Manchester City v Manchester United - FA Cup Final Preview

In its 150 plus years of history, The FA Cup has not had a Manchester derby final, and that can partially be attributed to City’s mediocrity before the Abu Dhabi investment back in 2008, now we are here.

City go into this one as the Champions of England already, while Manchester United will be hoping to cap an impressive first year under Erik ten Hag. It promises to be a classic, feisty Manchester derby at Wembley on Saturday afternoon.

Team News

Manchester United will be without Antony Martial. The club will also be without Antony, who has failed to recover from his Ankle knock. Lisandro Martínez, Marcel Sabitzer, Donny Van de Beek and Tom Heaton will all miss the game at Wembley.

Pep Guardiola confirmed they Stefan Ortega will start in goal in the final on Saturday. Ortega has kept 5 clean sheets en-route to the final.

City still have a clean bill of health with the likes of De Bruyne, Dias, and Akanji all fit to feature after missing the final game of the Premier League season. Nathan Ake came back to play an hour of football against Brentford, so he could feature.

FA Cup Final Preview – Possible starting line-up

Manchester City, Ortega; Walker, Dias, Ake; Stones, Rodri; Bernardo, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Grealish; Haaland

Manchester United possible starting line-up:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen; Sancho, Fernandes, Garnacho; Rashford

Stats

Manchester United, have won five of the last six FA Cup meetings against Manchester City. The latest win was in 3-2 away triumph for United back in 2012.

Manchester City are yet to concede a goal in the FA Cup this year. The Citizens will become only the third side to win the trophy without conceding a goal if they win to nil at Wembley on Saturday.

Ten Hag will be the fourth Dutch manager to take charge of an FA Cup final. Following Ruud Gulit, Guss Hiddink and Louis Van gaal.

This will be their third meeting between Manchester United and City at Wembley.

Manchester United are contesting their 21st FA Cup Final, the joint-most of any side in the history of the competition, along with Arsenal. United have won the trophy 12 times, with their eight final defeats the joint-most of any side, along with Chelsea and Everton.

The only Spanish manager that has lost an FA Cup final (Javi Garcia with Watford) lost to Pep Guardiola back in 2019.

Since his FA Cup debut for the club in 2019, Riyad Mahrez has scored more goals in the competition proper than any other player (11). He’s scored five so far this season.

FA Cup Final Preview – Betting Picks

Riyad Mahrez has been excellent in the FA Cup for City this season. The Algerian has scored 5 times in the competition this year. He is backed, and he is backed @ 3.70 to continue his scoring in the FA Cup final.

Erling Haaland is backed to become the first Norwegian to score in an FA Cup final @1.67.

Kevin de Bruyne @ 4.10 could become the first City player to score in two FA Cup finals for City since Bobby Johnstone.

Manchester United star Marcus Rashford @ 3.75 could become the 6th player to score in the League cup and FA Cup final for Manchester United in the same year.

Prediction – Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United