The all-Premier League tie of the round sees Pep Guardiola's Man City travelling to St James' Park to face Newcastle United in the FA Cup
Newcastle United and Manchester City are set to face each other for the fifth time this season across all competitions, this time meeting in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday evening. The Magpies have experienced mixed fortunes against City at St James’ Park, having claimed a 2-1 Premier League win in November but falling 2-0 in the first leg of an EFL Cup semi-final two months later.
Newcastle recently snapped a three-game home losing streak in the league with a crucial 2-1 victory over Michael Carrick’s Manchester United on Wednesday night, despite being reduced to 10 men for the entire second half. Jacob Ramsey was controversially sent off, and although Anthony Gordon’s penalty opener was cancelled out by Casemiro in first-half stoppage time, substitute Will Osula netted a dramatic 90th-minute winner—his first goal since September—to secure all three points.
Currently sitting 12th in the Premier League and nine points adrift of the top six with nine games left, Eddie Howe’s men still have plenty to do to secure European football for next season, while also juggling their Champions League and FA Cup ambitions. Newcastle, last season’s EFL Cup winners, were unable to defend their title after suffering a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Manchester City in this year’s semi-finals, and they also lost 2-1 at the Etihad in their most recent league encounter with the Citizens two weeks ago.
Manchester City now have the chance to become only the third team to knock Newcastle out of both the EFL Cup and FA Cup in the same season, following in the footsteps of Wimbledon (1987-88) and Arsenal (2007-08). However, Newcastle have a strong record at this stage of the FA Cup, advancing from nine of their last ten fifth-round ties—including two victories over City in 1994-95 and 2001-02.
While Newcastle celebrated a win midweek, City dropped points in the Premier League, drawing 2-2 at home with Nottingham Forest thanks to a late equalizer from Forest’s City-linked Elliot Anderson. Pep Guardiola’s side now trail leaders Arsenal by seven points, though they do have a game in hand. This gameweek could prove pivotal in the title race, but with plenty of matches left, more twists are likely.
Before turning their attention to a tough Champions League last-16 clash with Real Madrid next week, City will focus on their 11th FA Cup meeting with Newcastle. The Citizens have progressed from the last two such encounters—in the quarter-finals of 2019-20 and 2023-24—after managing just two wins from their first eight FA Cup ties against the Magpies.
Manchester City have been formidable in the FA Cup, winning 18 of their last 20 matches in the competition over the past four seasons, with their only defeats coming in the 2024 and 2025 finals to Manchester United and Crystal Palace. In the third, fourth, and fifth rounds, Guardiola’s men have won their last 23 matches, amassing an incredible 89-11 aggregate score since their 1-0 loss to Wigan in the 2017-18 fifth round.
Newcastle have reached this stage by defeating fellow Premier League sides Bournemouth and Aston Villa, while City have benefited from three own goals in their FA Cup wins over lower-league opponents Exeter City (10-1) and Salford City (2-0)—matching the Premier League record for own goals in a single FA Cup campaign, previously set by West Ham in 2005-06 and City themselves in 2018-19.
Newcastle will be without the suspended Jacob Ramsey this weekend, while Bruno Guimaraes (hamstring), Fabian Schar (ankle), Emil Krafth (knee), and Lewis Miley (thigh) all remain out with injuries. The match may also come too soon for Tino Livramento as he continues his recovery from a hamstring issue.
Sandro Tonali, who has played the full 90 minutes in each of the last six matches, will have his fitness evaluated ahead of the game, while Nick Woltemade could return to the squad after missing the midweek victory over Manchester United due to illness.
Harvey Barnes, who has contributed to five goals in seven home FA Cup starts (four goals, one assist), is in contention to start in the front three alongside Anthony Gordon. Will Osula, Yoane Wissa, Anthony Elanga, and Jacob Murphy will also be pushing for a place in the starting lineup.
For Manchester City, Josko Gvardiol (tibial fracture) and Mateo Kovacic (ankle/heel) remain unavailable, while Nico O'Reilly is a minor doubt after picking up an ankle knock in the win at Leeds and missing the draw with Nottingham Forest.
With a Champions League trip to Real Madrid on the horizon next week, Pep Guardiola may opt to rotate his squad. James Trafford, Abdukodir Khusanov, John Stones, and Rico Lewis are all candidates for a recall, while Nico Gonzalez, Tijjani Reijnders, Jeremy Doku, Savinho, and Omar Marmoush will also be hoping for a starting role. Guardiola will need to decide whether to stick with in-form players like Antoine Semenyo and Erling Haaland, the latter having completed 90 minutes in midweek after returning from a minor injury.