English FA CUP

2026-03-07 - Newcastle United vs Manchester City

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Newcastle United v Manchester City
Football: English FA Cup Fifth Round
Saturday 7th March 2026 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV

Newcastle United

A poor run of form, especially at home, was ended in the 2-1 win over Manchester United on Wednesday evening and that will give Newcastle United some confidence ahead of two very important games at St James' Park. The Premier League inconsistencies have put more pressure on the squad to prioritise the Cup competitions and first Newcastle United take aim at reaching the FA Cup Quarter Final.

The League Cup success in March 2025 has given Newcastle United fans a taste of silverware that had been missing for several generations, but the FA Cup and Champions League are the remaining avenues to add another trophy to the cabinet at St James' Park. The Magpies have beaten Bournemouth on Penalties and Aston Villa in the FA Cup run ahead of another tie against a top flight rival.

Newcastle United have won 5 of the last 7 games in all competitions, but two of those matches were against overmatched Qarabag. The side have been beaten in 4 of the last 7 at St James' Park in all competitions, although Newcastle United have won the other 3 in that run of fixtures.

Jacob Ramsey is serving a suspension, but both Sandro Tonali and Nick Woltemade are expected to be available. Eddie Howe may choose to just freshen up where he can with another big Champions League game coming up next week.

Manchester City

Some of the officiating may have been questionable, especially what looked to be a stonewall Penalty in the second half that would have given Manchester City an opportunity to lead Nottingham Forest 3-1. However, Pep Guardiola has refused to blame the referees for the latest dropped points in the Premier League and Manchester City have a lot of work to do if they are going to win the title.

They are still fighting on four fronts overall and Manchester City will turn their attention to Cup competitions for much of the remainder of the month. A League Cup Final and a Champions League Last 16 tie are coming up, but Guardiola made it clear in his press conference that the FA Cup remains important for Manchester City, who have beaten Exeter City and Salford City in the previous Rounds.

Manchester City are unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions and have won 8 of those, although both exceptions have been 2-2 draws in the Premier League that have allowed Arsenal to build a gap. The results away from home have been a bit more erratic, but Manchester City have won 2 in a row on their travels at Liverpool and Leeds United.

Nico O'Reilly was not available during the week, but the late Saturday night kick off gives him an opportunity to be involved.

Head to Head

Both Premier League games have been won by the same 2-1 scoreline by the home team this season.

Manchester City have also won both Legs of the League Cup Semi Final against Newcastle United.

They had lost 2 of the previous 4 games played at St James' Park before the 0-2 win in the League Cup Semi Final First Leg.

Prediction

Both of these teams are involved in the Champions League during the week so neither manager is going to want to see Extra Time or Penalties needed to separate them on Saturday afternoon.

At the same time, Eddie Howe and Pep Guardiola may choose to make some rotations to the first team in order to keep key players fresh.

Manchester City were beaten in the first match against Newcastle United back in November, but they have won all 3 fixtures played in the 2026 calendar year. Two of those wins have been in the League Cup, including a 0-2 win at St James' Park and Manchester City do deserve to be favourites.

They have not been in the most convincing in recent weeks, but Newcastle United have not exactly been impressing themselves.

A win over Manchester United will have been a boost for Newcastle United, but it is far from ideal that they had to play the second half with just ten men. That would have been taxing on the players, even if an unimpressive Manchester United failed to exploit the man advantage, and Newcastle United have a stretched squad that is going to have to be managed.

Manchester City should have beaten Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night and the wastefulness was punished, and they have had the better of the chances in each of the four matches against Newcastle United this season.

Team news should be something to keep an eye upon, but Manchester City's options look a little deeper and they can win here in a big Cup tie.