2025-26 Emirates FA Cup: Semi-Finals – Manchester City vs Southampton

Manchester City meet underdogs, Southampton in the opening semi-final tie of the 2025-26 Emirates FA Cup.

Victory would see Man City qualify for a 15th FA Cup Final appearance, whilst Southampton chase a fifth appearance in the showpiece title decider.

 

Team News

Man City have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 1-0 victory at Burnley in the Premier League.

Rodri (groin), Ruben Dias (hamstring) and Josko Gvardiol (leg) remain sidelined.

Southampton will be without midfielder, Flynn Downes as he begins a three-match suspension for violent conduct, which wasn’t confirmed until after his involvement in their 2-2 draw against Bristol City in midweek.

Ryan Manning is also suspended after he picked up his second booking in the Saints’ Quarter-Final victory over Arsenal.

Finn Azaz (knock) is a doubt but Alex McCarthy (wrist) and Mads Roerslev (Achilles) remain absent.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Man City meet Southampton at Wembley Stadium, London, on Saturday 25 April at 17:15pm BST, live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and TNT Sports 1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Man City have won three of their four previous FA Cup ties against Southampton (W3, L1).
• Southampton are meeting City at Wembley Stadium for the first time in all competitions, but have won one of their two previous FA Cup ties against City when played as the away team (W1, L1).
• No City player has been involved in more FA Cup goals this season than Antoine Semenyo, who has contributed two goals and assists apiece in four appearances.
• Ross Stewart has scored in Southampton’s last two FA Cup ties (W2).

 

Prediction

Although Man City are favourites, they can’t afford to underestimate the in-form Saints after a wasteful league win at Burnley in which they dominated, yet somehow only managed to score one goal early on from their nine shots on target out of 28 total shots.

Southampton meanwhile as underdogs won’t fear this semi-final having gone unbeaten in their last 20 matches in all competitions, but after conceding first in each of their last two matches they can’t afford to do that here otherwise this tie will quickly escape their clutches.

Nevertheless this is another chance for Tonda Eckert’s Saints to test themselves against another top-quality team and they could surprise if play as organised and clinically as they did against Arsenal, but I do think that this is the end of their cup run without Manning at left-back.

Prediction: Man City 3-1 Southampton