Manchester City vs Manchester United

Wembley Stadium sets the stage for a mouth-watering FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United. It’s the first time the same two sides will contest the final in two straight years since 1885!

It’s been a near-flawless FA Cup campaign for reigning holders Manchester City, winning five of their six games in football’s oldest cup competition without conceding! Pep Guardiola’s side got the better of Manchester United 2-1 in last season’s final, and replicating that success would mark their eighth FA Cup triumph, a tally only bettered by Arsenal and United. Fresh off winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title, the Citizens bid to become the first side in English football history to win back-to-back league and cup doubles. Guardiola will expect nothing less from his side after overseeing six wins in the last seven Manchester derbies (L1), including a pair of multi-goal margin victories in the Premier League this season. The Spaniards’ optimism comes from Man City’s sterling record of not losing inside 90 minutes across their last 36 competitive outings (W29, D7).

On the other hand, Manchester United will be out to avenge last season’s heartbreak and find some solace after slumping to their lowest-ever finish in the Premier League era (8th). It’s United’s worst season since 1989/90 when they incidentally won the FA Cup title. However, they’ve conquered the competition only twice in the 21st century, most recently in 2015/16. That’s not good news for outgoing manager Erik ten Hag, who’d want to leave Old Trafford victorious after being informed of the club’s decision to sack him after only two seasons. Adding to the Dutchman’s skepticism, the Red Devils have suffered four defeats in their last five appearances in the FA Cup final, with each loss coming at the hands of traditional ‘big six’ sides. As if that’s not ominous enough, they’ve conceded three goals apiece in the two previous rounds.