Man City vs Man Utd Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 English FA Cup | Final
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Manchester City and Manchester United are, like they did last season, facing each other in the FA Cup final with City looking to add to their trophy collection and United aiming for some sort of redemption.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 25th May, 2024 - UK – 15:00 / US EST – 10:00 / US PST – 08:00
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: This match will be televised live on the BBC in the UK. / This match will be televised live on ESPN in the US.
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: This match can be streamed live via BBC iPlayer in the UK. / This match can be streamed live via ESPN+ in the US.
MAN CITY PREVIEW: HISTORY MAKERS
No team has ever won the domestic double in back-to-back seasons in England, which is quite astonishing, and Manchester City, fresh off the back of become the first team to ever win four English titles in a row, have the chance to do just that at Wembley Stadium this weekend as they face their neighbours Manchester United.
City had a bit of a blip in the autumn but since losing 1-0 to Aston Villa in early December, they have won two trophies and haven’t actually lost a game. They were beaten by Real Madrid on penalties in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League but inside 90 or 120 minutes, they are now unbeaten in 35 matches across all competitions.
MAN UTD PREVIEW: CHANCE TO RESTORE PRIDE
Manchester United have been so, so bizarre this season. It was their lowest ever Premier League points total and they also finished eighth, their lowest ever finish in the Premier League, and yet have the chance for silverware and European qualification this weekend, despite, genuinely, about three convincing performances throughout the entire season.
Even in the semi-final of this competition they threw away a three-goal lead against Championship Coventry City, survived a scare and were helped by VAR in extra-time before needing penalties to win. The Red Devils did finish with back-to-back victories, though, against Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion.
MAN CITY TEAM NEWS: EDERSON OUT
There have been several reports this week that goalkeeper Ederson could depart Manchester City in the summer transfer window and that would explain his frustration that he showed at picking up what was eventually diagnosed as a fractured eye socket against Tottenham Hotspur.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Stefan Ortega; Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Foden; Haaland
UNAVAILABLE: Ederson (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
MAN UTD TEAM NEWS: RACE AGAINST TIME FOR MAGUIRE & SHAW
England international defenders Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are in a race against time for UEFA EURO 2024 with Erik ten Hag confirming that Maguire will miss the final. Anthony Martial looks to have played his last game for United, whilst Mason Mount could also return.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Onana; Diogo Dalot, Varane, Evans, Wan-Bissaka; Casemiro, Mainoo; Alejandro Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
UNAVAILABLE: Malacia (Injured), Maguire (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Lindelof (Injured), Shaw (Injured), Mount (Injured)
MAN CITY VS MAN UTD PREDICTION
Back-to-back Manchester derby cup finals would suggest both sides are peaking in this era but that is not the case. The likelihood of a walk over, though, does remain small as it should and could have been that way last year, especially when Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring in less than ten seconds. This time around, though, United are worse and City are just as good. A comfortable City win and a third FA Cup in the Pep Guardiola era is likely with the Cityzens expected to add a 18th trophy to the cabinet since Guardiola’s arrival back in 2016.
MAN CITY VS MAN UTD TIP: MAN CITY TO WIN -1 HANDICAP
