Manchester City 1 (Ruben Dias 68′)
Newcastle United 2 (Harvey Barnes 63′, 70′)
Manchester City have been beaten 2-1 by Newcastle United after a pulsating Premier League fixture at St. James Park. Pep Guardiola named an unchanged starting lineup from his team’s emphatic win over Liverpool which indicates that he may have found his team’s best lineup for now. But City’s performance wasn’t their best and they fell to a disappointing defeat against a determined Newcastle United side.
First half
The game was barely 30 seconds in when Newcastle had the first on target. Gianluigi Donnarumma sold Phil Foden up the river with a dangerous pass into midfield from the Italian international to Foden. Foden was easily dispossessed by the Newcastle press and Harvey Barnes fired a shot in on goal that Donnarumma got down to his left to save. A minute later Erling Haaland scuffed a chance wide after being played in after City had played through the Newcastle press. The oncoming Nick Pope clearly unsettled Haaland and a good chance was wasted for City. Both teams had made a bright start to the match which set the tone for what lie ahead.
Gianluigi Donnarumma would make a fine save in the 12th minute to keep out a Nick Woltemade header. After Manchester City had dominated possession in the game’s opening 10 minutes, Eddie Howe’s side would create the next big chance of the game. A fine cross from the right wing from Jacob Murphy picked Woltemade whose powerful header was kept out by a stunning save from Donnarumma. The Italian international got down well to his right and he prevented Newcastle from taking an early lead.
Phil Foden puts a chance wide but should City have had a penalty?
Jeremy Doku would pick out Phil Foden in the 17th minute in acres of space in the Newcastle penalty area. Doku’s ability to find space in the middle of the pitch was causing Eddie Howe’s side issues. Doku picked out Foden who hit a shot wide under pressure from Newcastle centre-back Fabian Schär. Schär’s lunging challenge put off Foden but the Swiss international’s challenge did catch Foden with his studs. A lengthy VAR check ensued but the decision was no penalty awarded. You did wonder what constitutes a penalty after seeing several replays of Schär’s challenge.
Donnarumma would deny Nick Woltemade again in the 26th minute. Rayan Cherki gave away possession in midfield and Newcastle surged forward on the break. Sandro Tonali picked out Harvey Barnes on the left wing and Barnes played in Woltemade. Woltemade’s shot was well saved again by Donnarumma down to his right. Manchester City were dominating possession but the hosts had created the game’s best chances in the opening half-hour.
Harvey Barnes squanders Newcastle’s best chance of the game.
Harvey Barnes would squander the game’s best chance in the 31st minute. Newcastle played through City’s defence and Jacob Murphy was found in acres of space on their right wing. Murphy played in a quality ball across the City six-yard box and Barnes got on the end of it unmarked at the back post for a tap-in. But somehow Barnes put his chance wide when Eddie Howe’s side should have taken the lead.
Erling Haaland would squander a golden opportunity to give City the lead in the 35th minute. Jeremy Doku played in Nico O’Reilly on the left-hand side of the Newcastle penalty area and O’Reilly’s cutback picked out Haaland on the penalty spot. Haaland hit his shot straight at Nick Pope who chested the ball away and Manchester City’s chance to take the lead was gone.
Phil Foden puts a superb chance wide for City.
Manchester City should have taken the lead in the 42nd minute. A quick move from Pep Guardiola’s side saw Foden make a driving run at the retreating Newcastle defence. Foden picked out Cherki in acres of space on the right and the French international played the ball back to Foden who was unmarked near the Newcastle penalty spot. Foden somehow sidefooted his chance wide with the Newcastle defence stretched.
Phil Foden’s chance would be the last significant moment of the first half. Somehow the match remained goalless as both teams had squandered golden opportunities to break the deadlock. Newcastle had their chances as did City. The match was delicately poised at the interval and in truth, the game could go either way based on the first half.
HT: Newcastle 0-0 Man City
These two sides have amassed a combined 2.59 xG so far, the most in the first half of a Premier League game wihtout a goal this season. 📊#NEWMCI | @bet365 | #Ad pic.twitter.com/hUsSV9Utbw
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) November 22, 2025
Second half
The second half began similarly to the first. Newcastle had a corner that somehow evaded everyone in the 46th minute and Bernardo Silva curled a good chance wide of the far post after being played in by Rayan Cherki on City’s right-hand side.
Outside of another Nick Woltemade chance which was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma that was moot due to the German striker being offside, the game entered a lull between the 50th and 60th minutes. Manchester City were enjoying possession and Newcastle were sitting deep defensively to frustrate Pep Guardiola’s side.
Newcastle take the lead through Harvey Barnes.
Eddie Howe’s side would take the lead in the 63rd minute. Bruno Guimaraes made a driving run through midfield and played a ball to Harvey Barnes. Barnes played a neat one-two with the Brazilian international and beat Gianluigi Donnarumma with a quality strike with his right foot into the far corner to give Newcastle the lead. The goal was simple in its execution. Manchester City had it all to do from that moment onwards as the Newcastle fans were in full voice following Barnes’ goal.
Ruben Dias equalises for Manchester City and its game on!!!!
Pep Guardiola’s side would equalise through Ruben Dias in the 68th minute. The Newcastle defence failed to clear a City corner and the ball was recycled by City who were desperate to equalise. A Rayan Cherki cross was half cleared by the Newcastle defence and a Ruben Dias volley beat Nick Pope via a deflection to make it 1-all. It was now game on as the match entered the final 20 minutes.
Harvey Barnes restores Newcastle’s lead in similar fashion to Ruben Dias’ goal.
Newcastle would retake the lead in the 70th minute. Their goal would come after a desperate mouth scramble. Harvey Barnes showed great composure to tap in after the hosts had hit the crossbar in the madness that ensued. It did appear that Bruno Guimaraes was offside in the build-up to the goal but it wasn’t to be and Eddie Howe’s side had restored their lead. The images which can be seen below show that Bruno Guimaraes show that the Brazilian midfielder wasn’t offside and Newcastle celebrated their second goal of the game.
https://t.co/W6aaUi42yk pic.twitter.com/v1MmDpie8t
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) November 22, 2025
Following Newcastle’s goal until stoppage time City dominated possession but didn’t create any significant chances. As eight minutes of stoppage time began City had it all to do to salvage something from a disappointing performance.
Manchester City couldn’t create any significant chances in stoppage time and they fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat. City will rue their squandered chances but Newcastle had their moments and deserved their victory and all three points.
First thoughts at the final whistle.
I’m not one to comment on referees or VAR decisions and that isn’t about to change. What Manchester City’s performance showed today is that this is a City side that is still learning what it takes to win away from home in a hostile environment. Pep Guardiola’s side did enough to win the game but they lacked the composure to contend with a hostile environment and a fired up opponent. That should come in time but for right now, this City side remains a work in progress. The result is a disappointing one for Pep Guardiola’s side but Eddie Howe’s side deserved all three points for the chances they created and how determined they were in defence.