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FA Cup Final 2023: Ultimate Betting Guide for Manchester City v Manchester United

The FA Cup final 2023 is set to be one for the ages: a first-ever Manchester derby in the final of the world’s oldest cup competition, as Manchester United play Manchester City at Wembley. City, fresh off winning their third consecutive Premier League title, are going for a historic treble. United, who famously won the treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup themselves in 1999, will be aiming to stop their rivals in their trophy-hunting tracks.

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When and where is the FA Cup Final 2023?

The men’s FA Cup final 2023 takes place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, 3rd June, kicking off at 15:00. It’s the first time that the FA Cup final will take place in its traditional 15:00 kick-off slot since 2011, coincidentally when it was won by Manchester City to give the Citizens their first major trophy in 35 years.

The iconic Wembley Stadium is where the FA Cup final is held, with almost 90,000 supporters expected to attend the sell-out match between the two Manchester rivals. Situated in north-east London, Wembley opened in 2007 on the site of the original Wembley Stadium which had stood for almost 80 years and first hosted the FA Cup final in 1923.

Manchester City Football Club: the road to the FA Cup Final 2023

Premier League champions Manchester City have breezed into the 2023 FA Cup final without conceding a goal. City are on the verge of becoming the first team since Bury in 1902/03 to lift the trophy without letting in a single goal throughout the knockout tournament.

City brushed aside Chelsea 4-0 in the third round and followed that up with a 1-0 win over Arsenal thanks to Nathan Ake’s second-half goal. A Phil Foden brace made short work of Bristol City at Ashton Gate in round five (3-0), before the top two sides in the Championship – Burnley and Sheffield United – were dispatched 6-0 and 3-0 respectively. The semi-final against Sheffield United saw Riyad Mahrez bag a hat-trick – the first treble in an FA Cup semi-final since 1958.

Manchester City playing style and tactics

Pep Guardiola’s sides tend to be built on two principles: lots of possession and intense pressing. His Man City team is no different, with everyone from goalkeeper to striker comfortable on the ball. On the rare occasions City lose it, the hunt is on to win possession back as quickly as possible and spring another attack.

As well as being filled with world-class playmakers, there is a steel to this side that means they can stand up to virtually any physical challenge. With a backline that possesses rare athleticism and speed, they’re difficult to counter-attack against. Doing so also leaves gaps for City to exploit when they force those quick turnovers.

Rodri acts as the destroyer in midfield with Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan a trio of masterful creators. Up top, Erling Haaland is the focal point with over 50 goals in his debut season in England.

Manchester City team news and starting XI

Man City have remarkable depth at virtually every position, with Pep Guardiola having an embarrassment of riches to choose from across the pitch. With a full week between the 2023 FA Cup final and the Champions League final, Guardiola is unlikely to consider resting too many of his stars for this one.

Starting XI (possible): Ederson, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Rodri, John Stones, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland.

Manchester City’s coach for the 2023 FA Cup Final

Pep Guardiola is the manager of Manchester City and has overseen an unprecedented era of success since joining in 2016. The 52-year-old Spaniard just clinched his fifth Premier League title in six years to go with four EFL Cups and the 2019 FA Cup. He has his eye on a sensational treble this season, with a Champions League final against Inter coming up on Saturday, 10th June.

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Manchester United Football Club: the road to the FA Cup Final 2023

Man Utd had a tougher run to the 2023 FA Cup final than their opponents, dispatching four Premier League clubs out of the five rounds played to reach this stage. The Red Devils did at least have the advantage of playing four times at Old Trafford, where Everton, West Ham, Fulham and Reading were all beaten by the same 3-1 scoreline.

A tense semi-final against Brighton saw United triumph on penalties to reach the final after a 0-0 draw. The goals have been shared around for the Red Devils, with Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Fred all scoring two goals apiece in the 2023 FA Cup so far.

Manchester United playing style and tactics

Man Utd have shown significant tactical improvement under Erik ten Hag. The Red Devils have climbed from a disappointing sixth-place finish last time out to a spot in the Champions League, and they’ve done so by blending an improved defence with an unpredictable attack.

Only Man City and Newcastle conceded fewer league goals than Man Utd this season, marking a huge step up from last campaign’s zero goal difference. The signing of Casemiro has given them increased stability in midfield, allowing a dynamic forward line – boasting Marcus Rashford, Antony, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial and Bruno Fernandes – to thrive.

Manchester United team news and starting XI

Donny van de Beek, Marcel Sabitzer, Anthony Martial and Lisandro Martinez will miss the cup final through injury, but United will be hopeful that Antony and Luke Shaw can be fully fit to feature. Erik ten Hag is likely to give Marcus Rashford the nod up front after he found the net against Chelsea. Victor Lindelof may continue in central defence ahead of Harry Maguire.

Starting XI (possible): David de Gea, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford.

Manchester United’s coach for the 2023 FA Cup Final

Dutchman Erik ten Hag has been Man Utd’s coach since April 2022, and has masterminded an upturn in fortunes in his first full season with the club. Ten Hag made his name at Ajax, where he oversaw a trio of league titles for the Dutch giants as well as a pair of cups. He recently lifted his first trophy as United boss – the EFL Cup – and will hope to win the FA Cup at the first attempt this June.

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Manchester City v Manchester United head-to-head record

The 2023 FA Cup final will be the 190th time that Man City and Man Utd have played each other, dating all the way back to a first meeting in 1891. United currently have the edge, having won 78 games to City’s 58, with the remaining 53 drawn.

Since Pep Guardiola took charge of City in 2016, things have been much more even in Manchester. The two sides have met 18 times in all competitions during that span, with City winning nine times to United’s seven. They both won their respective home games in the Premier League this season, with City thrashing their rivals 6-3 at the Etihad before United exacted revenge by winning 2-1 at Old Trafford.

City and United haven’t met in the FA Cup since 2012, when United were 3-0 up at half-time but ended up clinging on and winning 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium.

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