(Football news) The two teams lock horns for the first time since they played out a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park in September last year.

Three days after limping past Leyton Orient in the fourth round of the FA Cup, Manchester City suffered another painful and demoralising collapse in the Champions League, as they let a one-goal lead slip with just five minutes remaining to lose 3-2 at home to ruthless holders Real Madrid in the first leg of their playoff tie on Tuesday.

While Real are known for their trademark smash-and-grab heroics on Europe’s biggest stage, Manchester City have developed the unwanted habit of capitulating late in matches, and they have now lost five different games in which they have led in all competitions this season, as many as they did in each of the previous four campaigns combined.

Frustrating mistakes ultimately cost Pep Guardiola’s ageing side on the night, and before they bid to put things right in next week’s second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Citizens must shift their focus back to the Premier League and their battle to finish in the top four, one that is becoming increasingly difficult for a team who have won just half of their 24 league fixtures this term (D5 L7).

Manchester City were heavily beaten 5-1 by Arsenal in their last top-flight fixture a fortnight ago, leaving them in fifth place and a staggering 18 points behind leaders Liverpool. They are also two points behind Chelsea in fourth, as well as level on points with their next opponents Newcastle in sixth, who also have the same goal difference.

Citizens supporters can take some comfort from the fact that Guardiola’s side have lost only one of their last 34 Premier League meetings with Newcastle (W27 D6) and have won each of their last 15 home games against the Magpies; only three teams in top-flight history have a longer winning home run against the same opponent (Everton against Fulham – 22 from 1961 to 2018, Aston Villa against Sheffield United – 16 from 1903 to 1921, and Man United against Luton – 16 from 1955 to 2023, still ongoing).

Not since September 2000 (1-0) when Manchester City were playing at Maine Road have Newcastle celebrated success away against the Citizens in the Premier League. Indeed, the Magpies have since endured a torrid 20-game winless away run (D2 L18) and have failed to score in any of their last five visits to the Etihad.

However, Newcastle travel to the blue side of Manchester on Saturday having won each of their last four Premier League games on the road, including victories against Manchester United (2-0), Tottenham, (2-1) and Arsenal (2-0); they last won five in a row back in October 1994 – the only previous time they have ever done so in the division.

The Magpies extended their winning away run in all competitions to six matches when they beat League One leaders Birmingham City 3-2 in the fourth round of the FA Cup last weekend, courtesy of a brace from Joe Willock and a goal from Callum Wilson.

Victory at St Andrew’s came just three days after Newcastle punched their ticket to next month’s EFL Cup final after beating Arsenal 4-0 over two legs in the semi-finals. Ending their 70-year trophy drought is high on the agenda from Eddie Howe’s side, but so is securing Champions League football for next season.

The Magpies’ top-four credentials are sure to be tested over the next couple of weeks when they face Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool in their next three Premier League fixtures, while they also have Aston Villa, Chelsea and Arsenal still to play this season. They have already picked up 11 points from games against these six teams, though, so they should relish turning up for these big occasions.

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