Man City v Man United Prediction, Preview & Odds – FA Cup Final
We have a Man City v Man United prediction and preview plus betting odds for you ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup Final at Wembley.
Man City v Man United FA Cup Final Odds
Man City are the strong favourites in this game at 4/9 to win in 90 minutes and 2/9 to lift the cup.
Man United find themselves as underdogs at a big price of 5/1 to win in 90 minutes and 3/1 to lift the cup.
The draw after 90 minutes is priced up at 7/2.
The Form –Man City v Man United
Man City’s Form
Man City come into this fixture on course for a historic treble, they finished their Premier League campaign on Sunday when a rotated Guardiola side lost 1-0 to Brentford in what was a meaningless game for both sides. City had of course already secured their third successive title a week before after Arsenal lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest.
The Citizens also booked their place in the Champions League final after demolishing Real Madrid 4-0 in the Semi-Final second leg. They will now face Italy’s Inter Milan in the final with the opportunity to win their first-ever Champions League trophy.
In advance of the FA Cup final, Man City have had a record in this season’s FA Cup campaign which is as close to perfect as you are likely to get scoring seventeen goals and conceding none in their five matches in the competition.
Man City’s Path To The FA Cup Final
Man City could have even won the EFL Cup had it not been their 2-0 elimination at the hands of Premier League relegated Southampton back in January!
Man United’s Form
Man United come into this fixture off the back of their 2-1 final day comeback victory against Fulham. The goals in that game came from Jadon Sancho and Bruno Fernandes which secured third place in the Premier League for Erik ten Hag’s side in what has been a largely successful first season for the Dutchman.
In Europe they were knocked out of the Europa League by competition specialists Sevilla following their 0-3 second-leg defeat but will now be hoping that they won’t see Thursday Night Football for a long time again with a Champions League spot secured for next season.
In advance of the FA Cup final, Man United have a record of 12 goals and 4 conceded across their five matches in the competition. The Red Devils arguably had an easier run to the final than Man City but all any team can do is beat what is put in front of them.
Man United’s Path To The FA Cup Final
They have already won a cup this season after beating Newcastle 2-0 in the EFL Cup Final back in February.
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Man City v Man United – Predicted Lineups
Man City Predicted XI
Man United Predicted XI
Man City v Man United Preview
Man United’s Attack
Man United have struggled for goals this season across competitions but in the FA Cup, they have been slightly more productive scoring 12 goals across their five matches for an average of 2.4 goals per match with nine different goal-scorers (including two own-goals).
Man City are likely to dominate the ball in this game. In the last game between the two sides City had 79% of possession but United still came out on top 2-1. With that in mind, we can safely assume that Man United are likely to employ a counter-attacking strategy again with their pace in the transition likely to be their main threat.
Ten Hag’s star man is Marcus Rashford and there are few players in world football right now who opposing defenders would fear more on the counter attack. The Man United no.10 scored the winner in that 2-1 victory the last time these teams met and has 30 goals and 11 assists across his 55 games this season.
Aside from Rashford, and the obvious talents of Bruno Fernandes, the man I am expecting to be pivotal to United’s chances on Saturday (albeit probably off the bench) is Alejandro Garnacho.
The Argentine teen sensation came off the bench in that 2-1 victory with the Red Devils 1-0 behind but his pace and lack of fear terrorised the Man City defence. He eventually assisted Rashford’s winner. Garnacho could be that ace in the pack off the bench again.
Man City’s Defence
Man City are yet to concede a goal throughout this competition across their five matches. That stat is made all the more impressive given the fact that it includes keeping the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal scoreless.
For Man City, attack is literally the best form of defence with them dominating possession in basically every match they play and with that do not give up as many attacking opportunities to the opposition.
They are also well-drilled from set-pieces which means if teams try to counter-attack them they are comfortable taking the cynical foul and giving them the chance to organise their defence. However, Man United showed in their last meeting that they can still be vulnerable in transition, especially against higher quality players.
Man City’s Attack
Guardiola’s Man City are the most dangerous attacking force in world football. All their relentless high-possession attack was missing last season was a clinical striker to finish off the chances created by the likes of De Bruyne and Mahrez.
They only went and signed the most clinical player in world football in the shape of Erling Braut Haaland who has scored 52 goals and contributed 9 assists in just 51 matches this season.
Haaland has turned Man City into not just treble contenders, but treble favourites. They will dominate the ball on Saturday and will be looking to feed Haaland opportunities as much as possible led by a rested De Bruyne.
Man United’s Defence
In advance of the inevitable task of stopping a rampant Man City from scoring on Saturday, Erik ten Hag rested three of his expected starting back five leaving Shaw, Wan Bissaka and Varane on the bench with Lindelof and De Gea the only likely starters playing.
Following last weekend’s match against Fulham Man United fans can gain some sort of hope, especially in a potential penalty shootout scenario when De Gea saved a Mitrovic penalty to inspire their 2-1 comeback victory.
Defensive midfielder Casemiro will be huge for their defensive effort on Saturday and breaking up Man City’s passing attack.
Compatriot Fred was taken off during the Fulham game and could also find himself in the starting lineup at Wembley where his relentless energy and pressing could have him placed in the number 10 role. If that were to happen Bruno would likely shift to the right side for extra control and bodies in midfield.
Man City v Man United Prediction & Best Bet
Prediction: Man City 1-2 Man United AET
Both sides have met on two separate occasions this season already with two very different results.
Their first match came in the league Matchweek 9 back in October where Man City outclassed their biggest rivals beating them 6-3 in a match where they only had an XG of 3.2 to Man United’s 1.7. It’s probably the best indicator of how productive each side is in front of goal with the blue half of Manchester in a league of their own.
However, in the return fixture, Man United avenged that early season defeat with a 2-1 victory creating an XG of 1.7 but most impressively restricting their opponents to an XG of only 0.6.
Two matches were played this season, with two very different outcomes. Man City are worthy favourites, and it will take a herculean effort for them to stand a chance on Saturday. Anything can happen in a final though and I am sensing a Garnacho Extra-Time winner to end Man City’s treble aspirations for another season!
Best Bet: Half-Time/Full-Time Correct Score Draw 0-0, Draw 1-1 @ 22/1
Click Below For All Our Man City v Man United FA Cup Final Odds
*Prices subject to fluctuation
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