Isn’t it typical? You can wait 143 years for a Manchester derby in the FA Cup final, and then two come along in successive seasons.
Manchester City and Manchester United will do battle once again in England’s premier cup competition at Wembley, as City look to retain the trophy they won last May.
Pep Guardiola’s side remain in contention for a league and cup double after last season’s treble exploits, while Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag will seek a trophy that could help him keep his job at Old Trafford.
But who’s the favourite to win at Wembley, and what are the most pertinent betting insights?
When is the FA Cup final?
City and United will contest the 143rd FA Cup final on May 25th, just one week after the end of the Premier League season. The match will kick off at 15:00 GMT.
The iconic Wembley Stadium will once again host this showpiece occasion for the 18th time since the venue was redesigned and the triumphal arch was introduced in 2007.
Who is Favourite to Win the FA Cup Final?
Unsurprisingly, Manchester City is the overwhelming favourite to beat its neighbours and win the FA Cup, with a price of 4/11* at the time of writing.
This would be Guardiola’s third such triumph during his time at the Etihad Stadium, having won it last season and in 2018/19 (after a 6-0 thrashing of Watford in the final).
City are also a superior team to United, as although they currently sit second in the Premier League, they’re just one point behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.
They’ve also lost just four games in all competitions in 2023/24 and won an impressive 71.70% of their matches, while they’re currently unbeaten in 30 outings since December 6th.
In contrast, United have endured a torrid 2023/24 campaign, quelling the promise of Ten Hag’s debut season in charge. This had seen the Red Devils win the Carabao Cup and finish third in the EPL, but they’re only sixth in the table this time around and exited the UEFA Champions League at the group stage.
United have also lost 12 EPL matches this season (they’ve never lost more in a Premier League campaign) and a staggering 17 in all competitions.
The Red Devils have also conceded 77 goals in all competitions and been far too open in defensive transition all season, so it makes sense that they’re currently priced at 6/1* to defeat City at Wembley.
Who normally wins the FA Cup?
City prevailed 2-1 in last season’s showpiece final, with İlkay Gündoğan (who scored the fastest-ever FA Cup final goal with a dipping strike after just 13 seconds) netting a brace.
As we’ve touched on, this was City’s third FA Cup triumph under the stewardship of Guardiola, and they’ve lifted the grand old trophy seven times overall.
Interestingly, Man United are the second most successful team in FA Cup history, having won the trophy on 12 occasions (most recently in 2015/16) and have finished as runners-up nine different times.
The only side to lift this trophy more than United is Arsenal. The Gunners have won the FA Cup on 14 occasions, including seven times since the turn of the century.
These seven triumphs were all overseen by iconic former manager Arsene Wenger, although Arsenal exited at the third-round stage this season after a home defeat to Liverpool.
FA Cup Semi-Final results
Man City and Chelsea contested the first FA Cup semi-final on April 20th. This came just three days after City were eliminated from the Champions League on penalties by Real Madrid in the quarter-final stage, and Chelsea had the better of the early exchanges at Wembley.
However, they were typically wasteful in front of goal, while City grew into the game and took control of possession as the second half drew on. As the match drifted towards extra-time, Bernardo Silva arrived at the far post to convert Kevin De Bruyne’s teasing cross, booking City’s place in the final.
United’s semi-final was typical of their season, as they combined periods of control and excellent attacking play with defensive errors and an inability to cope with Coventry City’s aggressive press. They initially eased into a 3-0 lead inside the first hour, with Bruno Fernandes’ deflected strike seeming to seal the tie in the 58th minute.
However, Ellis Simms’s 71st-minute strike set nerves jangling before Callum O’Hare’s shot from range was deflected in. A controversial stoppage-time penalty by Hadji Wright took a scarcely believable tie to extra time, during which the Sky Blues struck the woodwork and had a late winner disallowed for the closest of offside calls.
United subsequently held their nerve to edge the penalty shootout 4-2 despite an early miss from Brazilian midfielder Casemiro.
And Finally – Our FA Cup Final Betting Insights
Whoever you intend to bet on in the 2024 FA Cup final, a diverse range of markets is available. So, we’ve prepared some parting betting tips and insights to help you make the most informed selections!
- Back Both Teams to Score: Since the turn of the century, both teams have scored in just nine of the 24 finals contested. However, City and United found the net in last season’s final, while both competing sides have scored in 33 of City’s 53 matches in 2023/24 (62%). Despite their defensive woes, United undoubtedly have the tools to hurt City in transition too, so get on both teams to score during 90 minutes at a price of 7/10*.
- Back City to Win and Both Teams to Score: Combination betting can also offer value in the 2023/24 FA Cup final. Not only are City odds-on favourites to win at Wembley, for example, but the odds also imply a 58.82% probability of both teams scoring in the final. Remember, United have also scored in four of the previous five Manchester derbies, so consider picking City to win and both teams to find the net at a price of 33/20.
- Back Man City to Win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1: Since 2000, the FA Cup final has produced 2.21 goals per game on average (excluding goals scored in extra-time). Only four finals have been won by a margin of two goals or more, too, so it’s better to predict lower-scoring outcomes when engaging in correct score betting. You can also place combination correct score bets, such as backing City to win by either 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 at the competitive price of 31/20*.
Please bet on the FA Cup Final responsibly. You can refer to our Safer Gambling Portal for helpful tools and tips to bet within your means.
*Odds are correct at the time of writing and subject to change.
