Manchester City-Newcastle United Preview

Posted Saturday, May 05, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

LONDON (SE) - A massive fixture is set for Sunday when English Premier League leaders Manchester City travel to face Champions League hopefuls Newcastle United in the penultimate weekend of the campaign.

Manchester City drew level on 88 points with Manchester United after beating their rivals 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Monday night on Vincent Kompany's goal in first-half stoppage time. The Citizens, who trailed by eight points after April 8, are on top with a plus-eight goal difference on the Red Devils.

"Beating United has given us the confidence we need for the last two games,'' City midfielder David Silva said. "It has been a very long and tough season. The Newcastle game is like a final for us now. We have to win it."

Newcastle United, meanwhile, are buoyed by Pappis Cisse's two wonder strikes in Wednesday's 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Cisse continued his astounding form with 13 goals in 12 matches for the Magpies.

"Their work-rate was phenomenal, but the goals - they change games," boss Alan Pardew told Newcastle United's official website. "His first one was special, the second one was even better."

The Magpies are level on 65 points with Tottenham Hotspur, who have a plus-14 goal edge for fourth place and England's final Champions League place - provided Chelsea do not win the final against Bayern Munich later this month.

Both Newcastle and Tottenham will be keen on catching Arsenal, who have 66 points entering their Saturday fixture against Norwich City. The Gunners are in third place for an automatic entry into the Champions League group phase.

"We have another tough game against Manchester City this weekend, but to go into it on the back of the Chelsea result and performance can only be a good thing," defender Fabricio Coloccini said.

City have gone 10 straight meetings against Newcastle without a defeat, winning 3-1 at the Etihad on Nov. 19 by converting two penalties.

The Magpies are unbeaten at home in 2012 in the Premier League with seven wins and two draws beginning with a 3-0 victory over Manchester United on Jan. 4.

"Newcastle will be our hardest game - harder than United,'' City manager Roberto Mancini said. "It is strange but it is like this.

"They have had a fantastic season and are playing to get into the Champions League.''

Silva is playing with an injured ankle, but the Spaniard says that will not hold back in City's quest for their first domestic league title since 1968.

"I'm having a lot of treatment to get movement in my ankle," Silva told Manchester City's official website. "It is feeling slightly better, but it helps that the team are playing better. All I'm thinking about is the next match on Sunday – we have to go to Newcastle and win."

Newcastle's Cheik Tiote was stretchered off in the 69th minute Wednesday with a gash above his right eye, but insists he will be available for selection on Sunday.

Mancini, involved in a touch-line row with Sir Alex Ferguson on Monday, continues to tip the Red Devils for the title.

"United are favourites," Mancini said. "They have easier games. Not because Swansea and Sunderland are bad teams but because we have Newcastle who are fighting for Champions League and QPR who are trying to avoid relegation."