Man City vs Man United Prediction: Red Devils can pull off shock in FA Cup final

On Saturday, the FA Cup final takes place and after a difficult season, Manchester United will be hoping to end on a high. After their dismal 8th-place finish, the Red Devils will not be playing European football next season unless they can beat Manchester City at Wembley.

Meanwhile, City have been partying after their fourth-consecutive Premier League title but they will now turn their attention to competing a second successive double - having won both the Premier League and the FA Cup last season. Pep Guardiola will want to finish the season in the best possible manner, and after the celebrations of the weekend, won’t want to let his side take their eye off the ball.

Below you can find my Man City vs Man United Prediction for this highly-anticipated FA Cup final.

Team News

Manchester City will start with Stefan Ortega in goal again after Ederson suffered from concussion against Tottenham Hotspur. Elsewhere, John Stones is close to a return, Jack Grealish could come into the starting XI and Nathan Ake may also come into the team.

Despite being named in the England squad, Luke Shaw will miss this game as he works his way back to full fitness. Lisandro Martinez is expected to start having played an hour at Brighton, while Raphael Varane is also back fit and could start in central defence alongside him. That will certainly please Erik ten Hag, who has bemoaned injuries for the majority of the campaign. Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo, Scott McTominay and Alejandro Garnacho are all expected to start in this change of system that has made United more defensively resolute of late.

Man City vs Man United Match Odds

Man City are the clear favourites for this game, priced at 4/25 to win the final. Meanwhile, Man United are 19/5 to lift the trophy, with a draw after 90 mins available at 23/5. BTTS can be backed at 37/50 while over 2.5 goals in 90 minutes is 23/50.

Both teams to score @ 37/50

I think this final has a lot of promise for goals. Last season, these two met as City ran out 2-1 winners, while United also scored first in the 3-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium. It seems Erik ten Hag can get at this City side, who could be suffering slightly from a hangover after their title celebrations. 

We’ve also got to consider the fact that Marcus Rashford will be desperate to put on a show having been left out of England’s training squad for Euro 2024. He loves a goal against City and his pace could catch Guardiola’s men out on the counter-attack. I think the favourites are bound to score in 90 minutes, but I also think United offer great value in this FA Cup final. 

Man United to win the final @ 19/5

These are cracking odds for United to win the final, by any means. This bet will be a winner if they succeed on penalties, in extra-time or in the 90 minutes and I think there has been a turnaround for United in recent games. 

Ten Hag has been planning for this final and has masterminded wins over Newcastle and Brighton with a new system. Fernandes and McTominay start as advanced midfielders, while Kobbie Mainoo and Sofian Amrabat protect the back four. With Martinez and Varane back fit, United look far more solid and even kept a clean sheet against Brighton. 

This system will allow them to defend solidly and counter Man City, who I cannot see being at their sharpest given this game comes just six days after their title win. Their players were seen partying into the early hours of Monday morning, and with a trip down to London still to come, they may have taken their eye off the ball. United can win this, at massive odds.

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