What's new

The FA Cup: 2022/23 Season Thread

Who will win the FA Cup 2022/23?

  • Manchester City

    Votes: 1 100.0%

  • Manchester United

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    1
James

James

World Star
Joined
Jan 8, 2006
Runs
50,862
Post of the Week
2
<b>Premier League champions Manchester City will host Chelsea in the FA Cup third round.

Elsewhere, holders Liverpool will welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to Anfield, while Manchester United are at home to Everton in another all-Premier League tie.

National League Dagenham and Redbridge or League Two Gillingham will host 2021 winners Leicester City.

The third round will be played between 6 and 9 January 2023.</b>

In other all-Premier League ties, Brentford are at home to West Ham, while Crystal Palace will host Southampton.

Premier League leaders Arsenal, who have won the FA Cup a record 14 times, will travel to Oxford United, who are 13th in League One.

Non-league side Boreham Wood, the lowest ranked team in the third-round draw, will take on League One's Accrington Stanley in January.

Winning clubs in the third round will claim £105,000 from the competition prize fund.

Liverpool are the current holders of the trophy after they beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties to win their first FA Cup since 2006.


Draw in full:

Preston v Huddersfield

Middlesbrough v Brighton

Chesterfield v West Brom

Manchester City v Chelsea

Charlton or Stockport County v Walsall

Boreham Wood v Accrington

Tottenham v Portsmouth

Derby v Barnsley

Cardiff v Leeds

Brentford v West Ham

Bournemouth v Burnley

Coventry v Wrexham

Norwich v Blackburn

Aston Villa v Stevenage

Luton v Wigan

Oxford v Arsenal

Fleetwood v QPR

Liverpool v Wolves

Grimsby v Burton

Blackpool v Nottingham Forest

Dagenham & Redbridge or Gillingham v Leicester

Forest Green v Birmingham

Bristol City v Swansea

Hartlepool v Stoke

Hull v Fulham

Crystal Palace v Southampton

Millwall v Sheffield United

Shrewsbury v Sunderland

Sheffield Wednesday v Newcastle

Manchester United v Everton

Reading v Watford

Ipswich v Rotherham


———
BBC Sport
 
Oxford v Arsenal and Wednesday v Newcastle look like cracking ties!
 
The famous FA Cup 3rd round starts tonight.

In this case, with Man U v Everton.

1–1 so far due to an early Anthony goal and then a De Gea goalkeeping error

Shots are raining in on the Everton goal and they can’t get hold of the ball. Their midfield and defenders have lost a lot of confidence.
 
Utd 3 - 1 Everton

More misery for Everton but imo its best they concentrate on the league.

My prediction Arsenal to win the FA Cup. [MENTION=4795]amjid[/MENTION] Javid :)
 
Marcus Rashford scored for a fifth successive game as Manchester United increased the pressure on Everton boss Frank Lampard with a deserved FA Cup victory at Old Trafford.

Everton were applauded off by their travelling support for showing admirable character, after their side suffered the shock of going behind after just three minutes when Antony turned home Rashford's far-post cross but had the character to fight back.

Conor Coady rammed home a 13th-minute equaliser when David de Gea calamitously allowed Neal Maupay's apparently harmless cross to roll though his legs as he appeared to think it was about to hit the outside of his post.

Even after Alex Iwobi was stretchered off in obvious pain after he suffered an ankle injury in a tackle with Tyrell Malacia, Lampard's players continued to battle hard.

But once some brilliant approach play from Rashford had deceived Coady into turning the forward's cross into his own net, the visitors' character alone was not enough.

And after Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a goal ruled out for offside, man-of-the-match Rashford kept his nerve to beat international team-mate Jordan Pickford from the spot deep into injury time.
 
Adam Armstrong capitalised on a second-half error by Crystal Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita to earn Southampton a place in the FA Cup fourth round.

Guaita's attempted clearance was charged down by Armstrong, who was left with a simple finish.

Odsonne Edouard had put Palace ahead, but James Ward-Prowse equalised with a free-kick that was intended as a cross.

Armstrong completed the turnaround 22 minutes from time at Selhurst Park.

Southampton manager Nathan Jones, whose only previous win since replacing Ralph Hasenhuttl in November came against League One Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup, said: "I'm delighted with the overall performance.

"It's been a tough week, but the response has been fantastic.

"We started a bit edgy, but we showed real zest after that and showed the side we can be. We tweaked a few things at half-time and came out aggressively."

BBC
 
Anass Zaroury and Manuel Benson both scored twice as Championship leaders Burnley beat Premier League strugglers Bournemouth in a thrilling FA Cup third-round tie at Vitality Stadium.

Benson's opener for the Clarets was cancelled out by a Ryan Christie effort, before Zaroury struck twice to give Burnley a 3-1 half-time lead.

Dominic Solanke cut the deficit but Benson added a fourth minutes later.

Bournemouth had chances late on but Burnley held on for a deserved victory.

The result will heap further pressure on Bournemouth boss Gary O'Neil with the Cherries having now lost nine of their past 11 matches.

In contrast Vincent Kompany's Burnley, five points clear at the top of the Championship, continued to impress with an assured win over top-flight opposition, their 12th victory in 14 games.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’m completely and totally speechless. What a club. What a town. What a win. <a href="https://twitter.com/Wrexham_AFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Wrexham_AFC</a> forever. <a href="https://t.co/9SzQUAVAX2">https://t.co/9SzQUAVAX2</a></p>— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) <a href="https://twitter.com/VancityReynolds/status/1611812717718814725?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
The FA cup fourth-round ties are locked in!

sIDpiEw.png


Lc1Y7TE.png


nK6MA48.png
 
FT: Man City 4-0 Chelsea

Easy, easy, easy for Manchester City. Riyad Mahrez with a sublime free-kick, Julian Alvarez with a penalty, Phil Foden finishing off a delightful team move with Mahrez adding a late fourth from the spot.

A horror show from Chelsea and these are tough, tough times for boss Graham Potter.
 
72B38903-BEA3-4A1B-8184-B7A50DE05914.jpg

Another weekend of shock results!

You can’t beat the FA Cup.
 
Team news - seven changes for Arsenal, two for Oxford

Oxford United v Arsenal (20:00 GMT)

Oxford United make two changes from the side that lost to Exeter in League One last weekend as Billy Bodin and Josh Murphy both come into the forward line.

Oxford Utd XI: McGinty; Anderson, Moore, Long, Brown; Bate, McGuane, Brannagan; Bodin, Taylor, Murphy.

Substitutes: Eastwood, Negru, Findlay, Fleming, Sade, Johnson, Goodrham, Wildschut, O’Donkor.

It is still a strong Arsenal side despite seven changes.

Gabriel, Eddie Nketiah, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are the only players to retain their place in the side from last week's draw with Newcastle.

Arsenal XI:Turner; Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Vieira, Elneny, Lokonga; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli.

Substitutes: Hein, White, Zinchenko, Xhaka, Partey, Odegaard, Smith Rowe, Marquinhos, Butler-Oyedeji.
 
Oxford acquitting themselves well in the first half.
 
Arsenal get the job done

Oxford 0-3 Arsenal

Arteta will have been disappointed by the Gunners' sterile first-half performance but once they clicked into gear they inevitably had too much for Oxford.

Nketiah and Vieira were the two stars of the show, the latter coming through a struggle in the first half to show his quality in delivery and passing as the Premier League side finally exerted their authority.

Vieira's free-kick was the perfect invite for Elneny to break the deadlock with a powerful close-range header and his pass for Nketiah to round McGinty was just as good.

Nketiah showed his class in front of goal with his third as he continued to deputise so well for the injured Jesus.

Arsenal were not exactly sparkling but that is not the priority in these games. It is getting into the next round and they achieved it with something to spare, Oxford not creating a serious moment of danger in the game.

The visitors increased the tempo and urgency after the break and once Elneny put them ahead there was never going to be a shock.

Oxford can take heart despite defeat

Oxford's hopes of creating an FA Cup shock to stand alongside Stevenage's win at Aston Villa on Sunday did not materialise but Karl Robinson's side can take plenty away from this match despite defeat.

They were untroubled for the first half but the major problem for Oxford was they did not possess any threat of their own in the attacking areas and Arsenal goalkeeper Matthew Turner, in for the rested Aaron Ramsdale, had a very quiet night.

To Oxford's credit, they tried to maintain their passing style and were well-drilled throughout the first half when Arsenal could not make any inroads.

It was also a night for Oxford's fans to send a message off the pitch with a huge banner behind the goal reading "SOS Support Our Stadium. Secure Our Future. 24/01/23".

This was a reference to plans to build a new stadium and move away from the Kassam, which will be discussed by Oxford council officials on 24 January and which the club regard as vital if they are to have a more prosperous future.
 
Julen Lopetegui says Wolverhampton Wanderers have written to the Football Association asking it to explain the circumstances surrounding Toti Gomes' disallowed goal against Liverpool.

Toti's late strike was ruled out because Matheus Nunes had been flagged offside after taking a corner.

The video assistant referee (VAR) had no camera angle available to provide any evidence to overturn the decision.

"It's very clear something has happened." said Lopetegui.

"Of course I have seen the images on the internet. I have my opinion, we have sent our comments and we are waiting for an explanation."

The FA Cup third-round tie at Anfield ended 2-2.

BBC
 
Coming up soon

Leeds v Cardiff City (19:45 GMT)
 
Liverpool doing much better with a changed midfield. Looked much more assured and in control with that performance. Hopefully this will be the start to something much better in the coming weeks.
 
Wilfried Gnonto struck twice - including one of the goals of this FA Cup season after just 26 seconds - as Leeds hammered Cardiff in a replay to reach the fourth round.

The Italian international - a summer deadline-day signing from FC Zurich - scissor-kicked a stunning volley in off the crossbar from Rodrigo's precise chipped ball to set the Whites on their way to a fully deserved victory.

Gnonto, 19, also netted the home side's third, slotting in low to take the game away from Cardiff shortly after Rodrigo had made it 2-0 with a cool finish of his own.

Cardiff, led by interim manager Dean Whitehead following the sacking of Mark Hudson, thought they had reduced the deficit but Curtis Nelson's header from a corner was ruled out when VAR spotted Andy Rinomhota in an offside position.

Leeds, who had fallen at the third-round hurdle in this competition in every campaign since 2016-17, added two more in the second half through Patrick Bamford. The striker made it three goals in two substitute appearances since he returned from injury.

Leeds gifted Championship strugglers Cardiff two consolations as Luke Ayling's mistake allowed Callum Robinson to head in unchallenged, before a Marc Roca handball - spotted by VAR - enabled the same player to slot in a spot-kick.

Jesse Marsch's side will travel to fifth-tier Boreham Wood or League One Accrington Stanley in round four on the weekend of 28/29 of January.
 
Man City XI: Ortega, Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Ake, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Mahrez, Grealish, Haaland.

Arsenal XI: Turner, Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Vieira, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Nketiah, Trossard.
 
City going a lot stronger than Arsenal, but to be fair any side they put out will be quite strong.
 
Manchester City won the FA Cup battle with Premier League title rivals Arsenal as Nathan Ake's goal gave them a narrow fourth-round victory at Etihad Stadium.

The Gunners have established an impressive lead in the league but it was City who shaded a tight contest thanks to Ake's precise 64th-minute finish after good work from Jack Grealish.

Arsenal had chances of their own, especially in the first half when City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, deputising for Ederson, saved well from Takehiro Tomiyasu and new signing Leandro Trossard.

There was little to choose between the sides and their Premier League battle will come into focus once more when they meet at Emirates Stadium on 15 February.
 
Fulham fought back to earn a replay as they avoided a shock FA Cup fourth-round defeat at home to Championship play-off hopefuls Sunderland.

Jack Clarke's early goal looked to have put a youthful Black Cats side on course for a memorable win in west London, with the winger capitalising on Issa Diop's mistake to win the ball before calmly placing his effort past home goalkeeper Marek Rodak.

However, the hosts, who enjoyed the majority of possession, levelled things up just after the hour mark with captain Tom Cairney superbly evading two challenges before picking his spot in the left corner.

In a dramatic conclusion, 15-year-old Chris Rigg looked to have scored the winner for the visitors but his goal was ruled out with Abdoullah Ba off-side in the build-up, while Willian's effort for the hosts was tipped over.

Sunderland had looked capable of reaching the last 16 of the competition for the first time since 2015 - when they were a top-flight club - for much of the contest.

However, a draw was probably a fair reflection of an end-to-end encounter which saw both sides create some excellent goalscoring opportunities.
 
FULL-TIME
Preston 0-3 Spurs

It's all over. Spurs' quality tells in the end and they beat Preston to reach the FA Cup fifth round.
 
Son Heung-min said he needed his two stunning goals against Preston in order to boost his confidence as he helped Tottenham reach the FA Cup fifth round.

The South Korean won the Premier League Golden Boot with 23 goals last season but has so far struggled to match that form in 2022-23.

The 30-year-old was inspired at Deepdale, belting in a 30-yard strike to break the deadlock on 50 minutes.

"I needed those goals for my confidence," Son told BBC Sport.

"As a striker or as an attacking player, the important thing is that you get that goal. It's important that I could help the team go to the next round. I'm very, very happy."

After his opener Son soon doubled the advantage, turning and finishing smartly amid torrential rain.

Arnaut Danjuma, signed on loan from Villarreal this week, completed the scoring after coming on as a late substitute.

Tottenham assistant manager Cristian Stellini praised Son after the game, saying: "Sonny is a great player.

"He has to wait for the right moment to find the space. He was very focused on the match. He had to wait for a right time to do a good job."

Antonio Conte's side go into the draw for the fifth round, which takes place on Monday evening.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64438694
 
Casemiro underlined his importance to Manchester United with two goals as they cruised past Reading to reach the FA Cup fifth round at Old Trafford.

While the Brazil midfielder was brought to the club in August 2022 to deliver steel to the heart of United's midfield, he displayed his effectiveness further forward to break the Royals' resistance early in the second half.

He scooped home the opening goal after racing on to Antony's incisive pass, and doubled United's lead four minutes later, curling in from the edge of the box after collecting Fred's pass.

"He's done what he was brought in to do. He's a phenomenal player," said United captain Harry Maguire.

"You don't win what he's won without being a top player. He's improved the team, the morale, the performance and it is great to have him."

The former Real Madrid midfielder's absence was sharply felt by United during their Premier League defeat at Arsenal last weekend, and he was given a standing ovation by the home supporters who fully recognise his value to the club.

"He [Casemiro] is really important with all his experience, but he is such a smart player and intelligent," said United manager Erik ten Hag.

"He knows the positions, how to deal with the ball and also he is creative as well, and we are really happy with him. He is important for the improvement of the team."

Any hopes Reading had of mounting a recovery were dented when Andy Carroll was sent off after picking up his second yellow card shortly before Fred backheeled in the hosts' third goal from Bruno Fernandes' cross.

And although Ten Hag's side had opportunities to score a fourth, substitute Amadou Mbengue headed in a consolation for Championship side Reading from Tom Ince's corner.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64429931
 
GOAL - Brighton 0-1 Liverpool
Harvey Elliott

He loves an FA Cup goal!

Harvey Elliott finds the net from an angle inside the box after a lovely move and assist by Mo Salah.

VAR is taking a good look at it but celebrations break out as the goal is awarded.

==
 
FULL-TIME
Brighton 2-1 Liverpool

All over!

BRIGHTON HAVE BEATEN THE HOLDERS.

Liverpool's season suffers another setback. This is going to hurt.
 
John Egan's stoppage-time goal rescued Sheffield United against non-league Wrexham in a frenetic FA Cup fourth-round tie.

Oli McBurnie headed home Tommy Doyle's corner to give United an early lead.

Goals from James Jones and Tom O'Connor put the Welsh side ahead before Oliver Norwood equalised for the Blades, who had Daniel Jebbison sent-off.

Paul Mullin's goal four minutes from time looked to have secured a shock, but captain Egan levelled late.
 
FA Cup fifth round draw in full

Southampton v Luton Town or Grimsby Town

Leicester City v Blackburn Rovers or Birmingham City

Stoke City v Brighton & Hove Albion

Wrexham or Sheffield United v Tottenham Hotspur

Fulham or Sunderland v Leeds United

Bristol City v Manchester City

Manchester United v West Ham United

Ipswich Town or Burnley v Sheffield Wednesday or Fleetwood Town
 
Billy Sharp and Sander Berge scored injury-time goals as Sheffield United ended non-league Wrexham's FA Cup run in a pulsating fourth-round replay.
 
Good win for Fulham at Sunderland 3-2 and face Leeds in the next round.
 
Well done Burnley, Sheff United and Grimsby.

As long as they avoid each other in draw for 1/4 finals you would be looking at a United vs City FA cup final.

but you never know how draw will come out.
 
FA 1/4 final draw

Man city vs Burnley (Pep vs kompany)
Man utd vs Fulham
Sheff utd Vs Blackburn
Brighton vs Grimsby
 
Haaland hits FA Cup hat-trick to rout Burnley

Erling Haaland scored his second hat-trick in five days as Manchester City cruised into the FA Cup semi-finals by hammering Championship leaders Burnley at Etihad Stadium.

Haaland followed his five-goal haul against RB Leipzig in the Champions League by claiming another three to take his tally for the season to 42.

The Norwegian is now just two short of the record jointly held by Ruud van Nistelrooy and Mohamed Salah for the most goals in a season for an English top-flight club in all competitions during the Premier League era.

Julian Alvarez added two goals and substitute Cole Palmer also scored on a sobering night for former City skipper Vincent Kompany, whose Burnley side have surged 13 points clear at the top of the Championship.

Burnley did well in the first half but could not match Haaland's staggering efficiency in front of goal.

City opened up in the second period though, underlining the chasm in class between England's top two divisions.

"He is at the right place for his development because he is still very young," said Burnley boss Kompany of Haaland. "He will get better - he has the right coach and the right mindset.

"I have played against the greats. They are part of a special elite. The very best find it difficult to stop these guys. They keep finding a way. He looks like a superstar who is willing to improve and that is exciting to see. The goalscoring record puts you in a certain bracket - it is the hardest part of the game."

It will be City's sixth semi-final appearance in seven seasons under Pep Guardiola, and on this form few will argue against them lifting the trophy for only the second time in that period as they retain hopes of completing the Treble.

The draw for the FA Cup semi-finals takes place on Sunday following Brighton's tie against Grimsby Town (14:15 GMT), live on BBC One.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64984170
 
Semi final draw

Brighton vs Fulham / man united
Man city vs Sheffield united
 
Manchester City will face Championship side Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-finals, while Brighton will play Manchester United or Fulham.

Six-time champions City progressed to the last four with a 6-0 win over Burnley on Saturday, in which star forward Erling Haaland scored his second hat-trick in five days.

The Blades beat Blackburn 3-2 on Sunday to reach their first FA Cup semi-final since 2014, before Brighton ended League Two Grimsby's dream run to the last eight with a 5-0 win.

Manchester United face Fulham at Old Trafford from 16:30 GMT.

Both semi-finals will take place at Wembley Stadium across the weekend of 22-23 April.

Loan players are not allowed to play against their parent clubs in the FA Cup, meaning that Sheffield United pair Tommy Doyle and Jamie McAtee will not be permitted to play against City.

Doyle struck a stoppage-time winner against fellow Championship side Blackburn to send the Blades to Wembley.

Brighton last reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 2019 while it would be a first appearance since 2002 for Fulham if they defeat 12-time winners Manchester United.
 
Manchester United have been charged with improper conduct for surrounding the referee during Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final victory over Fulham.

United players approached referee Chris Kavanagh amid the 71st-minute incident that saw Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic, Willian and boss Marco Silva sent off.

The Football Association say United "failed to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion".

The Red Devils have until Monday 27 March to respond to the charge.

Fulham striker Mitrovic is facing a long ban after being charged with violent and improper conduct by the FA for the push on Kavanagh that led to his red card.

Meanwhile, the FA has also charged Wolves with misconduct over their remonstrations with officials at the end of their Premier League loss to relegation rivals Leeds.

Unused substitute Matheus Nunes was sent off for vociferously contesting Leeds' injury-time goal in the 4-2 win but the midfielder's red card has been overturned by the Football Association.

However, the FA have charged Wolves with failing to ensure their players and/or technical area occupants behaved properly towards the match officials.

BBC
 
Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has been given an eight-match ban by the Football Association after pushing referee Chris Kavanagh in their FA Cup loss to Manchester United.
 
Mahrez hattrick sends Man City into FA Cup final

Riyad Mahrez scored the first hat-trick in an FA Cup semi-final since 1958 as Manchester City kept their quest for the Treble on course by outclassing Sheffield United 3-0 at Wembley.

The Blades battled gamely throughout and even missed a big early chance when Iliman Ndiaye saw his shot saved by Stefan Ortega but once Mahrez scored his first from the spot two minutes before half-time, City made their class count.

The Algerian opened the scoring after Daniel Jebbison fouled Bernardo Silva, before taking advantage of a wide-open Sheffield United defence to score the second with a solo effort just after the hour.

Mahrez then got his third - the first in a semi-final in this competition since Alex Dawson achieved the feat for Manchester United in 1958 - when he swept Jack Grealish's cross past Wes Foderingham after 66 minutes.

It gave City manager Pep Guardiola the luxury of taking off key men such as Erling Haaland, Grealish, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan in readiness for what is shaping up as a defining Premier League title meeting with current leaders Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

City and Guardiola have had a highly satisfactory week after reaching the Champions League semi-final, setting up an FA Cup final with either Brighton or Manchester United and seeing main rivals Arsenal drop points in the league.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65347141
 
Half time: Brighton 0-0 Manchester United #FACup
 
Ever since the late 90s and CL taking precedence, the FA has little value. I am old enough to remember the 1983 FA cup final in 83 between the 2 teams and the miss by Gordon Smith in injury time
 
MAN UNITED in the final after beating Brighton on penalties. I am delighted but on current form, we are getting demolished by City in the final. We best improve before the final.
 
March who was one of the best players today misses the key penalty.

Man Utd v Man City - what a final!
 
1st ever Manchester Derby final, City will be favourites but wont be shocked if Manchester fluke a win in the final like they did in todays semi final.
 
Manchester United beat Brighton 7-6 on penalties at Wembley to set up an FA Cup final with Manchester City.

Solly March fired his spot-kick over the crossbar before Victor Lindelof converted to win it for United.

It finished 0-0 after extra time and Brighton had chances to win it but goalkeeper David de Gea denied Alexis Mac Allister, Julio Enciso and March.

Marcus Rashford nearly won it for United late on but Seagulls goalkeeper Robert Sanchez made a superb save.

Manchester City beat Sheffield United 3-0 in the other semi-final on Saturday and the final will take place at Wembley on Saturday, 3 June.
 
Will United be able to overcome City in the final? Vote in the poll above.

Should be a cracking Manchester derby final.
 
Firebat said:
Will United be able to overcome City in the final? Vote in the poll above.

Should be a cracking Manchester derby final.
Click to expand...

As bad as united can be at times they still have managed to beat city on quite a few occasions in last few seasons.

Also remember Man city lost a cup final to Wigan, so united have a chance as underdogs.
 
Firebat said:
Will United be able to overcome City in the final? Vote in the poll above.

Should be a cracking Manchester derby final.
Click to expand...

We beat Man City already this season and we beat them a few times with Solksjaer in charge. No reason why we can’t beat them in the final, now that we have a proper manager in place. City start as favourites but we have a good chance of preventing the potential treble.
 
The 2023 FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United takes place at Wembley on Saturday (15:00 BST) - the first all-Manchester final in the competition's history.

A near 90,000 crowd is expected at Wembley despite more national train strikes leaving tens of thousands of fans having to make alternative plans to travel to London.

Pep Guardiola's City, who have already won the Premier League and face Inter Milan in the Champions League final on 10 June, need a victory to stay on course for a remarkable Treble.

But United, who have already defeated City this season, are looking to follow up their Carabao Cup triumph in February by completing a domestic cup double.

"We want to win a cup, it is not about stopping them," said United's Dutch boss Erik ten Hag.

"We have a great opportunity. Wembley is probably the best stadium in the world and to be there in the cup final is really exciting."

Guardiola said he will play second-choice keeper Stefan Ortega, who has started all five FA Cup games this season, over first-choice Ederson.

It is the first time in 12 years the FA Cup final has kicked-off at 15:00 BST - the previous occasion being Manchester City's 1-0 win over Stoke City in 2011.

Last season's final between Liverpool and Chelsea started at 16:45.

London's Metropolitan Police has categorised the derby match as high risk and objected to a later kick-off time on security grounds.

It is also the first time the FA Cup final, traditionally played in May, has taken place in June, as a result of fixture congestion caused by the World Cup in Qatar last November and December.

The showpiece is being played 70 days before the start of the 2023-24 Premier League season on Saturday, 12 August.

Rival fans heading to Wembley for one of the most cherished dates in the domestic football calendar are being urged to use separate routes and motorway service stations to help minimise disruption.

Major congestion is feared on a day when another train strike is planned.

Rail operator Avanti West Coast is operating a reduced timetable on Friday and no services will run on Saturday because of the industrial action by drivers.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has advised City supporters to travel via the M62 and M1; M6 and M1; or M6, M6 Toll and M1.

United fans are urged to travel on the M6, M42 and M40, which is a near-identical distance of about 200 miles (320 km).

City fans are asked to use Lymm, Sandbach, Stafford, Norton Canes, Corley, Rugby, Watford Gap, Northampton, Newport Pagnell, Toddington and London Gateway service stations.

The services suggested for United supporters are Knutsford, Keele, Hilton Park, Warwick, Cherwell Valley, Oxford and Beaconsfield.

United's France forward Anthony Martial will miss the final because of a hamstring injury, while Antony is a doubt as United look to win the FA Cup for the first time since 2016.

The Brazil winger was carried off on a stretcher in the 4-1 win over Chelsea on 25 May.

Asked whether Antony will be available, Ten Hag said: "Unlikely, still a chance but it's a really small chance."

The big news from the City camp is that Ortega will start in place of Brazil keeper Ederson.

Guardiola said he had no fresh injuries and that Jack Grealish, who has not featured since 17 May, and Kevin de Bruyne, who missed the defeat by Brentford last Sunday, have trained.

City are looking to match United's 1998-99 feat when Sir Alex Ferguson's side won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season.

Guardiola's side could win a Premier League and FA Cup double for the second time in their history, after 2018-19.

"We are in the final of FA Cup and it is a pleasure to be here," said the City boss.

"Finals are about how you play in the moment, not what you've done in the past, but how you do individually as a team.

"The final is special. Manchester United are a different team to what we faced at the start of the season. They have improved and so has their quality."

City have reached the final without conceding a goal. They have scored 17 times in five matches.

Erling Haaland has scored 52 league and cup goals for City since arriving from Borussia Dortmund 12 months ago.

Haaland says a historic treble in his first season with Manchester City would be his "biggest dream".

"It would be unreal to make this history," the Norway forward told BBC Sport. "This is why they bought me of course, to get this, we don't have to hide that."

United are contesting their 21st FA Cup final, the joint-most of any side in the history of the competition along with Arsenal.

As well as winning the Carabao Cup, the 12-time FA Cup winners have secured Champions League football next season after finishing third in the Premier League, 14 points behind City.

It all points to a season of progress for Ten Hag and his players whatever the outcome at Wembley.

"I think it is very good when you see where we came from and you see the development and the progress of the team in a tough league," said the United boss.

"When you are third and winning the League Cup and in the final of FA Cup, you can be happy with the season. But I know in summer we start again from zero."

United's path to the final has included wins over four Premier League rivals - Everton, West Ham, Fulham and Brighton.

BBC
 
The_KING said:
We beat Man City already this season and we beat them a few times with Solksjaer in charge. No reason why we can’t beat them in the final, now that we have a proper manager in place. City start as favourites but we have a good chance of preventing the potential treble.
Click to expand...

How you feeling ahead of tomorrow? Antony and Martial big misses?
 
Firebat said:
How you feeling ahead of tomorrow? Antony and Martial big misses?
Click to expand...

Nervous.

Most Man United fans won't agree but I would say they are big misses. Antony, while lacking in making good decision making in the final third does work extremely hard off the ball, and that is extremely important when you won't have a lot of the possession, which we won't in the final.

Martial isn't a great goal scorer, but he does hold the ball up well and links really well with players around him.
 
City are rightly the favourites, they are the better team but it's a one off game and a derby too so anything can happen

Man-U have to make sure they don't concede early
 
Manchester City face Manchester United in what promises to be an FA Cup final for the ages.

One club is looking to take another step towards the Treble, the other hoping to complete a domestic cup double - and, of course, scupper their arch-rivals in the process.
 
Team news

Man City v Man Utd (15:00 BST)

Manchester City, as expected, start Stefan Ortega, who has been their FA Cup keeper, in goal instead of first-choice Ederson.

Kevin de Bruyne and Jack Grealish are back from injury and, of course, the main man Erling Haaland starts up front.

Manchester City XI: Ortega, Walker, Stones, Dias, Akanji, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Grealish, Haaland. Subs: Ederson, Phillips, Ake, Laporte, Alvarez, Mahrez, Foden, Palmer, Lewis.

Manchester United are without Antony, who only had a small chance of playing because of injury.

With Anthony Martial out, Marcus Rashford is the centre forward with Jadon Sancho and Bruno Fernandes alongside him.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw, Casemiro, Fred, Eriksen, Fernandes, Sancho, Rashford. Subs: Butland, Dalot, Maguire, Malacia, McTominay, Pellistri, Elanga, Garnacho, Weghorst.
 
Wigan have beaten man city in a cup final before, so united can cause a similar upset.
 
The iconic FA Cup trophy is already engraved with half of the winners' name ahead of Saturday's final.

Those in charge of etching on the famous piece of silverware have started their work before the final has even kicked off.

image-7.png
 
Wow what a goal by gundogan 1-0 after 16 seconds 🤣
 
Should be 2-0 rodri just puts it wide, united half asleep here.
 
Amjid Javed said:
Available on a free at end of season, huge upgrade on xhaka.

This could be a massacre
Click to expand...

City will pass it around keeping 80% possession for 70 more minutes, then score a few more at the end when United push.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Ball Blazer
English Premier League 2025/26 Season Discussion
2 3 4
Replies
308
Views
5K
The Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle
Amjid Javed
Crystal Palace defeat Manchester City 1-0 to win the FA Cup 2025 [Update post@42]
Replies
44
Views
2K
sweep_shot
sweep_shot
Cricket Warrior
FA Cup 2025/2026
Replies
21
Views
353
Ball Blazer
Ball Blazer
MenInG
Liverpool win second Premier League title and crowned champions for 20th time
7 8 9
Replies
711
Views
94K
Cricket Warrior
Cricket Warrior
Ball Blazer
Chelsea FC | 2025/26 Season
Replies
51
Views
2K
Ball Blazer
Ball Blazer
Back
Top