Manchester City 3 (Savinho 39′, Omar Marmoush 47′, 65′)
Newcastle United 1 (Harvey Barnes 18′)
Here are the City player ratings and match report as Manchester City booked their place in the quarter-final stage of the FA Cup tonight with a 3-1 win over Newcastle United in tonight’s FA Cup fifth-round tie at St. James’ Park. Harvey Barnes opened the scoring for Newcastle, but a goal from Savinho and a second half brace from Omar Marmoush were enough to see City progress.
Pep Guardiola rung the changes for tonight’s match. He made ten changes to the City starting lineup that drew with Nottingham Forest. Tonight’s lineup showed that Guardiola had one eye on Manchester City’s upcoming Champions League Round of 16 tie first-leg against Real Madrid. Having said that, there was quality in the City starting eleven and it was up to the players on the pitch to do the job against Eddie Howe’s combative side.
First half.
Newcastle began the game brightly, and a long throw-in and a corner tested the City defence in the opening two minutes. Manchester City did have the best chance in the opening two minutes. Nico won possession in midfield, and City broke forward quickly. The ball was played through to Tijjani Reijnders by Omar Marmoush, and Reijnders put an excellent chance wide with Aaron Ramsdale scrambling.
Newcastle United had a good opportunity in the tenth minute. Sandro Tonali played a great ball over the top of the City defence, which set William Osula free. Osula was clean through, but the ball got stuck under his feet, allowing Abdukodir Khusanov to make a strong clearing challenge on Harvey Barnes as the ball fell to the Newcastle winger in City’s six-yard box. From the resulting corner, Newcastle saw a Nick Woltemade header cleared off the line by Nico after James Trafford made a mess of coming out for a header back across goal from the back post by Newcastle.
Malick Thiaw had a good chance for Newcastle in the 15th minute. Aaron Ramsdale played a long free kick into a dangerous area, and Sven Botman got on the end of a John Stones’ defensive header to play a dangerous ball into the box. William Osula got to the end of Botman’s cross, and his shot turned into a cross that Malick Thiaw diverted over the bar from six yards out. It was debatable if Thiaw had scored the goal would have counted, as Botman did look to be offside in the buildup.
Newcastle take the lead which had been coming.
In the 18th minute, Newcastle would take the lead. A simple ball from Sandro Tonali played in Harvey Barnes. Barnes was played clean through, and he beat James Trafford with a simple finish to give the hosts an early lead. Eddie Howe’s side deserved their lead as Manchester City’s performance was disjointed and not at the required standard to contend with a hungry Newcastle side.
Savinho would force Aaran Ramsdale into action in the 28th minute. The Brazilian winger made a surging run at Lewis Hall and got on the outside of Lewis Hall. Savinho’s touch took him wide and fired in a right-footed shot on goal. But Savinho’s shot was straight at the Newcastle keeper who turned the ball behind for a corner.
Manchester City equalize through Savinho after a spell of sustained possession.
Pep Guardiola’s side would find an equalizer in the 39th minute. City had dominated possession for a sustained period leading up to their goal. Jeremy Doku stood up two Newcastle defenders and played in a teasing low cross in from the left. The ball found its way to Savinho, who tapped in at the back post to equalize for City. The ball trickled over the line before Aaron Ramsdale could keep it out as Savinho either produced a smart finish or the ball hit him and went in. Manchester City’s goal had been coming, and Savinho deserved a reward for his attacking display.
Tijjani Reijnders should have made it 2-1 to City a minute later. Savinho drove at the Newcastle defense and played a ball from the right into midfield which picked out Tijjani Reijnders. Reijnders got himself into a great position to shoot inside the Newcastle area, but he fired his shot wide of the far post with Aaron Ramsdale beaten. A minute later, Tijjani Reijnders pressed Aaron Ramsdale into an error in possession in his own area. The ball fell to Nico O’Reilly who was faced with an empty net, but some desperate Newcastle defending cleared the ball from O’Reilly.
After a brief lull in the match, the halftime whistle blew. After Newcastle made a fast start to the match, Manchester City grew into the game. The performances of Abdukodir Khusanov and Savinho stood out, and the FA Cup tie was delicately poised at the interval. Pep Guardiola would have been happy with his team’s display over the final 20 minutes of the first half. There was all to play for in the second half for both teams.
Second half.
The second half was only two minutes old when Manchester City took the lead. Savinho was picked out on the right wing and he found Matheus Nunes, who made an under lapping run into the Newcastle area. Nunes played in a quality low cross that picked out Marmoush at the back post. Marmoush took a touch and smashed the ball into the net to give City a deserved lead. The goal was a quality one from Pep Guardiola’s side as they continued on from where they left off in the first half.
MARMOUUUSSSHHH!!! 🤩
⚫️ 1-2 🩵 pic.twitter.com/nJ38cAjioc
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 7, 2026
Nick Woltemade would curl a shot straight at James Trafford in the 51st minute. Nico O’Reilly lost possession on the edge of his own area which provided Woltemade with an opportunity to shoot. But the German internationals shot was straight at Trafford who caught the ball comfortably.
Joe Willock would fire a shot over the bar in the 56th minute from a very good position. Newcastle played a free kick into the City area that fell to Willock. Willock fired a shot into the stand from a good position and Newcastle’s chance was gone.
Aaron Ramsdale denies Omar Marmoush to keep the score at 2-1.
Omar Marmoush saw a shot saved by Aaron Ramsdale in the 59th minute. Nick Woltemade lost possession in a dangerous position, and Omar Marmoush ran at goal. The Egyptian international unleashed a powerful shot on goal that Ramsdale saved. The rebound fell to Tijjani Reijnders, who fired a shot on goal that was going wide. A clearance from a Newcastle player sent the ball behind for a corner. From the resulting corner, Nico O’Reilly saw a header at the back post saved by Aaron Ramsdale.
John Stones would play a superb through ball to play in Savinho in the 64th minute. The Brazilian winger was clean through and inexplicably decided to square the ball to Tijjani Reijnders instead of shooting. The Newcastle defence cleared the ball away and the chance was gone.
Omar Marmoush scores his second of the match to give Manchester City a 3-1 lead!!!!!
Manchester City would take a 3-1 lead a minute after Savinho’s squandered chance. Matheus Nunes picked up the ball in midfield and he found Omar Marmoush 20 yards out from the Newcastle goal. The Egyptian international unleashed a powerful strike across Aaron Ramsdale that nestled into the top corner to give City a 3-1 lead. Pep Guardiola’s side were in the ascendancy and were great value for their lead.
Oumar Marmoush scores again, and what a goal it is 🤩
Manchester City now have a two-goal cushion against Newcastle.
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/ABA98T4TBw
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 7, 2026
With the game approaching second-half stoppage time, the sting had well and truly come out of it. Manchester City had been cruising through the final 20 minutes following Omar Marmoush’s second goal. Having said that, Newcastle had a free kick from the left-hand side in a dangerous position. But the City defence cleared the ball away, and the chance was gone for Eddie Howe’s side.
Tijjani Reijnders would fire a shot over the bar from a great position in the 91st minute having being teed up by Rayan Cherki. In truth, that shot summed up Tijjani Reijnders’ performance on the night.
Manchester City saw out the closing stages of the match comfortably to book their place in the quarter-final stage of the FA Cup. Pep Guardiola was delighted with his team’s performance, especially considering the fast start that Newcastle made to the match. There were a host of positives to take from St. James’ Park for City, and tonight’s win and quality of performance felt massive for this City side.
City player ratings.
**James Trafford-6/10:**Made a nervous start to the match but he did get better in goal as the match wore on.
**Matheus Nunes-8.5/10:**A brilliant performance from Nunes. His forward runs were a constant thorn in Newcastle’s side and he grabbed an assist for Omar Marmoush’s first goal of the night.
**Abdukodir Khusanov-9/10:**Alongside Savinho, I thought Khusanov was superb. His pace kept out the threat of Newcastle on the break and his play in possession was very composed.
John Stones-7/10: Stones was rusty in the opening 20 minutes but I thought he grew into the game well.
**Nathan Ake-7.5/10:**-A composed and assured performance from Ake at left-back. He was rarely beaten and did contribute plenty to City’s possession play.
**Nico-8.5/10:**A very good performance from Nico in midfield. Ran the game well, won his duels and showed he is ready to impact games when the heat is on.
**Tijjani Reijnders-6.5/10:**Reijnders could have had a massive game. He squandered his chances which was frustrating but he did get into good attacking positions throughout the night.
Nico O’Reilly-7/10: O’Reilly’s game was solid rather than spectacular but he played an important role in midfield.
**Savinho-9/10:**That’s was arguably Savinho’s best performance for Manchester City. When City went behind he was the player who took the game to Newcastle. He deserved his goal and was Manchester City’s man-of-the-match in my opinion. Fair play to the lad for answering his critics.
**Jeremy Doku-8/10:**Doku started the game slowly then he grew into the match. He picked up an assist for Savinho’s goal and was a constant threat to the Newcastle backline.
**Omar Marmoush-8.5/10:**The Egyptian international bagged a brace and both of his goals were quality. Marmoush loves playing against Newcastle which he showed again tonight.
Substitutes.
Antoine Semenyo-6.5/10: Offered an attacking threat after coming on.
Phil Foden-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.
Rayan Cherki-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.