Manchester City turned their Carabao Cup semi-final into a routine night at the Etihad Stadium, beating Newcastle United 3-1 in the second leg and moving on 5-1 on aggregate. After taking a 2-0 lead from the first leg at St James’ Park, City left Newcastle with no real path back, thanks to a sharp and clinical first 45 minutes that settled the tie early.
In front of a lively home crowd on Wednesday evening, February 4, 2026, City played with control and purpose from the first whistle. Omar Marmoush filled in up front and made it count, scoring twice inside the opening half-hour. Tijjani Reijnders added a third before halftime to remove any doubt. Newcastle did grab a late highlight through Anthony Elanga’s brilliant solo goal, but it didn’t change the story of the night.
City started fast and pinned Newcastle back with high pressure and quick passing. The opening goal came in the 7th minute after a neat exchange that involved Phil Foden. Marmoush got his shot away, Dan Burn blocked it, and the ball popped up off Burn and looped over Aaron Ramsdale into the net. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective, and it pushed City into full control.
The second goal arrived in 29 minutes, and this one was much cleaner. A measured ball from the right found Marmoush free near the goal line. He rose well and powered a header past Ramsdale to make it 2-0 on the night and 4-0 overall. The Etihad could sense the final was close.
City struck again almost right away. Three minutes later, a quick break ended with Reijnders finishing from the middle of the box. His right-footed shot tucked into the bottom corner, and City went into the break 3-0 up. The first half was all about movement, calm passing, and taking chances when they came.
After halftime, City’s tempo dropped a bit, with the job mostly done. Newcastle showed more fight and pulled one back in the 62nd minute. Elanga, facing his former Manchester United rivals, drove through the City back line on a weaving run and drilled a fine finish into the far corner. It was his first goal for Newcastle, and it gave the away fans something to cheer.
City never looked troubled after that. They kept the ball, slowed the game, and saw out the final minutes with little drama. The win sends Guardiola to his fifth Carabao Cup final as Manchester City manager, a record that highlights how often City deliver in domestic cups. For Newcastle, it’s a tough end to their trophy defense after lifting the cup last season, and a reminder of the level needed to beat the best sides over two legs.
Manchester City Player Ratings and Key Statistics
| Player | Position | Key Contribution | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ederson | GK | Clean handling, tidy passing | 7/10 |
| Rico Lewis | RB | High energy, good support runs | 7.5/10 |
| Ruben Dias | CB | Strong leadership at the back | 8/10 |
| Josko Gvardiol | CB | Composed defending | 7.5/10 |
| Nathan Ake | LB | Steady and dependable | 7/10 |
| Mateo Kovacic | CM | Set the rhythm in midfield | 8/10 |
| Tijjani Reijnders | CM | Goal, controlled midfield areas | 9/10 |
| Phil Foden | AM | Key link play helped create goals | 8.5/10 |
| Jeremy Doku | RW | Direct runs, constant outlet | 7.5/10 |
| Omar Marmoush | ST | Two goals, big presence up front | 9.5/10 |
| Jack Grealish | LW | Carried the ball well | 7/10 |
- Possession: 62%
- Shots (on target): 18 (8)
- Corners: 7
- Passes completed: 612 (88% accuracy)
Newcastle United Player Ratings and Key Statistics
| Player | Position | Key Contribution | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Ramsdale | GK | Left exposed, little chance of goals | 6/10 |
| Valentino Livramento | RB | Had a hard time defensively | 5.5/10 |
| Dan Burn | CB | Tough night, unlucky on opener | 6/10 |
| Fabian Schar | CB | Worked hard but overmatched | 6.5/10 |
| Lewis Hall | LB | Quiet game | 6/10 |
| Bruno Guimaraes | CM | Fought for control, lacked support | 6.5/10 |
| Sandro Tonali | CM | Put in a shift, limited impact | 6/10 |
| Joe Willock | AM | Missed an early opening | 5.5/10 |
| Anthony Elanga | RW | Great solo goal, biggest threat | 7.5/10 |
| Alexander Isak | ST | Isolated for long stretches | 6/10 |
| Harvey Barnes | LW | Couldn’t change the game off the bench | 6/10 |
- Possession: 38%
- Shots (on target): 9 (3)
- Corners: 4
- Passes completed: 312 (79% accuracy)
The result underlines Manchester City’s strength across competitions this season. Now they’ll face a strong Arsenal side in the Carabao Cup final, and Guardiola will back his squad to add another trophy. For Newcastle, the focus shifts back to the Premier League and their other targets, but this heavy aggregate loss shows the gap that remains when they run into an elite team playing at full speed.
