IN a repeat of last year’s FA Cup final, arch-rivals Manchester City and Manchester United square off in the 2024 showpiece at Wembley on Saturday afternoon.
Former Man City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan scored both goals to secure a 2-1 win for the Citizens in last season’s end-of-season spectacle.
Pep Guardiola’s star-studded team reached this year’s final after earning a hard-fought 1-0 win over Chelsea at the semi-final stage.
Fresh off the back of winning a record-breaking fourth Premier League title in a row, City will now look to complete a double by lifting the FA Cup for the second year in succession.
As for Man United, they brought the curtain down on another below-par Premier League season by bagging a 2-0 win at Brighton last weekend, on an afternoon where my Bet Builder landed.
Erik ten Hag’s team will consider themselves fortunate to have made it through to this year’s FA Cup final, after blowing a 3-0 lead against Coventry before prevailing on penalties.
How the bookies view it: City too strong
Manchester City are red-hot 1/6 (Bet 365 favourites to lift the trophy and they are 1/3 (Bet 365) to seal the deal in regulation time.
Manchester United are as big as 7/1 (Bet 365) to take the trophy back to Old Trafford, while a Red Devils triumph inside 90 minutes trading at 4/1 (Bet 365).
Head to head: City seeking four in a row
As already alluded to, Man City defeated Man United 2-1 in last season’s FA Cup final at Wembley. Pep Guardiola’s side have since put United to the sword twice en route to winning the 2023/24 Premier League, winning 3-0 and 3-1 on each respective occasion.
Man United have taken top honours from just one of the last seven fixtures between these old foes, with that solitary success a 2-1 victory back in January 2023.
Players to watch: Foden to fire City to glory
Phil Foden was the star of the show in Man City’s 3-1 win over West Ham on Sunday, netting twice in the first half to put his team on course for another English crown. Foden has scored in each of his previous two outings against Man United this season, and he looks overpriced at 7/4 (Bet 365) to strike at Wembley.
Lisandro Martínez’s return from injury last weekend coincided with Man United keeping their first clean sheet since March. The Argentine centre-half likes to get stuck in so he could be worth considering to commit two or more fouls at 5/2 (Bet 365).
Predicted line-ups
Pep Guardiola is unlikely to make too many changes from the side that secured the Premier League title against West Ham last weekend.
Having come off the bench to score in Man United’s final two Premier League games of the season, Rasmus Højlund is expected to be named in Erik ten Hag’s starting XI on Saturday.
Man City: Ortega; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Bernardo, Rodri, De Bruyne, Doku, Foden; Haaland
Man United: Onana; Dalot, Martinez, Casemiro, Wan-Bissaka; Mainoo, Amrabat; Amad, Garnacho; Fernandes, Højlund
Anything else catch the eye?
While Man City are too short to side with at the above-mentioned odds, bundling up a Sky Blues win with under five goals will bring about a backbone 4/5 (Bet 365) play.
This bet would have proven profitable in last season’s FA Cup final as well the two all-Manchester affairs during the subsequent Premier League season.
It's also worth noting that this combination clicked in five of City’s final six top-flight fixtures of the season, and that only adds to the appeal of siding with the same wager at Wembley.
This FA Cup match between Manchester City and Manchester United will be played on May 25, 2024 and kick off at 15:00. Check below for our tipsters best Manchester City vs Manchester United prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
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