Chelsea vs Man City Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 English FA Cup | Final
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After securing the League Cup earlier this season, Man City look to add the FA Cup to their 2025-26 collection as they face Chelsea in the final at Wembley.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC / TNT Sports / Not Televised / USA – ESPN+
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer / discovery+ / Cannot be streamed / USA – ESPN+
Chelsea team news: James to potentially start
After coming off the bench against Liverpool, captain Reece James could be in line to lead Chelsea out at Wembley but they could be without goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who missed last weekend with an injury sustained against Nottingham Forest. Both Garnacho and Neto face late fitness tests.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Gusto, Chalobah, Adarabioyo, Cucurella; Caicedo, James; Palmer, Fernandez, Neto; Pedro
Unavailable: Gittens (Injured), Estevao (Injured), Mudryk (Disciplinary), Derry (Injured)
Questionable: Sanchez (Injured), Garnacho (Injured), Neto (Injured)
Man City team news: Rodri could make final
Both Khusanov and Gvardiol featured midweek against Crystal Palace and are available if required at Wembley. Expect the likes of Haaland, Cherki and O’Reilly to come back into the starting line-up, whilst Rodri is facing an intense battle to prove his fitness.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Silva, Rodri; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland
Unavailable:
Questionable: Rodri (Injured)
Chelsea vs Man City prediction
This represents Chelsea’s only hope of salvaging what has been an utterly dismal season from their perspective. But they are facing a Man City side desperate to banish some FA Cup demons and secure their second major trophy of the campaign. It’s hard to see what has been a poor Chelsea defence ultimately keep out this Man City attack which includes the likes of Haaland, Cherki and an in-form Doku.
Pep Guardiola’s side swatted aside Chelsea 0-3 at Stamford Bridge in their most recent encounter after blowing them away with an awesome second-half showing and it would be no surprise to see them grow into this encounter the longer it goes on, similar as to what we saw in the League Cup final, where they beat Arsenal by two goals to nil.
Whilst a one-off final always represents an element of unpredictability and Chelsea will not go down easily here, Man City are the stronger side and perennial winners. Their heartbreak in last season’s FA Cup final against Crystal Palace will still be fresh in the City players’ minds and motivation couldn’t be higher. Expect them to outclass Chelsea and come out on top after 90 minutes.
Chelsea vs Man City tip: Man City to win
