O’Reilly doubles up as Manchester City sink Newcastle to keep up title chase

Guardian Sport

by Jamie Jackson at the Etihad Stadium

February 21, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Manchester City’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium keeps them firmly in the hunt for the Premier League title. Nico O’Reilly scored twice, including a dramatic winner in the 27th minute, as City extended their unbeaten home streak against Newcastle to 17 matches. The result leaves City just two points behind Arsenal, with only 10 games remaining for both teams. This tight race sets up an thrilling climax, with high-stakes encounters against Tottenham and Manchester United on the horizon. The game was a tense encounter marked by defensive errors. O’Reilly’s first goal came after Newcastle’s Dan Burn gifted possession to Omar Marmoush, whose cross found the City forward for a clinical finish. Despite Newcastle’s efforts, including Lewis Hall’s equalizer—a rare bright spot in their 2,730-day goal drought at the Etihad—City’s composure in front of goal proved decisive. O’Reilly’s second tally arrived from a well-executed team move involving Antony Semenyo and Erling Haaland, showcasing City’s attacking depth and tactical precision. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe made several changes following their midweek thrashing by Qarabag, but it did little to halt City’s momentum. The Magpies struggled to maintain possession in the middle third, allowing City’s central quartet of Semenyo, O’Reilly, and Rodri to dominate. Key defensive lapses, such as Rayan Aït-Nouri’s missed chance

Verticals

sports

Originally published on Guardian Sport on 2/21/2026