Manchester City ensured that there would be no European hangover from their Super Cup exertions as they scraped past Newcastle United 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
A sublime Julian Alvarez strike set up by man of the match Phil Foden settled the Premier League contest in the Citizens’ favour, as the champions made it two for two in the 2023-24 season to start their title defence in perfect fashion.
With the absences of a handful of key players taking its toll, Man City’s first XI included nine men who had played the full 90 in Wednesday’s Super Cup triumph over Sevilla, alongside recalls for Ruben Dias and Alvarez.
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The reigning champions still dominated possession in the earliest stages as expected, but Nick Pope remained untroubled in goal, and it took 14 minutes for Man City to have their first sighter of goal; Manuel Akanji’s 20-yard strike was always rising, though.
However, City continued in their attempts to wear Newcastle down, and they succeeded in the 31st minute, as Foden picked up the ball in the right-hand side of the area and cut back for Alvarez, who fired a terrific strike across goal and into the top corner.
The effervescent Foden nearly turned provider for Erling Haaland in the 41st minute, as the Norwegian attempted to pick out the far corner after being slipped through by the 23-year-old but dragged his shot just wide.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between during the earliest stages of the second half, where Anthony Gordon was perhaps fortunate to escape a second yellow card for a foul on Dias, before Eddie Howe wisely withdrew the ex-Everton man for Harvey Barnes.
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However, Foden continued to run the show for Man City and slipped Haaland through on goal in the 60th minute, but an excellent last-ditch challenge from Fabian Schar denied the Scandinavian his customary goal.
The Foden-Haaland combination came to the fore again in the 63rd and 65th minutes, but the latter’s frustrating evening continued, as he fired just wide on the first opportunity before being denied by the feet of Pope from a tight angle.
A rare Rodri mistake almost offered the visitors a route back into the game in the 70th minute, but Ederson got down low to make a comfortable save from Barnes’s 20-yard curler, and City successfully shut up shop to take maximum spoils, winning a 17th home match in a row in the process.
The champions are next in action away to newly-promoted Sheffield United next Sunday, while Newcastle host Liverpool at St James’ Park in eight days’ time.