Man City vs Man United tips: FA Cup final preview and odds
Our betting expert is focusing on three tips for the Manchester City vs Manchester United FA Cup final at Wembley today (3pm kick-off). Check out his analysis and predictions below.
Manchester City vs Manchester United betting tips
Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
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City defence should stand firm against derby rivals
The Light Blues are favourites to complete the second leg of a potential treble when they take on their local rivals, the Red Devils, in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
United, treble winners themselves in 1998-99, are bidding to complete a domestic cup double in their first season under Erik ten Hag after lifting the EFL Cup at Wembley in February. But City, Premier League champions in five of the past six seasons, including this one, are of course formidable opponents.
Pep Guardiola’s men have reached the FA Cup final without conceding a goal in the competition and they can maintain that record against United.
City’s cup run started with home wins to nil against Chelsea and Arsenal before they walloped Championship opponents Bristol City, Burnley and Sheffield United by an aggregate score of 12-0 in the following three rounds.
Even Europe’s top teams have struggled to land a blow on Guardiola’s outfit this campaign. The only goals City conceded in four Champions League ties against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid were a penalty from the German club’s Joshua Kimmich and a wonder strike for the Spanish side by Vinicius Junior.
The Red Devils beat City 2-1 at Old Trafford in their last meeting in January despite having just 29 per cent of possession. But the Light Blues should stand firm in their Wembley encounter. Two of City’s previous four derby victories were by a 2-0 margin and that looks a good correct-score bet for the FA Cup final.
Manchester City vs Manchester United tip 1: Manchester City to win 2-0 @ 7/1 with Betfred
Shaw faces another tricky afternoon at Wembley
Manchester United’s full backs can expect a tough test against City’s array of fleet-footed wide players and Luke Shaw is well worth backing to be shown a card.
The England international was booked in both the EFL Cup final against Newcastle and the FA Cup semi-final with Brighton at Wembley, and has been cautioned in seven of his previous 14 appearances for club and country.
He was sent off for two bookable offences in the Three Lions’ Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy in March and may struggle to stay out of trouble against a slick City attacking unit.
Manchester City vs Manchester United tip 2: Luke Shaw to be shown a card @ 9/4 with Betfred
Superstar attackers could shine for champions
City wrapped up the Premier League title with three games to spare, allowing Guardiola to rest some of his star men in the build-up to the FA Cup and Champions League finals.
Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne are expected to be restored to the starting XI at Wembley and they are worth backing to score in 90 minutes in a 50/1 RequestABet that also requires United’s Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes to be carded.
Norway frontman Haaland’s appetite for goals has been abundantly clear this campaign, and he will be desperate to make an impact after scoring only once in his previous six appearances, by far the leanest spell of a spectacular debut season in England.
The striker scored a hat-trick in his first Manchester derby, the 6-3 Premier League win at the Etihad Stadium in October, and classy teammate De Bruyne also poses a threat to the United defence.
The Belgian playmaker is City’s man for the big occasion, scoring three goals in two crucial league wins over title rivals Arsenal and also netting against Liverpool and Real Madrid in the past couple of months.
United midfield enforcer Casemiro is an obvious candidate for a caution, picking up 10 bookings and two red cards since the turn of the year. He often crosses the disciplinary line in big games, being carded against City in January as well as in both legs of the Europa League tie against Barcelona, the EFL Cup final and the FA Cup semi-final against Brighton.
Bruno Fernandes has been known to lose his cool when things are not going smoothly for United and his tally of 14 yellow cards for club and country this season includes one in the 6-3 defeat at City.
Manchester City vs Manchester United tip 3: De Bruyne and Haaland to score and Casemiro and Fernandes to be carded in 90 minutes @ 50/1 with Betfred
Manchester City vs Manchester United odds
Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
