CARABAO CUP SEMI-FINAL TUESDAY: The Striker previews NEWCASTLE v MANCHESTER CITY with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
NEWCASTLE V MANCHESTER CITY
8pm The Cup action continues on Betdaq Betting Exchange! The Carabao Cup takes centre stage after all the FA Cup drama in the Third Round – we’re down to the business end now as we start the Semi-Finals with Newcastle hosting Manchester City. It’s usually this stage of the tournament when the top sides start taking it seriously, but we have a massive week ahead with Chelsea and Arsenal clashing on Wednesday night too. Obviously we have two legs in the Semi-Finals, so it’s not quite do-or-die this week.
However, while it’s easy to say it’s not do-or-die at the moment – from a Newcastle point of view, surely they have to be taking something into the second leg away to Manchester City. It’s hard to see them getting back into the tie if they lose here. Both sides progressed in the FA Cup Third Round on Saturday in very different fashion – Manchester City scored ten against Exeter while Newcastle needed penalties to beat Bournemouth after a 3-3 thriller. Even the penalties were full of drama; Newcastle finally won 7-6!
As much as Pep Guardiola complains about the Christmas and New Year schedule to the media, he still started Haaland at the weekend which was very surprising. With the gulf in class between the sides, Guardiola could have put out a third XI, never mind a second XI! Maybe it came from the players – they wanted to play – but I expected to see a much weaker XI from City and a rest for some of their key players. It makes a mockery of Guardiola complaining about the schedule.
This should be a very competitive game here – Manchester City come into the game as the favourites at 2.2 with Newcastle 3.4 and the draw is 3.85 at the time of writing. The sides met here in November in the Premier League, and Newcastle managed to grind out a 2-1 win. They were a little lucky – City finished the game with a better xG and had 67% possession but St James’s is always a tough place to come and get a win. City won’t be too unhappy with a draw here given they have the second leg at home.
It will be interesting to see how Guardiola approaches this game. Their average xG conceded this season is only 1.09 which is very impressive – only Arsenal have been better at the back. I would consider Under 2.5 goals, but Newcastle games have been carnage lately. Obviously they had the 3-3 at the weekend, but then before that they had the 4-3 thriller here against Leeds and that puts me off the Unders bet. I do feel this game is a game for small stakes, and the 2.2 is a little short on City given how good Newcastle have been at home this season. I’m happy with a small investment on the draw.
The Striker Says:
One point win Draw at 3.85 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/CCNeMc
