This year’s FA Cup final is again an all-Manchester affair with City looking to repeat their success over United when they clash at Wembley on Saturday (15:00).
Pep Guardiola’s side claimed the Premier League title on Sunday and claimed a 2-1 win in last year’s showpiece, but United will have been boosted by closing their season with victories over Newcastle and Brighton.
- MAN CITY TO WIN AND UNDER 3.5 GOALS
- RODRI TO SCORE ANYTIME
- SOFYAN AMRABAT TO BE CARDED
City May Not Run Away
Manchester City have once again been the dominant team in the English top flight this season and they are heavily fancied to add the FA Cup to the fourth successive Premier League title they secured with a 3-1 win over West Ham on Sunday.
Guardiola’s team could put on a show, but they have got to the cup final the hard way and Saturday’s final may prove a similar grind.
Having routinely beaten Championship side Huddersfield 5-0 in the third round, City have claimed some decent scalps.
They needed a late Nathan Ake goal to defeat Tottenham 1-0 and while Luton were brushed aside 6-2 at Kenilworth Road, City’s other ties have seen them post a 2-0 win over Newcastle and a 1-0 triumph over Chelsea.
United will probably try to keep things tight for as long as possible, particularly after they conceded after just 12 seconds to City in last year’s FA Cup final. And this may not be a game packed full of goals, so take the Citizens to come out on top in a Wembley showpiece yielding no more than three strikes.
MAN CITY TO WIN AND UNDER 3.5 GOALS
Rodri To Rise To The Occasion
Plenty of attention will be on the Premier League’s top goalscorer Erling Haaland with City strongly favoured to lift the cup. But just as two goals from Ilkay Gundogan were enough for them to triumph last year, it would not be a surprise if another midfielder got in on the act.
Rodri calmed a few nerves at the Etihad on Sunday with a third City goal against the West Ham and the Spaniard showed he is a player for the big occasion when netting the winner in last season’s Champions League final against Inter Milan.
He took his season’s tally to eight Premier League goals with his strike at the weekend and often contributes in the final third despite being regarded as a defensive midfielder.
Rodri can pop up at just the right time to pick up the pieces and looks a good bet to find the Wembley net.
Amrabat Could Fall Foul Of Referee
The United midfield could have plenty of chasing to do and it would not be a surprise if there were a few yellow cards flying around.
One potential caution recipient could be Sofyan Amrabat, who has picked up three bookings in his last four games for the Red Devils.
The Moroccan committed five fouls in the recent 3-2 win over Newcastle and was also booked in the Premier League derby at Old Trafford in October, which City won 3-0, so don’t be surprised if he goes into the book.
