Overview
- Antoine Semenyo put City ahead in the 53rd minute and Rayan Cherki added a stoppage-time second to seal the away win.
- An earlier Semenyo effort was ruled out after a lengthy VAR check for a marginal offside against Erling Haaland.
- Eddie Howe rotated heavily with seven changes from the recent FA Cup lineup, with Malick Thiaw starting and Nick Woltemade on the bench.
- Woltemade entered on 69 minutes, made an immediate impact, and narrowly missed an equaliser deep into stoppage time.
- Newcastle produced the clearer openings as Yoane Wissa missed a big chance, James Trafford made a goal-line save, and Bruno Guimaraes struck the post, but City take a 2–0 lead into the second leg at the Etihad on 4 February.