Man City vs Man Utd: FA Cup Final team news and prediction
Treble chasing Manchester City come up against local rivals and 12-time winners Manchester United in Saturday's FA Cup final.
Ahead of this one, we provide the necessary pre-match information, including where to watch the final, team news and probable XIs.
When is kick off?
Saturday 3rd June 2023, 15:00 KO (GMT)
Where is the match?
Wembley Stadium, London
What TV channel is it on?
BBC One, BBC iPlayer, ITV 1, ITV X
Route to the final
Manchester City began their FA Cup campaign with wins over two of their Premier League rivals, dismantling Chelsea 4-0, before edging past title contenders Arsenal 1-0. Pep Guardiola’s side continued to ease their way through to Saturday's final, beating Bristol City 3-0 and then getting one over Vincent Kompany’s Burnley in a routine 6-0 win. It was newly promoted Sheffield United who City met in the semi-final and it was a Riyad Mahrez hat-trick that secured them a place in the final.
For Manchester United, they, bar the semi-final, played all four of their FA Cup games at Old Trafford, winning those four games 3-1. They beat Everton and Reading, before coming from behind against West Ham to score three goals in the final 20 minutes to win. Fulham posed a similar threat in the quarter-finals, taking the lead, before Willian and Aleksandar Mitrovic were sent off, which allowed United to take advantage. Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton took Erik ten Hag’s side to penalties, but it was the Red Devils who prevailed with Solly March missing his penalty and Victor Lindelof keeping his composure set up the Manchester derby final.
🎙️ Edge of the Box - FA Cup Final Preview 🎙️
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) June 1, 2023
🗣️ @danbardell is joined by @jonawils to discuss:
🧤 Stefan Ortega or Ederson?
👏 Victor Lindelof's performances
🔄 Pep Guardiola's tactical changes
🆚 Erling Haaland vs Man Utd
🔗 Watch now 👇
Team news
Jack Grealish, Manuel Akanji and Ruben Dias will all have to be assessed before this game after they missed the loss to Brentford owing to injuries. Kevin De Bruyne likewise did not play against the Bees, but should be fit enough to return to the starting lineup here.
Donny van de Beek, Lisandro Martinez, Marcel Sabitzer and Tom Heaton all remain sidelined with injury, while Anthony Martial has been ruled out with a hamstring issues. Antony was stretchered off with an ankle injury against Chelsea last week, so will have to be assessed.
Probable XIs
Manchester City (3-2-4-1): Ortega; Akanji, Dias, Ake; Stones, Rodri; Silva, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland.
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen; Sancho, Fernandes, Garnacho; Rashford.
Key battle: Kevin De Bruyne vs Bruno Fernandes
Two of Europe's best playmakers will look to orchestrate their side towards lifting the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon with every chance key in unlocking defences in such a high intensity game.
As hard as it may be to look past Erling Haaland being the best player in the Premier League last season, Kevin De Bruyne has done more than enough to be in that conversation. His electric form has not been limited to the league and despite making only three appearances, he has been key to City’s FA Cup run. With a goal and two assists, the Belgium international is averaging a goal contribution every 84.7 minutes in the competition, while he has also registered four key passes, two of which have been big chances. While his playing time has been limited in the FA Cup, his 2.1 dribbles per 90, alongside his 58.3 touches per game emphasises that he will play a pivotal role in the final.
Bruno Fernandes has played a more prominent role in the FA Cup than De Bruyne has, appearing in all of United’s matches. As such this has seen him register 15 key passes, which only Pascal Gross (19) can better this season, one of which provided an assist, while his two goals in the quarter-final against Fulham secured the trip to Wembley and himself the WhoScored man of the match. In front of goal he offers a threat, noted in that only teammate Antony (17) has recorded more shots than Fernandes (16), which could provide United with that extra attacking prowess.
A treble or a domestic double will be lost this weekend and which outcome comes to fruition will likely rest in the hands of this dynamic duo.
Score prediction: Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United
