Prediction: Sergio Aguero First Goalscorer
Odds: 14/5
Bookmaker: William Hill
Manchester City will hope to continue their pursuit of domestic honours on Saturday afternoon as they host Premier League rivals Burnley at the Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup.
It will be the second-consecutive season that the two teams have met in the competition after a prior clash during the 2016/17 campaign.
Manchester City
The reigning Premier League champions come into this clash desperate to add to their trophy collection. Having lifted the Premier League title, the Carabao Cup and the Community Shield in his time at the Etihad, one piece of silverware that is missing from Pep Guardiola’s collection is the FA Cup. Under the Spaniard, City have only managed to reach the semi-finals and were eliminated in the fifth round last season. As a matter of fact, the club have not won the trophy since the 2010/11 campaign.
They come into this clash in excellent form in the competition having won seven out of their last ten games including a 7-0 win over Rotherham United in the previous round. Their home form is also brilliant having not lost an FA Cup match at the Etihad Stadium since a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Middlesbrough back in January 2015. As a matter of fact, that was the last time that Manchester City have failed to progress beyond the fourth round.
Team News
Kevin De Bruyne and Benjamin Mendy both continued their return from injury in the slim 1-0 win over Burton Albion on Wednesday evening so once again could feature against Burnley. However, Claudio Bravo and Vincent Kompany remain restricted the sidelines.
Burnley
Despite a tricky start to the new season, Sean Dyche’s Burnley appear to have recovered in recent weeks. The Clarets are now undefeated in their last five games and have won four out of their last five matches. They have not gone six undefeated since May 2016. One of their recent victories came in the FA Cup with a slender 1-0 victory over League One outfit Barnsley. The Clarets do not quite have an illustrious history in the competition having only managed to lift the trophy once in their history and have not progressed past the fifth round since 2003. Their away form in the FA Cup is even worse. They have only managed to win one of their last ten games away from Turf Moor in the FA Cup, with that being a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough over three years ago.
Team News
The Clarets could potentially welcome back key midfielder Johan Berg Gudmunsson after he suffered a short-term thigh strain. However, winger Aaron Lennon remains ruled out.
Key Facts To Consider
- Manchester City have the better record between the two clubs (W45, D25, L29)
- The Citizens won the last clash between the two teams 5-0
- The two teams have met four times in the past in the FA Cup with Burnley only winning once
- Burnley have not won away to Manchester City since 1963
- Sergio Aguero has scored 16 goals in only 18 FA Cup appearances
Conclusion
The Clarets certainly seem to have found a little bit of a winning habit in recent weeks. They will be in a confident mood heading to the Etihad Stadium, especially as though they will be listed as overwhelming underdogs. Nevertheless, Guardiola should take this competition seriously as he has done with the Carabao Cup this season. The hosts then should have more than enough to get past the Clarets and Sergio Aguero could well be the man to hit the opening strike.
Prediction: Sergio Aguero First Goalscorer
Odds: 14/5
Bookmaker: William Hill
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