Our prediction for this Premier League match:
Man City
Match Time & Date:
19/08/2023
21:00
Prediction: 3-1
Newcastle
A highly-anticipated encounter between Manchester City and Newcastle United will bring down the curtain on Saturday’s program in the Premier League round 2. The Citizens kicked off the new domestic campaign with a 3-0 win over Burnley, but this game will be anything but a walk in the park for the title holders. Key midfielder Kevin De Bruyne limped off with injury in the season opener, with summer recruit Mateo Kovacic likely to step up.
Fellow Croatian Josko Guardiol is pushing for a start as well, but, as always, all eyes will be on towering Norway striker Erling Haaland, who scored a brace against the Clarets. The Magpies, on the other hand, faced no difficulties in a 5-1 crushing of Aston Villa and given their attacking potential, we believe that punters from all around the globe can find value in betting on over 2.5 goals. The likes of Joe Willock, Emil Krafth, and Javier Manquillo are injured for the visiting team.
Highlighted Player (Nathan Ake):
Ake is a professional footballer who plays for the Dutch National Team and AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The versatile defender who was born on the 18th of February, 1995, started his youth career in 2003 with local club ADO Den Haag. He then moved to Feyenoord in 2007 before joining Chelsea's youth academy four years later.
Ake made his first professional appearance at the age of 17, playing for the Blues in a 0-1 away victory against Norwich on the 26th of December, 2012. Barring a few starts and substitute appearances, Ake spent his next few years at Chelsea mostly in the reserves before being sent out on a one month loan to Reading in 2015. Upon his return, he immediately joined Watford on a season-long loan where his displays earned him the Watford's young player of the season award. Another successful loan spell at Bournemouth succeeded his time at Watford before Chelsea recalled him in January 2017.
At the start of the 17/18 season, the 24-year-old rejoined his current club Bournemouth permanently on a five-year contract worth 20 million pounds. On the International stage, Ake has represented the Netherlands at every youth level and has even captained the under-17 and under-19 sides. He made his first senior appearance on the 31st of May, 2017, featuring in Hollands 2-1 friendly win over Morocco.
Highlighted Team (Newcastle):
Newcastle United failed to impress in the 2015/2016 Premier League campaign and, as a result, they dropped to the English second tier. The Magpies will host their rivals at their St. James’ Park in the 2016/2017 Championship campaign and it has to be noted that the capacity of the stadium is 52,354.
Newcastle United have won four domestic trophies (1904/1905, 1906/1907, 1908/1909, 1926/1927), while lifting six FA Cup titles (1910, 1924, 1932, 1951, 1952, 1955) and a number of star players were part of the St. James’ Park outfit in the past.
David Ginola, Michael Owen, Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand, Nolberto Solano, Gary Speed, Obafemi Martins and Kevin Nolan are notable footballers who are still remembered at the club. Newcastle’s fiercest rivals are Sunderland and there have always been fireworks when the two local rivals face each other in the Tyne-Wear derby. The color of Newcastle’s home kit is black and white.
