The FA Cup Final will bring down the curtain on another action-packed English football season, with another Manchester derby taking centre stage at Wembley Stadium this Saturday afternoon.
After claiming the English Premier League title last Sunday, Manchester City will have their eyes on a treble with wins in the FA Cup and next weekend’s UEFA Champions League decider.
However, if there is one team in the world that would want to stop them, it would have to be their arch-rivals, Manchester United.
During Erik ten Hag’s first season at Old Trafford, he has taken his team to third on the EPL table, while he also delivered their first trophy since 2017.
Will the blue of City or the red of United taste FA Cup glory in 2023?
Man City vs Man United FA Cup match prediction
Manchester City come into the FA Cup Final with a perfect record, winning all five of their games while conceding no goals in the process — the first team to qualify for the final without conceding since Everton did 57 years ago.
The recently crowned 2023 EPL champions will be seeking to complete their maiden treble, this matching Manchester United’s feat from the 1998-99 season.
Pep Guardiola will be seeking his second treble as a manager, after he achieved it with Barcelona in the 2008-09 season when claiming the La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League titles.
With the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland at his disposal, Pep’s team will go in as heavy favourites with sports betting sites.
The 2022-23 season for Manchester United has been a topsy-turvy one, with the Red Devils starting slow in the Premier League before rallying late in the season to finish top four and return to the Champions League next season.
The addition of Casemiro has been massive for United, with the former Real Madrid midfielder providing that defensive presence that the team has needed in the middle of the park.
Having claimed the Carabao Cup earlier this season, United fans would love to seal a double while denying their cross-town rivals a treble.
However, that will be easier said than done, and it would be a brave man indeed who bets against Man City lifting the FA Cup at Wembley this weekend.
Manchester City to win
2023 FA Cup Final prop betting pick
Three of the last four Manchester derbies have covered the 2.5 goals line with both teams scoring, so we will follow that form for the FA Cup Final on Saturday.
The two times that they met during the EPL season, Manchester City won 6-3 at Etihad Stadium and Manchester United took the second meeting 2-1 at Old Trafford.
With the likes of Erling Haaland, Bernardo Silva, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes in the front three at either end of the pitch, we expect to see plenty of attacking football.