EPL: Newcastle comes from behind to draw Guardiola’s Man City

While the spotlight may often be on Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament winner, Rodri, Manchester City’s squad is filled with other equally pivotal players.

In a recent clash against Brentford, where City were fortunate to lead at halftime, Pep Guardiola turned to two key players to stabilize the team Rodri and Joško Gvardiol.

The Croatian defender, who joined City last summer for £73m, has been an ever-present force in both the Premier League and Champions League, playing every minute.

Unlike the blistering pace of Kyle Walker, Gvardiol’s strength lies in his robust central defense abilities, despite being positioned as a full-back. The 22-year-old confidently pushes forward and possesses an accurate left foot, as he demonstrated when he clinically slotted the ball into the bottom corner after a setup by Jack Grealish.

However, City’s 1-1 draw wasn’t solely down to midfield deficiencies, despite Rodri’s absence. The overall performance was solid, but Newcastle also brought their A-game, particularly through Anthony Gordon.

Newcastle’s St. James’ Park was adorned with banners celebrating Gordon, who is set to sign a new long-term contract that cements his status as one of the club’s top earners. Though his form since Euro 2024 hasn’t fully returned, Gordon’s impact in the match was undeniable. Playing in a more central role, he took full advantage of a pass from Bruno Guimarães, winning a penalty after taking evasive action to avoid City’s goalkeeper, Ederson. His penalty was struck with precision, showcasing why he remains a major asset for Newcastle this season.

Despite a brief injury scare during a late surge for a winner, Gordon appeared fit by the final whistle, underlining his critical role for the Magpies moving forward.

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