How to watch Manchester City vs Newcastle United in the EFL Cup semi-final live
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Manchester City hosts Newcastle United in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final on February 4, 2026, at the Etihad Stadium. City carries a 2-0 aggregate lead from the first leg and is in a strong position to reach the final.
Kickoff is at 8:00 PM GMT (9:00 PM CET, 3:00 PM ET, 12:00 PM PT), with fans in India able to watch at 1:30 AM IST on February 5. City currently sits second in the Premier League, while Newcastle comes into the match from the bottom half of the table and must overturn a two-goal deficit away from home.
Where to watch Manchester City vs Newcastle United – streaming options by country
Below is a complete overview of the official broadcasters and streaming services showing the Manchester City vs Newcastle United match in various countries.
| Country | Streaming service | Price |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports, ITVX | From £22.00/month (Sky), free (ITV) |
| United States | Paramount+ | From $5.99/month |
| Australia | beIN Sports Connect | AU$15.99/month |
| Canada | DAZN | CA$35.99/month |
| Germany | Sky Deutschland | From €25.00/month |
| Spain | DAZN | From €9.99/month |
| Netherlands | Viaplay | €15.99/month |
| Romania | Digi Sport 2 | Free |
How to watch Manchester City vs Newcastle United for free
The Manchester City vs Newcastle United EFL Cup match is available to stream for free on Digi Sport 2 in Romania, but you'll need a VPN to access it from another country due to geo-restrictions. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on how to use a VPN to watch the game:
- Choose a reliable VPN with servers in Romania – we recommend NordVPN for its fast speeds and reliable connections
- Download and install the VPN application on your preferred streaming device
- Open the app and connect to a server in Romania
- Go to the Digi Sport 2 website or open its app
- Look for the live sports section to find the stream
- Click on the match and start watching for free
Free EFL Cup streams this week
Some international broadcasters show select EFL Cup matches for free online. These free streams are geo-restricted, meaning you can only watch them if you're physically located in the broadcaster’s country. They don't typically stream every match, and the commentary is often not in English. You can use a VPN to access these streams from abroad by changing your virtual location to match the broadcaster's.
For the Manchester City vs Newcastle United match, you can watch for free on Digi Sport 2. This streaming service is based in Romania, so the live commentary will be in Romanian.
Available free streams
| Matchup | Matchup date | Streaming service | Country | Stream language |
| Manchester City vs Newcastle United | February 4th, 2026 | Digi Sport 2 | Romania | Romanian |
Best VPNs to watch Manchester City vs Newcastle United
We've tested the following virtual private networks (VPNs) to ensure they're up to the task of streaming EFL Cup matches. They offer fast speeds, reliable unblocking, and stable HD playback for both free international streams and paid services. These are our top recommendations for watching Manchester City vs Newcastle United, especially if you want to stream it for free on Digi Sport 2 (Romania).
- NordVPN – best overall for streaming with fast speeds and excellent unblocking
- Surfshark – best budget option with unlimited simultaneous connections
- Proton VPN – best for privacy-focused users with solid global streaming performance
How to watch Manchester City vs Newcastle United on different devices
Watching Manchester City vs Newcastle United depends on whether your streaming service supports your device and, if you’re watching from abroad, whether your VPN works on that platform. Most broadcasters offer apps for web browsers, iOS and Android devices, Smart TVs, and streaming devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Apple TV, and Android TV.
VPN apps work best on computers, smartphones, Fire TV, and Android TV. Some devices, including Roku and certain Samsung or LG Smart TVs, don’t support VPN apps directly. In those cases, the easiest workaround is streaming on a laptop or phone with a VPN active and connecting it to your TV using HDMI or casting.
For the simplest setup and best compatibility, Fire TV and Android TV devices are the recommended options, as both the streaming apps and major VPN providers offer native support on these platforms.
Match preview and prediction: Manchester City vs Newcastle United
Manchester City host Newcastle United for the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final, holding a commanding 2–0 aggregate lead. The match is scheduled for February 4, 2026, at the Etihad Stadium.
City’s recent form has been strong, though January saw a few draws and losses. They currently sit 2nd in the Premier League and have a formidable home record in the EFL Cup, winning 11 of their last 12 matches. Newcastle, the defending champions, have had an inconsistent season and sit 9th in the league. Their form has dipped recently, with just one win in their last six matches across all competitions.
Tactically, City will likely deploy Pep Guardiola’s possession-based 4-3-3 system, aiming to control the tempo and exploit spaces. A key player to watch is Erling Haaland, whose goal-scoring prowess is central to City's attack. For Newcastle, manager Eddie Howe prefers an intense, pressing 4-3-3, but a severe injury crisis may force adjustments. Midfielder Bruno Guimarães, who leads the team in goals, will be crucial if fit. Historically, Manchester City has dominated this fixture at home, winning their last five encounters against Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium.
Team news and expected lineups
Manchester City is contending with a significant injury list, particularly in defense. Joško Gvardiol, Rúben Dias, and John Stones are all sidelined, weakening their central defensive options. Midfielder Mateo Kovačić and attackers Jérémy Dokuand Savinho are also unavailable for selection. Given the aggregate lead and fixture congestion, Pep Guardiola is expected to rotate his squad.
James Trafford is anticipated to start in goal. The backline will likely feature Matheus Nunes, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Max Alleyne. In midfield, Bernardo Silva could be joined by Nicolas Gonzalez and Tijani Reijnders, with Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki expected to lead the attack.
Newcastle United is in the midst of a severe injury crisis that has depleted its squad. The defense is hardest hit, with Fabian Schär, Valentino Livramento, and Emil Krafth all ruled out. In midfield, Joelinton is a confirmed absentee, while the availability of key players Bruno Guimarães, Sven Botman, and Lewis Miley remains in doubt pending late fitness tests.
Nick Pope is expected to start in goal behind a defense of Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, and Lewis Hall. With injuries impacting the midfield, Sandro Tonali and Joe Willock will likely start. The attack is expected to feature Anthony Gordon, Yoane Wissa, and Harvey Barnes.
Head-to-head stats
Across 196 competitive meetings, Manchester City holds a narrow advantage with 80 wins to Newcastle’s 74, with 42 matches ending in draws.
However, City has dominated the fixture in recent years, especially at home. Here are the last five results:
- January 13, 2026: Newcastle United 0–2 Manchester City (EFL Cup)
- November 22, 2025: Newcastle United 2–1 Manchester City (Premier League)
- February 15, 2025: Manchester City 4–0 Newcastle United (Premier League)
- September 28, 2024: Newcastle United 1–1 Manchester City (Premier League)
- March 16, 2024: Manchester City 2–0 Newcastle United (FA Cup)
Manchester City has won 7 of the last 10 encounters between the clubs and has not lost to Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium since 2014.
Prediction
Manchester City enters this second leg with every advantage. Their 2-0 aggregate lead, formidable home record, and Newcastle’s crippling injury list create a monumental challenge for the visitors. Newcastle must push forward to score, which will inevitably leave them vulnerable to City's clinical attack. Expect City to control possession and manage the game professionally, picking their moments to strike.
Manchester City 2–1 Newcastle United
