4 hours ago
32
Manchester City are 90 minutes away from Wembley as they take a 2-0 first-leg lead into their semi-final second leg with Newcastle United at the Etihad.
Manchester City are 90 minutes from a Wembley final as they prepare to take on Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi-final tonight.
The Blues were 2-0 winners in the north east in the first leg thanks to goals from Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo and are strong favourites to progress given their advantage and Newcastle's wretched recent record at the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola's side have not reached the final of this competition since the last of their four successive wins in 2021 and the City chief is keen to return to the showpiece as he seeks to mould a new team into one capable of challenging for silverware.
Try MEN Premium NOW for just £1
FOLLOW OUR MAN CITY FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester City Facebook page
The Blues boss is likely to make changes given the hectic fixture list and James Trafford could start in goal having played in the competition this season. Marc Guehi is ineligible so Nathan Ake's experience could be called upon in defence alongside Abdukodir Khusanov. Matheus Nunes and Rayan Ait-Nouri can continue as full-backs.
Nico O'Reilly has caught the eye in midfield and can offer protection and energy with Nico Gonzalez perhaps in line to start after returning from injury as a sub in the weekend draw with Tottenham. That would afford Rodri a rest and Bernardo Silva could also be given a breather with Phil Foden restored to the XI.
There are fitness concerns surrounding Rayan Cherki so Omar Marmoush could play off the left with Semenyo and Erling Haaland completing the attacking line.
Jeremy Doku, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic are all sidelined with injury.
City predicted XI: Trafford, Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, Ait-Nouri, Gonzalez, O'Reilly, Foden, Semenyo, Marmoush, Haaland
English (US) ·