FA Cup news: Newcastle Utd vs Brighton – Five key battles and score prediction
Sunday lunchtime sees a big FA Cup clash at St James’ Park, with Newcastle taking on Brighton for a spot in the hat for the quarter-final draw.
After an inconsistent season for both Eddie Howe and Fabian Hurzeler, the sides are separated by just one point in the Premier League table in the hunt for European qualification.
FA Cup success would also help either side with their European dreams, with the winner of the competition getting guaranteed entry into the Europa League next season.
Sports News Blitz writer Dylan Richardson outlines five key battles ahead of the tie and offers a score prediction.
Bruno Guimaraes vs Carlos Baleba
This game could well be won and lost in the midfield. Both Guimaraes and Baleba have been ever-present this season, being selected whenever available.
The 27-year-old Brazilian has started all 27 of the Magpies’ Premier League games this season, while Baleba has featured 23 times for the Seagulls.
Despite Baleba averaging an impressive 1.6 interceptions per game, the 21-year-old will have to be at his very best to slow down the Brazilian international, who completes 1.4 key passes per 90.
Guimaraes and Baleba are also standouts physically, with the pair both averaging over 50% of duels won, making this one of the key battles in determining the outcome at the weekend.
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Yankuba Minteh vs Lewis Hall
The pair could have been going into this game as team-mates but the Magpies sacrificed Minteh to comply with PSR rules, selling him to the Seagulls in the summer for £35 million.
Hall, who joined Newcastle permanently in the summer, will have a difficult time marking Minteh one-on-one, with the tricky winger averaging 1.6 successful dribbles per 90 minutes.
While Hall is getting better at one-on-one defending, the 20-year-old has still been beaten an average of 1.3 times a game this season and will have to be on top form to stop Minteh.
This match-up should have a key impact on the game, with neither player shying away from a challenge.
Hall has won 54% of his duels in the Premier League this season and with Minteh winning 45%, this battle will play a big role on Sunday.
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Callum Wilson vs Jan Paul van Hecke
Wilson has spent a large part of the season on the sidelines with various injuries, but with star striker Alexander Isak missing the Liverpool game in midweek due to a groin issue, it is likely that the 33-year-old will have to lead the line once again at the weekend.
The ex-England international has struggled physically since he returned against Arsenal at the start of February, winning just 15% of total duels so far.
Compared to van Hecke’s 57% success rate, it is likely to be a difficult day for Wilson against the 24-year-old.
Eddie Howe vs Fabian Hurzeler
The Premier League fixture at St James’ Park in October was a good tactical battle between the two in their first encounter, with Hurzeler coming out on top in a 1-0 victory.
However, Howe and the Toon fans will feel that they should have won that game, having 21 shots and carving up 4 big chances.
Both managers have tried to instill an attacking approach into their players.
The Magpies have scored 46 times in 27 Premier League matches, conceding 38.
The Seagulls have a similar record, netting 44 times this campaign and letting in 38, so we can expect goals.
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Joao Pedro vs Fabian Schar
Pedro has flourished this season, scoring seven goals and registering six assists in the Premier League, earning himself his first senior call-up for Brazil.
On the other hand, it is clear to see the decline that Schar has had physically this season, with the 33-year-old announcing his retirement from international football last year.
While his numbers in front of goal and all-round creativity are impressive, it is Pedro’s pressing workrate that could be key for Brighton at the weekend.
The 23-year-old regains possession in the final third almost once (0.9 times) a game.
Schar used to be a great passer, but in the last year the 86-time Swiss international’s passing has made a big decline.
The 33-year-old has been a below average passer this season, completing just 91.7% of passes in his own half so he will have to use his experience to stop Pedro getting the better of him.
Summary
Both the Magpies and the Seagulls enter the game on an inconsistent run of form but with the two sides desperate for European qualification, the encounter at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon should be a cracker.
The game could well be decided in both boxes, with the match-ups between the strikers and centre-halves potentially proving to be key.
Score prediction: Newcastle United 2-2 Brighton, with Newcastle to progress on penalties
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