another goal on Tuesday night with odds of 6/4.

Both teams to score – No 11/10

Manchester City’s defence looks far stronger than it did a few months ago, and they’ve only conceded three goals in their last five games in all competitions. Also, Newcastle have only managed to find the net in one of the last eight meetings between the two sides, and despite scoring in eight of their last nine homes games, I can’t see them breaking down City’s defence on Tuesday night. I’m backing odds of 11/10 for at least one side to fail to score.

Match odds – Manchester City 3/5

Newcastle are in desperate need of wins from their remaining five games with relegation still looking likely, but I think a full-strength Manchester City side looking to strengthen their bid for a top-four position will be too good for Benitez’s men on Tuesday. The away side are priced as odds-on favourites at 3/5, and I recommend backing City to win. A home win is priced at 19/4, and odds of 17/5 are available for the draw.

Writer’s prediction: Newcastle United 0 – 3 Manchester City

*Odds correct at the time of publication, click here for all the latest odds on upcoming football matches.