With both sides holding onto the only remaining perfect defensive records, something had to give in a H2H which has seen 23 goals in the past five meetings. It took the Cityzens just four minutes to ensure the wait would continue. Club captain İlkay Gündoğan has scored more goals than any other City player since the start of 2021 and doubled his tally for the campaign. He started the move sweeping the ball out to Bernardo Silva on the right before breaking into the box and finding the ball returned to his feet. With bodies around him, he controlled well before firing low past Nick Pope.
Miguel Almirón had a point to prove following Jack Grealish’s disrespectful comments at the end of last season and proved the instigator as Newcastle fought back. He should have done better when blazing over following a cut back from Allan Saint-Maximin, but the same combination made amends moments later making use of his midriff to unconventionally finish beyond Ederson. Saint-Maximin found himself marauding through the middle of the park, feeding target man Callum Wilson whose touch took him beyond rusty substitute Rúben Dias before finding the net with a classy left footed finish.
The challenge intensified early in the second half, moments after a somewhat subdued Erling Haaland forced Nick Pope to push his right-footed drive onto the post. Dead ball specialist Trippier then sent the Geordie fans into raptures by curling into the top corner beyond Ederson who had stepped the wrong way.
The third goal angered the Cityzens, which was bad news with over 30 minutes still to play. In a blistering three minute spell the away side were level, first with Haaland smashing home from a Rodri cutback and then potential Barcelona wantaway Silva drawing level. This time it was Kevin De Bruyne parting the Newcastle defence like the Red Sea.
As a final piece of drama in a game that had everything, Trippier was reprieved of a red card by VAR following a reckless challenge on De Bruyne. For all City’s pressure in the final period, Eddie Howe’s side held out well to ensure he gained his first point against a Pep Guardiola side.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle United)