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Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres scored in each half as Manchester City achieved a comfortable 2-0 victory over Newcastle in the Premier League.
Gundogan put Pep Guardiola’s team ahead on a wet night after a good job from Raheem Sterling with 14 minutes remaining at Etihad Stadium.
Torres added the second at the start of the second half and Bernardo Silva hit the post as City, facing a trip to Everton on Monday, clinched victory.
Both teams were left without key players after positive Covid-19 tests, with City’s Gabriel Jesus and Kyle Walker following Newcastle pair Allan Saint-Maximin and Jamaal Lascelles, in self-isolation.
It’s no wonder the star-studded City coped better with absences. Once again, manager Pep Guardiola saw no need to rush striker Sergio Agüero into his starting lineup, and named the Argentine to the bench as he returns to action after a knee problem.
Steve Bruce tried to shake up his Newcastle side after their Carabao Cup quarter-final loss to Brentford.
Federico Fernández, Fabian Schar, Joelinton and Matt Ritchie entered while Callum Wilson was on the bench and Jonjo Shelvey was left out completely.
The magpies got off to a positive start but failed to stop City and a couple of promising initial attacks failed. The hosts soon seized control of possession and nearly went ahead when Schar cut a punt over his own bar.
They continued to play patiently and took the lead from the first clear opportunity they got.
Joao Cancelo got Raheem Sterling into the box with a good ball and the England forward showed great footwork to turn inside and cut back for Gundogan to sweep home from close range.
Kevin De Bruyne came close to adding a second when Karl Darlow was forced to deflect a cross shot under the crossbar and the Belgian rejected an even better opportunity before the break.
Torres put the playmaker one-on-one with Darlow with a superb ball but the Newcastle keeper did well to get up and block the shot.
Newcastle offered little, but had a chance just before half-time when Miguel Almirón snuggled into a good cross, but Joelinton didn’t make firm contact with his header.
City doubled their lead in the 55th minute after Almirón released the ball outside his own area.
Cancelo kept going and, despite a desperate attempt by Fernández to clear his center, the ball went straight to Torres and the Spaniard entered.
The hosts then threatened to take the game away from the magpies. A Torres cross hit Sterling in front of the goal and rolled attractively for Silva at the far post. The Portuguese ran in and unleashed a powerful blow that bounced off the wood.
Sterling also appealed for a penalty after a challenge from DeAndre Yedlin, but nothing was given.
Aguero came in with 13 minutes remaining and almost immediately got on the scoreboard when Cancelo played an excellent ball behind the defense. The forward made good contact and looked confident to score, but Darlow slid across the wet surface and made a brilliant block on the line.
Aguero wanted a penalty after becoming entangled with Darlow shortly after, but the keeper simply edged out the City forward, who may also have been offside, on the ball.
Newcastle’s best effort saw Jacob Murphy test Ederson with a curly shot from distance, but the Brazilian saved low to his left.
Match details
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