Date and Time: Saturday, May 25, 15:00 GMT+1
Venue: Wembley Stadium
| Odds via 22bet | |
| Man City vs Man Utd | May 25, 3:00 pm GMT+1 |
| Man City odds | 1.29 |
| Man Utd odds | 5.85 |
| Draw | 2.30 |
| Over\Under | Total 2,5: 1.41\2.69 |
Manchester City vs Manchester United. Team Overview
Manchester City
Manchester City won nine consecutive matches in the English Premier League and emerged victorious in 18 out of 23 matches in the second half of the season. They are in a strong position to defend their title as FA Cup winners.
During most of their spring matches, Manchester City displayed dominance and secured comfortable victories. It’s evident that Pep Guardiola’s team maintained their peak performance towards the end of the season, allowing them to finish the season without dropping any points.
The majority of City’s players are in excellent form. In strategic terms, as we mentioned in the previous preview, Guardiola has the option to choose from various attacking strategies, making it challenging for opponents to counter City’s attacks.
| Recent Form | WWWWW |
| Key Players to Watch | Phil Foden, Rodri, Jérémy Doku, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland |
| Team Strengths | Top level play in all phases of the game |
| Team Weaknesses | – |
Manchester United
Erik ten Hag’s team has won their last two games of the season, but their style of play has been heavily criticized by fans and club officials. Manchester United has the fourth-worst defense in the Premier League in terms of chances allowed.
Additionally, their attack lacks precise mechanisms to break down opponents’ low defensive blocks. This has resulted in the team being one of the most unbalanced in the Premier League, often leaning towards either a too defensive or too attacking style of play.
Before last season’s FA Cup final, the United players appeared more organized and had a better chance of winning the trophy compared to this season, where ten Hag’s team looks much weaker.
| Recent Form | DLLWW |
| Key Players to Watch | Bruno Fernandes, Lisandro Martínez |
| Team Strengths | Elite group of attacking players |
| Team Weaknesses | Poor performance in transition defence |
Manchester City vs Manchester United Head-to-Head Statistics
In the last season, these teams faced each other in the FA Cup final. İlkay Gündoğan made a significant contribution to City’s victory by scoring two goals in one of his final matches for the team.
Manchester City has won the last three matches with a total score of 8-3. Over the last five years, Guardiola’s team has won eight matches, while United has won four.
Interestingly, since 2010, these teams have only drawn three times in the Manchester derby.
Player Focus
Phil Foden once again demonstrated his ability to make a difference in the match against West Ham. Whenever the opponents create space near their penalty area, Foden is quick to take advantage of it.
Not only is he effective in advancing the ball in the central area of the pitch, but he also excels in one-on-one situations and has proven himself as a goal-scoring striker this season. In fact, he scored two goals in the last game against Manchester United.
Tactical Analysis
Erik ten Hag has used a 4-4-2 formation with a diamond in the center of the pitch in the last two matches. This formation allowed United to launch strong attacks through the central zone by overwhelming the opponent’s holding area with their players. Additionally, Diogo Dalot frequently moved from the left flank to the center, creating significant pressure on the opponents.
On the flip side, in a 4-4-2 formation with a diamond in the center, Manchester United encountered significant issues on the flanks against both Newcastle and Brighton. If Roberto De Zerbi’s team had been more clinical with their chances, they might have avoided losing to Man United.
Full focus on Saturday’s task 👊#MUFC || #FACupFinal
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 23, 2024
If Ten Hag were to employ this formation against Manchester City, it could lead to some intriguing scenarios. If City deploy Kyle Walker and Joško Gvardiol on the flanks as they did against Tottenham, then Manchester United shouldn’t struggle much in defending the flanks.
However, if Guardiola uses Jérémy Doku or Jack Grealish, who are fast and skilled dribblers, on at least one of the flanks, Manchester United could face significant defensive challenges.
Nevertheless, Ten Hag may choose not to take the excessive risk of using an unbalanced 4-4-2 with a diamond in the center of the field and instead opt for a more traditional 4-2-3-1 formation, which is better suited for big matches.
Manchester City vs Manchester United Prediction
- Football Pick: Manchester City won’t lose and Total over 1.5 (1X and TO 1.5)
- Odds: 1.22 (22bet)
Manchester City is considered the favorite for this match. However, Manchester United’s key players, including Lisandro Martinez, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, and Rasmus Højlund, have all recovered from injuries and are in good form. There’s a possibility that Ten Hag may change the positioning of Casemiro and utilize Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, who are both in excellent form.
If Manchester United’s coach adopts an effective counter-attacking strategy, the team stands a good chance of success. Manchester United’s main squad, playing defensively with quick attacks, poses a significant threat to any opponent.
Considering these factors, I am not inclined to bet on Manchester City’s victory in regular time. Instead, I believe that Man City will not lose.
This is especially true given that Guardiola’s team has often played cautiously in big games this season, which could allow Manchester United to compete on an equal footing and potentially take the game to extra time.
With both teams possessing great attacking talent, I anticipate more than one goal being scored in this game.
Manchester City vs Manchester United Betting Tip
- Football Pick: Man City will win the cup
- Odds: 1.12 (22bet)
Manchester City appears to be much more organized and balanced at the moment. They will likely be able to overpower the opponent and win the match, possibly even in extra time.
It’s also possible that all of Erik ten Hag’s team’s weaknesses will be exposed in this match, leading to City winning the Cup in regular time.
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