The potential 'weaknesses' Newcastle United can exploit against Manchester City

When one side has won just once in 28 league games against another, identifying a weakness in their opposition can seem impossible. For Newcastle United, however, that might not be the case.

Other than Anfield, there has not been a more daunting venue for the Magpies than the Etihad Stadium since Manchester City relocated in 2003. United have never won there in the Premier League, with a 2-0 victory in the 2014 League Cup campaign their only victory at the ground.

But records, as the saying goes, are meant to be broken.

Before Wednesday’s Champions League blockbuster, even the most optimistic Toon fan would have expected another mauling at the Etihad. City had both feet in the final as stoppage time approached and Pep Guardiola has brought off star man Kevin De Bruyne as a precaution to ensure he is fully fit to give Newcastle their customary shellacking.

Against all odds, what transpired could not be further from the truth. Real Madrid - like true Champions League warriors - scored twice in the dying embers to turn the game on its head and again in extra time to dump Man City out of the competition. From a Newcastle point of view, the extra miles in the top-flight champions’ legs provided one advantage when the two sides meet on Sunday.

Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and Joao Cancelo all played 120 minutes against the La Liga champions-elect. Another huge bonus is how Kyle Walker will likely be ruled out.

The England right-back is the unsung hero of the City side, providing pace in defence to mop up any rare backline breaches. Without him in recent weeks, whether against Liverpool or Real Madrid, Guardiola’s side have looked fragile against speed.

Allan Saint-Maximin, anyone?

Finally, the pressure on City to secure the