Manchester City will be looking to continue their perfect start to the season when they face Newcastle United at St. James' Park.
Goals from Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and a Jefferson Lerma own goal saw Man City beat Bournemouth 4-0 at the Etihad last weekend, sending Pep Guardiola 's side temporarily top of the table on goal difference. City are yet to concede a goal in their opening two games and they face the only other side yet to concede in the league this season, Newcastle.
This fixture has been a favourable one for City over the last few years, with the previous five clashes ending in victories for Guardiola's side. City beat the Magpies with an aggregate score of 9-0 last season, and the Premier League champions will be hoping for a similar result on Sunday.
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Kalvin Phillips and Aymeric Laporte are the only guaranteed absentees for City on Sunday, with Cole Palmer also a doubt for the trip to Tyneside. Guardiola could name a similar XI to the one that beat Bournemouth, with Gundogan potentially keeping his place over Bernardo Silva in midfield.
Newcastle vs Man United score prediction
To complete this simulation, we used FIFA 22 and updated the squads with the latest transfers. Due to FIFA 22 not having the latest kits, both sides lined up in last season's strips.
We predict that Newcastle could set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with their line-up as follows: Pope; Tripper, Schar, Botman, Burn; Willock, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.
We predict that City could set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with their line-up as follows: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, Haaland, Foden.
Newcastle came close to taking the lead in the first two minutes when Allan Saint-Maximin hit the bar from distance, but after that, City took full control of the game. The Magpies struggled to escape City's press into their half, and Guardiola's side took the lead after 15 minutes through Gundogan.
Phil Foden worked the ball down the left with Joao Cancelo before firing the ball into the box, and Gundogan met the cross with a bursting run from midfield. Newcastle failed to track the German's run, and Gundogan fired the ball into the top corner with a first-time effort.
Erling Haaland was forced off after 40 minutes as he picked up a knock when challenging for the ball, meaning Julian Alvarez was introduced for the last five minutes of the half. And, the Argentine forward made an instant impact, doubling City's lead with his second touch of the ball.
Kevin De Bruyne fizzed the ball to Alvarez on the edge of the box, and the striker flicked the ball out to Foden on the left before surging into the box. Foden squared the ball back to Alvarez, and the substitute drilled a fantastic shot with his left foot into the bottom corner for 2-0.
Newcastle came out the second half a much better team, and Joe Willock pulled a goal back on 70 minutes with a brilliant long-range effort. City were up against a wall for the final 20 minutes of the game, but they defended strongly, holding out for the three points.
FIFA 22 predicted final score: Newcastle 1-2 Man City
Here are the full-time match stats.
FIFA 22 predicts that despite taking a 2-0 lead in the first half, Newcastle could prove a difficult opponent to keep out, with Guardiola's side edging past the Magpies and winning 2-1. The simulation suggests that City may need to be on top of their game to overcome Eddie Howe's spirited Magpies on Sunday, with a victory not guaranteed.
What do you think the final score will be? Let us know in the comments!
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