Prediction: Manchester City to Win and Both Teams to Score
Odds: 2/1
Bookmaker: 888Sport
Manchester City will be aiming to seal a domestic treble on Saturday evening as they take on Watford in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
The Citizens have already scooped the Premier League and Carabao Cup this season and will look to continue their trophy streak under boss Pep Guardiola. Meanwhile, Watford head to the capital aiming to upset the odds and lift their first ever piece of major silverware.
Manchester City
The Citizens are by far the favourites to win the FA Cup this season after lifting the Premier League and Carabao Cup this season. One aspect that could see them go all their way is their recent form coming into the game. In all competitions this season, Guardiola’s troops have only failed to win nine games. Out of a possible 60 matches, that is highly impressive. If they do win the trophy under Guardiola, it will end a long wait for the team to actually win the FA Cup. Considering Manchester City’s status within English football at the current time, they have not actually gone all the way and lifted the trophy since the 2010-11 season. Even when they reached the final two years later, they were edged out by Wigan Athletic, who were to be relegated to the Championship at the end of the campaign. The five-time winners then will be keen to avoid a repeat and instead enjoy a glorious day under the Wembley arch.
Team News
Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is able to be called on again after he returned to action as the Citizens clinched the title in their win against Brighton and Hove Albion. However, Fernandinho is a slight doubt having missed the last three games of the Premier League season with a knee injury. Long-term absentees Benjamin Mendy and Claudio Bravo remain restricted to the sidelines.
Watford
Whatever the result this weekend, the match at Wembley represents a significant moment in the history of Watford. The Hornets have not reached an FA Cup final since the 1983-84 season when they lost 2-0 to Everton under Graham Taylor. However, heading into the final, their form under Javi Gracia really has taken a downturn. The team have only managed to win one out of their last six games in all competitions and that solitary victory saw them only just squeeze past relegated Huddersfield Town 2-1 at the John Smiths Stadium. Another worrying statistic is their recent defensive showings. The Hornets have not managed to keep a clean sheet since mid-February’s 1-0 success over Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers. If they are to stand any chance against the goalscoring juggernaut that is Manchester City, they will desperately need to work on their defensive play.
Team News
Gracia has a pretty much fully fit squad to choose from for the final, with only two absentees. Austrian defender Sebastian Prodl is still out with a knee injury. Domingos Quina also remains on the sidelines with a dislocated shoulder.
Key Facts To Consider
- Manchester City have a far better all-time record between the two teams (W17, D5, L6)
- Watford have not beaten the Citizens since March 1989
- If Watford win the FA Cup, they would become the first team to finish in the bottom-half of the top-flight table and beat the first-placed team in a final
- Sergio Aguero has scored ten goals in just seven appearances against Watford in all competitions
- The last time the two teams played in the FA Cup, the match finished 4-2 to City
Conclusion
The magic of the FA Cup would surely have to summon all of its power to produce a shock at Wembley on Saturday. City are by no means unbeatable but it would take a monumental effort to walk away from the game with the trophy in hand. Guardiola’s men possess too much attacking talent for the Hornets and they should find the net with relative ease. However, Watford could also find the net in a competitive final.
Prediction: Manchester City to Win and Both Teams to Score
Odds: 2/1
Bookmaker: 888Sport
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