Two sides at opposite ends of the Premier League table will meet at St James' Park on Tuesday evening.
Time is swiftly running out for hosting Newcastle United to secure their status as a top-flight club, while visiting Manchester City still need to put a few more points on the board to ensure that they finish in the Champions League places.
Newcastle
© Getty Images
As far as footballing cliches go, there is one that is particularly prevalent on Tyneside right now: It is the hope that kills you.
Less than a week ago, a 3-1 defeat at Southampton - a ninth loss in a row away from home - left Newcastle six points from safety and seemingly destined for another spell in the madness of the Championship.
However, just when it appeared that the Rafael Benitez experiment had backfired, an olive branch appeared at the weekend courtesy of Swansea City.
In the knowledge that another campaign in the Premier League was all but guaranteed, it was a rather lackadaisical showing from the Swans. To Newcastle's credit, they took full advantage, scoring three unanswered goals and in doing so kept only their second clean sheet in 18 outings.
Now, with just three points separating the 19th-placed Magpies from salvation, attention switches to the five matches that remain, starting with the home clash against Champions League semi-finalists City.
The opposition are bound to provide a much sterner test than Swansea, but Benitez is adamant that belief will be key for his players: "The main thing is that if we believe, like we did from the first minute to the last against Swansea, then we can beat anyone. Obviously, City are a great team and it will be very difficult, but we have nothing to lose at the moment."
Recent form: LLDLLW
Man City
© Getty Images
After a February and March to forget, it would seem that Manuel Pellegrini is determined to go out with his head held high at the Etihad Stadium.
So far in April, the Citizens have dumped Paris Saint-Germain out of the Champions League to reach the last four of the competition for the first time in the club's history.
On top of that, there have been three pretty convincing Premier League victories, which have yielded a return of nine goals and just one against.
The return from injury of Kevin De Bruyne has been one of the major reasons behind City's upturn in form, as has Sergio Aguero's form in front of goal.
He makes the trip to Newcastle on the back of a hat-trick away at Chelsea, which took his Premier League goal tally to 99. If the Argentine can bag another at St James' Park, he will become the second quickest player (147 appearances) to reach three figures in the division's history after Newcastle legend Alan Shearer (124 appearances).
The 27-year-old is bound to be full of confidence, given that he has scored 10 goals in eight outings against Newcastle. That return is Aguero's joint-most against a single opponent along with Tottenham Hotspur.
Recent form: WDLWWW
Recent form (all competitions): LWDWWW
Team News
© Getty Images
During his pre-match press conference, Pellegrini provided a mixed briefing regarded City's injury problems.
On a positive note, the Chilean boss confirmed that skipper Vincent Kompany is fit enough to start the contest, as is summer signing Raheem Sterling.
However, City will have to make do without injured playmakers David Silva and Samir Nasri, both of whom have minor knocks.
French full-backs Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna will also be absent because of back injuries.
Newcastle have defensive issues of their own, with the experienced Fabricio Coloccini and Daryl Janmaat both sidelined.
Full-back Kevin Mbabu could return to the squad following a thigh complaint, but goalkeepers Tim Krul and Rob Elliot remain out.
Newcastle possible starting lineup:
Darlow; Colback, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett; Townsend, Shelvey, Tiote, Sissoko; Wijnaldum; Mitrovic
Man City possible starting lineup:
Hart; Kolarov, Kompany, Otamendi, Zabaleta; Toure, Fernandinho; Sterling, De Bruyne, Navas; Aguero
Head To Head
Newcastle have won none of their last 18 Premier League meetings with City, 16 of which have ended in defeat.
If the visitors were to win this encounter, they would equal the record of consecutive Premier League wins against a specific opponent (13).
Newcastle's last Premier League triumph over the men from Manchester came in September 2005 when Michael Owen scored the game's only goal.
We say: Newcastle 1-3 Man City
With Aguero and De Bruyne in such red-hot form, it is tough to look beyond City claiming maximum points. There is a chance that Newcastle, with the Geordie faithful behind them, could make it tough going for a while, but you would also expect that City's quality will shine through in the end.
No Data Analysis info
