Honestly, if you just looked at the final score of the Manchester City vs. Newcastle game on Tuesday, you'd think it was business as usual for Pep Guardiola. A 2-0 win at St. James' Park. Smooth, right? Not exactly. It was actually a chaotic, grinding mess of a semi-final first leg that told us way more about where City is at right now than that 10-1 demolition of Exeter in the FA Cup ever could.
The first half was a slog. Basically, City didn't even manage a single shot on target before the break. Newcastle had all the energy, and Yoane Wissa probably still hasn't slept after missing that sitter in the first five minutes. But this is the thing with manchester city soccer results this season—they have this weird, stubborn knack for surviving their own lethargy.
Breaking down the Newcastle win and the VAR mess
Things finally ignited in the second half. Antoine Semenyo, who has been a breath of fresh air since moving from Bournemouth, tapped in the opener after some trademark Bernardo Silva persistence. But then, the drama. Semenyo thought he’d bagged a second, only for a six-minute—yes, six whole minutes—VAR review to chalk it off.
The officials decided Erling Haaland, who was standing in an offside position, had "subjectively" impeded the Newcastle keeper. Pep was visibly fuming on the touchline. He later went on a bit of a rant about "insane penalties" from previous games, which is classic Pep when he feels the world is against his squad. Eventually, Rayan Cherki killed the game in the 90th minute. 2-0. Job done, but it felt heavy.
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A look at the January form guide
If you're tracking the recent run of manchester city soccer results, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster lately. They’ve had a string of draws in the Premier League that have left fans biting their nails.
- Jan 13: Newcastle 0-2 Man City (Carabao Cup)
- Jan 10: Man City 10-1 Exeter (FA Cup - Absolute carnage)
- Jan 7: Man City 1-1 Brighton (Premier League)
- Jan 4: Man City 1-1 Chelsea (Premier League)
- Jan 1: Sunderland 0-0 Man City (Premier League)
That New Year's Day stalemate at Sunderland was particularly grim. You've got the best attacking talent in the world, and you can't break down a promoted side? It happens. But three straight league draws is why they aren't sitting at the top of the table right now.
The Premier League title race is getting tight
As it stands, City is currently 2nd in the Premier League. They’ve played 21 games, won 13, drawn 4, and lost 4. That puts them on 43 points. Arsenal is leading the pack with 49 points, and honestly, they look terrifyingly consistent this year. Aston Villa is right on City's heels, also on 43 points but trailing on goal difference.
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The goal difference is where City usually shines. They’ve scored 45 and conceded 19. Erling Haaland is still the main man, obviously. He’s sitting on 20 league goals already. Phil Foden is chipping in with 7, and Tijjani Reijnders has been a solid addition with 5 goals from midfield. But when you look at the manchester city soccer results against the other "Big Six," there’s a sense that the clinical edge is slightly blunted.
The defensive crisis nobody is talking about enough
This is where it gets kind of worrying for City fans. The results are holding up for now, but the medical room is packed. Ruben Dias is out for about six weeks with a hamstring issue he picked up against Chelsea. Josko Gvardiol is even worse off; he’s had surgery on an ankle fracture and is out for the foreseeable future.
John Stones? Pep says he has "no idea" when he’ll be back. Mateo Kovacic is also sidelined until at least February or March. When you lose three of your best central defenders at the same time, you're essentially playing "emergency mode" soccer. This is why we're seeing guys like Nico O’Reilly and Rico Lewis getting so many minutes. They're talented, sure, but in a title race against a relentless Arsenal, "talented but young" is a risky bet.
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Champions League status
In Europe, the manchester city soccer results have been a bit more "City-like." They recently beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Bernabeu in December, which was a massive statement. They're currently 4th in the new Champions League league phase table with 13 points from 6 games. They’ve got Bodø/Glimt coming up next week, followed by Galatasaray. They should breeze through those, but with the injury list growing, nothing is a given.
What to watch for in the Manchester Derby
The big one is right around the corner. Saturday, January 17th. Old Trafford. Manchester United vs. Manchester City.
United is sitting in 7th, but they’ve drawn eight games this season—they are incredibly hard to beat at home. Given City's recent trend of 1-1 draws in the league, a point wouldn't be a shocker, but it would be a disaster for their title hopes. If City wants to catch Arsenal, they basically have to stop drawing against teams they should be burying.
Actionable Insights for City Followers:
- Watch the lineup rotations: With Dias and Gvardiol out, Nathan Ake and the returning Max Alleyne (recalled from Watford) are the ones to watch. If the backline looks shaky early against United, it’s going to be a long afternoon.
- Monitor Haaland’s service: In the draws against Brighton and Chelsea, Haaland was often isolated. Keep an eye on whether Kevin De Bruyne or Foden are actually finding him in the "half-spaces" or if they're just recycling possession pointlessly.
- Check the AFCON impact: Remember that Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri are currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations. This thins the squad even further during this congested January period.
The hunt for the title is far from over, but the margin for error has basically evaporated. One more draw could see the gap to Arsenal widen to nearly double digits, and even for a team as good as City, that's a mountain.