Match ends, Newcastle United 0, Manchester City 2.
NewcastleNewcastle United0Man CityManchester City2
- City beat Newcastle on opening day for second successive season
- Aguero comes off bench to score for champions
- Four players make full debuts for Newcastle
Manchester City began the defence of their Premier League title with a routine win at Newcastle thanks to David Silva and Sergio Aguero goals.
Manuel Pellegrini's side were rarely troubled by the hosts and took the lead when Silva tucked in following a brilliant backheel by Edin Dzeko.
Substitute Aguero added a second in stoppage time when he poked in after his initial shot was saved by Tim Krul.
Dzeko had a shot blocked by Krul, who also stopped Samir Nasri's drive.
That was the sum total of City's best chances during a match in which they did not have to be at their best and their keeper Joe Hart - preferred to summer recruit Willy Caballero - was rarely tested.
Pellegrini was confident enough to leave influential striker Aguero on the bench and for £32m signing Eliaquim Mangala to remain in Manchester.
City got on top of Newcastle from the whistle, with Yaya Toure, the often maligned Martin Demichelis and another newcomer Fernando first to the second ball in dangerous areas without over-exerting themselves.
In attack, Silva, who did not show his true form at the World Cup, was back to his brilliant best while Montenegro's Stevan Jovetic, frustrated by niggly injuries in his first season, was exceptional in his role as roving midfielder.
The 24-year-old played the role of quarterback in the opening moments, producing a delightful lofted pass for Dzeko who could only strike his effort at Krul, who read the situation.
The Netherlands keeper, who played a starring role in the World Cup quarter-finals, was also called into action soon after when he dived to his right to prevent Nasri's piledriver from bursting the net.
| Match facts | |
|---|---|
| Newcastle have won just once in the last six seasons in their opening match | Silva's last four goals for Man City have all come away from home |
| Aguero has scored 18 and assisted six goals in his last 24 league appearances. | No defending Premier League champions have ever lost their opening game of the following season |
Containment seemed to be the Magpies' primary focus, although £12m midfield signing Remy Cabella was a willing outlet on his debut. Against a potent City side that defensive tactic rarely bears fruit, and seven minutes before the break the final line of defence was breached.
On this occasion, Toure found Dzeko in the area with a long pass and he then took two Newcastle defenders out with a backheel for Silva to stroke home.
Pellegrini's side had gone into the match having beaten Newcastle in their previous nine league meetings.
However, late in the game that run looked like it would come to an end when substitute striker Ayoze Perez, who replaced ineffective fellow newcomer Emmanuel Riviere, was found in the area.
He jinked inside and fired in a shot that took a vital deflection off Fernando to take it past the post.
That was the best of two good opportunities for the Magpies, with full-back Paul Dummett heading over earlier when Hart misjudged a delivery into the area.
Newcastle lacked a cutting edge but, with promising attacking midfielder Siem de Jong waiting in the wings, manager Alan Pardew stressed afterwards he was happy with his options.
Magpies fans probably wish they could afford someone like Aguero, who dealt the final blow after coming on late to calmly slot in City's second, after his initial angled strike was saved.
Go to BBC Sport's Facebook page for photos from Sunday's Premier League matches.
Line-ups
Newcastle
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Krul
- 22JanmaatBooked at 77mins
- 6Williamson
- 2Coloccini
- 36Dummett
- 8AnitaSubstituted forObertanat 63'minutes
- 20Cabella
- 14Colback
- 7Sissoko
- 11GouffranSubstituted forAaronsat 74'minutes
- 29RiviereSubstituted forPérezat 83'minutes
Substitutes
- 16Aarons
- 17Pérez
- 19Haidara
- 21Elliot
- 25Obertan
- 27Taylor
- 30Abeid
Man City
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Hart
- 22Clichy
- 4KompanyBooked at 75mins
- 26DemichelisBooked at 54mins
- 11KolarovBooked at 57mins
- 8NasriSubstituted forMilnerat 78'minutes
- 6RegesBooked at 87mins
- 42Y Touré
- 21SilvaBooked at 34mins
- 10DzekoSubstituted forAgüeroat 83'minutes
- 35JoveticSubstituted forFernandinhoat 73'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Zabaleta
- 7Milner
- 13Caballero
- 15Navas
- 16Agüero
- 25Fernandinho
- 38Boyata
- Referee:
- Martin Atkinson
- Attendance:
- 50,816
Match Stats
Home TeamNewcastleAway TeamMan City
- Possession
- Home44%
- Away56%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home0
- Away5
- Corners
- Home3
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Newcastle United 0, Manchester City 2.
Goal!
Goal! Newcastle United 0, Manchester City 2. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left to the bottom right corner.
Post update
Attempt saved. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Fernandinho.
Post update
Attempt missed. Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Rémy Cabella.
Booking
Fernando (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Fernando (Manchester City).
Post update
Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Rolando Aarons (Newcastle United) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Gabriel Obertan with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Fernando.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ayoze Pérez (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rémy Cabella.
Substitution
Substitution, Newcastle United. Ayoze Pérez replaces Emmanuel Rivière.
Post update
Attempt missed. Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jack Colback following a set piece situation.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Sergio Agüero replaces Edin Dzeko.
Post update
Foul by Vincent Kompany (Manchester City).
Post update
Emmanuel Rivière (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by James Milner (Manchester City).
Post update
Jack Colback (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. James Milner replaces Samir Nasri.
Booking
Daryl Janmaat (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
