Manchester City vs Manchester United betting tips: FA Cup Final preview, predictions, team news and odds
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Manchester City vs Manchester United match preview
It’s the first-ever Manchester derby FA Cup Final, so will the blue half remain on course for a treble, or will the red half achieve a cup-double?
Manchester United have won 67 major honours in their illustrious history, with their undisputed crowning achievement coming in 1999, becoming the first, and so far only, English club to complete the treble.
Now, the Red Devils will feel they need a win here to prevent their cross-town rivals from repeating that feat.
Manchester City certainly come into this final as heavy-favourites, having picked up a fifth Premier League title in just six seasons last month.
Pep Guardiola’s team hunted down Arsenal by winning 12 successive league games, before getting their hands on the trophy a fortnight ago.
In this competition, the Sky Blues have already scored 17 unanswered goals, dumping out Chelsea, Arsenal, Bristol City, Burnley and Sheffield United along the way.
In exactly a week’s time, Guardiola’s team will be in İstanbul ready to take on Internazionale Milano at Atatürk Olimpiyat Stadı in the Champions League Final.
Thus, this could be the second component of a treble, so will Man City win the FA Cup for the third time?
Manchester United meanwhile are aiming to become just the fifth club to win both domestic cup competitions in the same season, after Arsenal, Liverpool (twice), Chelsea and Man City.
A mere 97 days ago, Erik ten Hag’s team beat Newcastle in the Carabao Cup Final, Casemiro and Marcus Rashford the scorers, thereby ending the club’s six-year trophy draught.
Since then, Man United have cemented their place in third, concluding the season with four successive wins.
So can the Red Devils spring, what would be, quite a sizeable upset in this cup final?
Well, they did win when these two clubs last met in January, when Rashford, controversially, was deemed not to be interfering with play as he took the ball for a walk, before Bruno Fernandes smacked home an equaliser.
Also, there is historical precedent for what they’re trying to achieve.
Back in 1977, Man United beat back-to-back First Division champions Liverpool in the FA Cup Final, four days before the Reds would claim their maiden European Cup, thereby denying Bob Paisley’s team the treble.
So, will a Blue Moon rise above Wembley, or will the Red Devils preserve their status as the only English treble winners in, what should be, a gripping clash at the National Stadium?
Manchester City team news
Having clinched the title against Chelsea, Pep Guardiola rotate his team for an inconsequential draw with Brighton and last Sunday’s defeat at Brentford.
Nevertheless, all of his big guns will be back for this one, with only Nathan Aké currently sidelined.
In goal, as he did in the 2019 final, Guardiola could go with Ederson, despite the fact Stefan Ortega has started all eight domestic cup ties since arriving from Arminia Bielefeld.
Overall, the same XI that started both legs against Real Madrid is likely to be deployed, with John Stones drifting into midfield, alongside Rodri, allowing İlkay Gündoğan to push forward.
Erling Braut Håland will be leading the line, having already become the first player since John Wark in 1984/85 to score a hat-trick in the top-division, the European Cup and FA Cup in the same season.
To date, Bobby Johnstone, in 1955 and ‘56, is the only Man City player to score in multiple FA Cup Finals, a feat Kevin De Bruyne could match here.
Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Rúben Dias, Akanji; Rodri, Gündoğan, Silva, De Bruyne, Grealish; Håland.
Manchester United team news
Lisandro Martínez, Marcel Sabitzer and Donny van de Beek are all out long-term, while it was confirmed this week that Anthony Martial will miss this game after sustaining an injury against Fulham.
Without both Martial and Antony, who’s also sidelined, Erik ten Hag is likely to deploy Wout Weghorst up front; could he be an unlikely hero?
The Dutch striker will be asked to work his socks off for an hour or so, before Alejandro Garnacho, who’s only just back after two months out due to an ankle issue, is introduced.
At the back Raphaël Varane will remain crucial, given that he’s won 18 of the 21 finals he’s ever featured in.
The midfield trio of Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes will also be key, losing only once when all starting together.
Of the 18-man matchday squad from Man United’s most-recent FA Cup win in 2016, only Premier League golden glove winner David de Gea and top-scorer Marcus Rashford will start here too.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): de Gea; Dalot, Varane, Lindelöf, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes; Sancho, Rashford, Weghorst.
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