A momentous occasion awaits as Manchester City and Manchester United face off in the 189th Manchester derby, which also serves as the 142nd FA Cup final. The match holds significant importance as two “Doubles” and even a potential “Treble” are at stake.
Saturday’s encounter at Wembley will witness Premier League champions Manchester City inching closer to an extraordinary achievement of securing a Treble, which includes winning the league title, FA Cup, and Champions League. On the other hand, Manchester United aims to secure their 13th FA Cup title, thereby completing a domestic cup Double after triumphing in the Carabao Cup by defeating Newcastle in February.
Despite the impressive turnaround led by manager Erik ten Hag, Manchester United enters the game as underdogs in the FA Cup final. However, United’s recent victory over City in their last encounter—a 2-1 win in the Premier League at Old Trafford in January—and their favorable record in recent cup ties provide some hope. On the other hand, City not only holds the status of favorites against United but also aims to replicate the treble achievement of their bitter rivals, Manchester United, who accomplished it in 1999, making them the only English team to have achieved this feat thus far.
The upcoming FA Cup final between the two Manchester clubs has garnered immense anticipation, and the outcome remains uncertain. Let’s delve into the key factors that will shape this highly anticipated match, which is considered the most eagerly awaited FA Cup final in recent memory.
Manchester City will be participating in their 12th FA Cup final, and their past record shows a mixed bag of results. Of their previous 11 finals, they have emerged victorious in six and suffered defeat in five. Since 2011, City has won two finals and lost one. Their most recent cup final was a dominant 6-0 triumph over Watford in 2019.
On the other hand, Manchester United will be making their 21st appearance in an FA Cup final, equalling the record held by Arsenal. However, United shares the unfortunate distinction of having the highest number of final losses, with eight defeats. This unenviable distinction is shared with Chelsea and Everton.
