Barnes in the double as Haaland has a rare day off

Haaland wastes an early chance

Haaland should have opened the scoring in the first four minutes but swung his lines in uncharacteristic fashion. The Norwegian was released by Jeremy Doku but tried to flick the ball over the advancing Nick Pope and could only curl it horribly wide.

It was a sign of things to come as both sides wasted numerous opportunities in an exciting opening period.

City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a superb save to keep out Nick Voltemade’s header and the giant German was unable to beat the Italian again after 27 minutes from Barnes.

In between those chances, City had two excellent penalty calls. The first proved embarrassing, Fabian Schar grabbing Phil Foden’s ankle after the England midfielder was sent off, while the second, for a handball on Malik Thiau, was also shown off by referee Sam Barrott.

City had every right to feel heavy handed, but Newcastle failed to capitalize on their good fortune, Barnes somehow firing wide of the far post after being picked out by Jacob Murphy’s low cross.

The visitors came again and Haaland was denied the poacher’s usual effort when his close-range shot hit Pope in the chest and bounced to safety.

Phil Foden was also guilty of poor finishing when he shot wide of a gaping goal after good work from Ryan Cherky a minute before the break.

Barnes with the double for the Magpies

City controlled the ball early in the second period but Newcastle remained a threat on the counter, another smart save from Donnarumma denying Waltemade on the hour mark.

Five minutes later and Newcastle took the lead. Bruno Guimaraes cut the ball back to Barnes on the edge of the box and he fired a crisp low shot into the bottom left corner.

Their lead lasted just five minutes as the home side failed to clear a corner and in the ensuing panic the ball fell to Diaz and he fired through Scharr’s leg.

It looked as if Pep Guardiola’s side would push forward and make their superiority count, but they were undone by Newcastle’s physical presence at the other end.