Few FA Cup finals have captured the imagination quite like this one. Manchester City v Manchester United is always one of the biggest games if you’re considering placing any bet on football this season. But when rivalry is renewed in a final at Wembley, there is obviously a lot more at stake than local bragging rights.
Here, we consider the key points of interest ahead of the FA Cup final, in what is unquestionably one of the biggest sports betting events of the year.
When, Where, How?
The final, as always, will be staged at Wembley Stadium, in London, on June 3. For the first time in more than a decade, the all-Manchester affair will kick off at 3pm and is live and free to air across the BBC.
Head-to-Head record
City have won four of their last six games against United – most dramatically last October when they trounced their bitter rivals 6-3.
Erik ten Hag’s men, however, played really well at Old Trafford in January and deserved to win 2-1 courtesy of goals from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.
FA Cup showdowns between City and United have been rare. You have to go back to April 2011 for the last time the two sides played in the competition, with United winning 3-2 at the Etihad in the third round.
Team News
Manchester City have concerns about Aymeric Laporte, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and Jack Grealish. The quartet of influential players missed the Brighton game through injury but reports of their rehabilitation have been positive and they are expected to be back in contention for the FA Cup final.
Nathan Ake is also struggling with an ankle injury but the Holland international is also likely to prove his fitness in time for the Wembley showdown.
Manchester United will be encouraged by the return to fitness of Marcus Rashford. The England international scored from off the substitutes’ bench against Chelsea and should return to the starting XI against City.
Scott McTominay and Alejandro Garnacho are also back in business, but Lisandro Martinez and Marcel Sabitzer are out for the season.
What the managers say:
Erik ten Hag:
“We will give everything and when I say everything, that is everything. So the fans can rely on that – that we will give it and do it against every opponent.
“But, of course, we want to give that against City. We want to give the fans that, for sure.”
“We are proof, proof that we could beat them but then we have to play the perfect game.
“I think that (in January) was the perfect game we played this season but we have to go again.”
Pep Guardiola:
“The demanding FA Cup final against Man United will be really, really difficult.
“The target of the Premier League is done. But we cannot drop much otherwise it will be more difficult.
“The best way to prepare for the final is to be ready. The players set the standards, they have to maintain it. It’s normal the energy would drop
Betting guide
Perhaps unsurprisingly, City are hot favourites to win the FA Cup for a seventh time. Guardiola’s men are odds of 27/100 to win the trophy and 1/2 to do the business in normal time.
United are as big as 5/2 to claim FA Cup glory and 21/5 to win in normal time. The draw after 90 minutes is also an eyecatching price of 7/2. For those that fancy the match to end all-square after 90 minutes, another bet that stands out is the game to end goalless at a juicy price of 18/1.
The correct score market is, as always, proving popular with punters keen to put to the test their forecasting prowess. The shortest price in the betting is 15/2 for City to either win 2-0 or 2-1.
If you are adamant there will be an upset, you can get good odds of 18/1 about United winning 2-1 – with a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes at 17/2.
For the wide-eyed idealists who fancy an absolute thriller, perhaps having a small wager on the game to end 4-3 to City might be just what the doctor ordered? This correct score punt has been chalked up at 110/1!
*Odds credits to VBET UK
The Verdict
It has to be City. Put simply, this is the greatest side in league football on the planet right now. They are also in the form of their lives, playing the kind of football that others can only dream about.
Wembley often brings out the best in them, too, with those lush green spaces on the wings fertile terrain for Pep Guardiola’s expansive approach to the game.
United head into the final in great form, however, and they should put up one heck of a fight for a long period in the game. They also have crucial Wembley-winning experience this season after they clinically dismantled Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.
But even their most optimistic of supporters must fear the worst against this Man City side. If they concede once, they are likely to concede more if they go in pursuit of an equaliser. City should then take advantage of the extra space at the back and kick on in the second half.
Guardiola’s men are 1/2 to win after 90 minutes. That looks just about spot-on.
But if we take the hypothesis from above, it could be tight until the break. That brings the draw half-time; City full-time bet into the equation at odds of 19/5.
Perhaps the most underrated aspect to City’s game is their resilience at the back. Pep will admit they have not been defensively foot-perfect ever since he took over at the Etihad, but this is surely the most solid-looking backline he has had for years.
The task, therefore, of United even scoring a goal could be beyond them. To that end, the premise that City will cut loose at the interval appeals. You can back Guardiola’s brilliant side to win 3-0 at odds of 11/1.
*Odds correct at time of publication
( 31.05.2023 )
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