The stakes could not be higher at Wembley on Saturday as Manchester rivals City and United meet in a FA Cup final for the first time.
For City, victory will seal the second part of a potential trophy treble. The Citizens retained their Premier League title last month and have the Champions League final to come next Saturday.
Only United have ever landed those three trophies in the same season and the Red Devils will be desperate to stop their fierce rivals from emulating their fabled class of 1999 as they chase their own double after lifting the EFL Cup in February.
- Man City/Man City double result
- Over 2.5 Man Utd cards
- Ilkay Gundogan to score or assist anytime
City Can Strike Early
Manchester City have come on strong in the second half of the season, winning 18 of their last 22 matches which included a 12-game winning streak in the Premier League as they retained the English title.
Having wrapped up the league with a week to spare, Pep Guardiola’s men have had plenty of time to prepare for their Wembley date with United, who won the last meeting between the Mancunians at Old Trafford back in January.
The Red Devils enter their 21st FA Cup final in decent form having won their final four games of the league campaign. But they face being overrun by a determined City side who put four past Erik ten Hag’s men in the first half of a 6-3 win at the Etihad Stadium in October.
City have made a habit of getting out the blocks quickly recently, leading at half-time in ten of their last 11 wins.
The Citizens are yet to concede a goal in the FA Cup this season and while victory is by no means a formality, they look capable of keeping United at arm’s length from the off.
MAN CITY/MAN CITY – DOUBLE RESULT
United May Fall Foul Of Ref Tierney
Paul Tierney has been tasked with keeping control of this all-Manchester showpiece and the referee’s record in the Premier League this season suggests he could get card-happy at Wembley.
No official produced more yellow cards than Tierney in the top flight this season, and on the four previous occasions he’s taken charge of games involving United this term he’s shown a total of nine yellow cards.
In six of the last eight games Tierney has officiated, at least one team has received three yellow cards. It stands to reason United are likely to be shown more cards given they will probably have less possession than City, who also have a good disciplinary record, receiving the second-fewest cards in the league.
United picked up three bookings in both Manchester derbies this season and could add to their collection of yellows at Wembley.
Gundogan Gunning For United
Skipper Ilkay Gundogan has been one of the standout performers in City’s strong finish to the campaign - the German registering four goals and two assists across his last five starts.
Gundogan has a habit of delivering when it really matters for City, scoring twice against Aston Villa on the final day of the 2021-22 campaign to seal the Premier League title, and he is a nice price to add to the two goals and two assists he’s previously registered against United.
As well as bagging nine goals and six assists this term, the 32-year-old finished seventh in the Premier League for through-balls and created six big chances over the course of the campaign.
Guardiola is spoilt for choice in midfield but can’t seem to do without Gundogan when the pressure is on.
In what could be his penultimate appearance for City, look for Gundogan to have a key influence on proceedings at Wembley.
GUNDOGAN TO SCORE OR ASSIST ANYTIME
