With the English Premier League wrapped up for another season, attentions turn to the few remaining games left in the United Kingdom this weekend. It won’t be long before we’re sifting through the best from upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers, but before getting into international football, we have the 2023 FA Cup final from Wembley to enjoy. The world’s most famous knockout cup competition will conclude on Saturday at the national stadium in North London, and we have a treat in store as the final also doubles as a Manchester derby.
Manchester City takes on Manchester United from 15:00 GMT on Saturday, with Pep Guardiola’s team fresh from defending the Premier League title. After fighting back to deny Arsenal a long-overdue win, they made three title wins on the bounce. For much of the season, it looked like The Gunners would hold on to pole position and bag Mikel Arteta his first major award as club boss, but disaster struck. Arsenal’s red-hot form abandoned them in the season’s closing weeks, allowing Man City to take advantage.
Saturday’s game at Wembley will be the third time the Manchester teams have met this season, and if the previous two can be trusted, this will surely be a thriller. The first game played back in October at the Etihad Stadium saw Man City thrash their rivals 6-3, but United returned the favour with a 2-1 win at the Etihad. This decider is even more interesting with the scores set at one win each. Which team wins when it matters most? Keep reading for our in-depth preview and predictions.
EPL champions stumble
Man City was tremendous down the home straight, reeling in leaders Arsenal and passing them to win the title. They weren’t always the most consistent team in the division, but City won the games that mattered, and when the Gunners began misfiring, the Citizens wasted no time applying pressure. A long, unbeaten run from winter into spring gave them the springboard needed to return to a position of dominance. When they were back on top of the ladder, they were there to stay.
Man City’s won the league with 89 points, five better than Arteta’s men. Their stats for the season showed 28 wins, five draws, and five defeats, with 94 goals scored and 33 conceded. Looking at those numbers in a bit more detail, they were the highest scorers in the division by a comfortable margin and had the joint-best defence, equaling the efforts of Newcastle United, who finished unbeaten in four to end ahead of Liverpool and secure a Champions League place for next term.
Bet hereDespite winning the league by five points, Man City appeared to down tools when ahead, and they now enter this game winless in their last two outings. The champions stuttered to a disappointing draw against Brighton on the road before losing 1-0 at Brentford to bring the curtain down. That loss to The Bees wasn’t a big deal as Man City had already won the title, but they must return to their best form on Saturday to add the FA Cup to their collection.
United finished with a flurry
It has been another rollercoaster season for Man United as the team, remarkably, looks to find its feet since Sir Alex Ferguson left. Replacing the legendary Scotsman was never going to be easy, but it’s fair to say progress has been slow at Old Trafford. They have performed well in recent seasons, including the 2022/23 campaign, without ever reaching the dizzy heights of the club’s golden age. There’s still work to be done, but there’s no doubt United is back on a straight road and headed in the right direction. An FA Cup win over their great rivals would help prove that progress.
The Red Devils secured a Champions League place after finishing third with 75 points against their name. Their card was returned showing 23 wins, six draws, and nine defeats, with 58 goals scored and 43 conceded. That impressive points tally was well short of Man City and Arsenal’s but four points better than Newcastle United in fourth and eight ahead of Liverpool, who finished outside the prizes in fifth. That showed the improvement of United and the problems at Anfield.
Confidence is high in the Man Utd squad, and they are just 90 minutes away from adding another famous FA Cup win to their Champions League finish. United arrives on the back of a four-game winning spell – something no other team in the division could manage. They were last seen in action beating Fulham 2-1 at Old Trafford last weekend, with the goals needed to win that game scored by Sancho and Bruno Fernandes, but only after Tete had given the Cottagers a 19th-minute lead. Fans want to see them carry their strong league form into the cup final.
Man City v Man Utd prediction
This game is finely poised, with both halves of the divide entering with one derby win each this season. Man Cty is the champion, betting favourites and the pundits pick to win. Man Utd is the English Premier League’s strongest finishing team, attracting a fair share of attention. Both clubs will be well supported in the stadium and predictions.
With Man City already winning the league title and having a Champions League game weighing heavy on their mind, Man Utd has only this game on the schedule before breaking for summer. That means they can give 100% effort, leaving it all on the field of play, which may be the deciding factor.
FA Cup odds
The pre-match betting odds have Man City at 1.456 for the win while Man Utd trade at 6.5, with 22bet offering a draw at 4.7. Extra time and penalties are available if required.
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