2022-23 FA Cup Final Preview

Manchester City meet Manchester United in 2022-23 FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. 

Man City are seeking a seventh title in 12 FA Cup Final appearances, whilst Man Utd are going for a 13th FA Cup title in their record-equalling 21st appearance in the Final.

 

Team News

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Man City have no fresh injury concerns to report with Stefan Ortega set to start in goal, having been City’s domestic cup competiton goalkeeper this season.

Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne are all set to return, having missed their defeat at Brentford due to fitness issues.

Man Utd will be without Anthony Martial at Wembley, after the forward suffering a hamstring injury during their comeback Premier Legue win at home to Fulham last weekend.

Antony (ankle) is unlikely to be fit enough for selection but Phil Jones, Donny van de Beek, Marcel Sabitzer (all knee), Lisandro Martinez (foot) and Mason Greenwood (personal) remain absent.

 

Route to the Final

Man City

Round Opposition Venue Result
3 Chelsea H 4-0
4 Arsenal H 1-0
5 Bristol City A 0-3
Quarter-Final Burnley H 6-0
Sem-Final Sheffield United N 3-0

Riyad Mahrez’s brace plus goals from Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden comfortably saw off Chelsea in a 4-0 Third Round win at home, before Nathan Ake’s 64th minute winner proved the difference against Arsenal in a closely-fought Fourth Round victory.

Foden scored twice and Kevin De Bruyne wrapped up a 3-0 win in a competitive Fifth Round trip to Sky Bet Championship’s Bristol City, which was followed by an Erling Haaland hat-trick plus Alvarez brace and Cole Palmer’s goal in a ruthless Quarter-Final demolition of Burnley at home.

Mahrez became the first player in 65 years to score a FA Cup semi-final hat-trick as his three goals at Wembley comfortably saw off second-tier Sheffield Utd, which proved enough to send City through to the final with an 3-0 win and kept their treble dreams alive.

 

Man Utd

Round Opposition Venue Result
3 Everton H 3-1
4 Reading H 3-1
5 West Ham A 3-1
Quarter-Final Fulham H 3-1
Sem-Final Brighton N 0-0*

*Man Utd beat Brighton 7-6 on penalties.

Conor Coady’s own goal and Marcus Rashford’s injury-time penalty saw Manchester United get their FA Cup campaign off to a strong start, with a 3-1 home win over Everton in the Third Round after Antony’s early opening goal had been cancelled out by Coady in the first half.

Casemiro struck twice in a Fourth Round win over Reading by a 3-1 result at home which was completed by Fred, who went on to score the third goal in a comeback Fifth Round victory over West Ham by the same result.

Bruno Fernandes’ brace plus Sabitzer’s effort in the 77th minute saw Man Utd again come from behind in the Quarter-Finals, as they eventually beat nine-men Fulham 3-1 in a ill-tempered contest at Old Trafford.

EriK Ten Hag’s Red Devils however needed penalties to beat Brighton in the semi-finals after a goalless draw, with Victor Lindelof having converted the winning spot-kick after Solly March missed for the Seagulls.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Man City meet Man Utd in the 2022-23 FA Cup Final in a 3pm BST kick-off at Wembley Stadium, London, live on BBC One and ITV1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

  • This is the first Manchester derby meeting to take place in a FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.
  • Man City have won three of nine previous FA Cup meetings against Man Utd (W3, L6)
  • Man Utd lost their only previous FA Cup clash against Man City at Wembley (L1), losing 1-0 in the semi-final stage of 2010-11 FA Cup in April 2011.
  • City are yet to concede in this season’s FA Cup during which they scored 17 goals (W5), of which five goals were scored by Riyad Mahrez.
  • Utd have kept clean sheets in two visits to Wembley in all competitions this season (W1, D1), beating Newcastle 2-0 in Carabao Cup Final then defeated Brighton on penalties in FA Cup semi-final.

 

Prediction

.Having wrapped up the league title a fortnight ago, Man City seem to have taken their foot off the gas slighty which could work against them if they are as wasteful as they were against Brighton and Brentford at times and don’t hit their strides quickly.

At the same time, Pep Guardiola’s decision to rest his key players could work in his favour if City can get on the front foot early on and score the opening goal, then kick on throughout the rest of the match with their usual ruthless attacking quality.

Man Utd meanwhile are yet to concede at Wembley under Erik Ten Hag and have the omen of having the same dressing room as during their Carabao Cup triumph, and come into this game off the back of a positive comeback to beat Fulham despite six changes to the team.

Ten Hag’s Red Devils however will need much better end product if they’re to stand any chance here, whilst their defence must deliver another strong gutsy display akin to their league win at Bournemouth two weeks ago – especially with just two clean sheets in their last six matches.

Guardiola’s Cityzens though are favourites and unless Man Utd can pull off another blinder like in their league win at home in January, I don’t see them beating their refreshed neighbours on England’s biggest stage.

Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United

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