Manchester City vs Manchester United – Route to the 2024 FA Cup Final

Wembley Stadium forms the backdrop to a Manchester FA Cup replay between Manchester City and Manchester United.

As was the case last season, when the final kicked off at 3pm BST for the first time in 12 years, both teams have agreed to repeat the identical kick-off time on Saturday thanks to police advice.

Erik ten Hag has a score to settle with Pep Guardiola after a 2-1 defeat in last season’s title decider denied him a cup double in his maiden campaign at Old Trafford.

However, there is more than revenge at stake as the under-pressure Dutchman’s future may hinge on guiding Man Utd to a 13th FA Cup title.

The task that awaits the 54-year-old is nothing short of Herculean as the four-time Premier League champions sit on the other side, seeking an eighth title in football’s oldest cup competition.

Man City beat West Ham United 3-1 on the final day of the Premier League last weekend to make history and set themselves up nicely for the next clash.

Where to watch the FA Cup final on TV?

Fans in the United Kingdom can watch the FA Cup Final on BBC and ITV, while broadcast rights in the United States belong to ESPN and ESPN+.

If you want to watch the match, check out the FA Cup broadcast partners on the official FA website or find FA Cup live streams here.

Not since Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal in 2013/14 and 2014/15 have they defended their FA Cup title.

But if there’s one side capable of duplicating that performance, it’s Man City.

It’s been an easy campaign for the reigning holders, starting with a 5-0 drubbing of second-tier Huddersfield Town in the third round.

Next to fall was Tottenham Hotspur, although Guardiola’s men had to wait until Nathan Ake’s 88th-minute winner to earn a narrow 1-0 victory in north London.

A fifth-round tie against relegated Premier League boys Luton Town was another day at the office for Erling Haaland, who scored five goals to inspire the Cityzens to a scintillating 6-2 win at Kenilworth Road.

Newcastle United were supposed to put Man City through a world of trouble in the quarter-finals. Instead, they bowed out at the Etihad, succumbing to a comfortable 2-0 defeat.

The final hurdle between City and a 13th FA Cup final appearance was difficult as Chelsea held firm at Wembley, only for Bernardo Silva to break the deadlock in the 84th minute to send the Blues through.

Like Man City, United’s FA Cup journey began in the third round with an emphatic 2-0 win against League One side Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium.

A fourth-round clash against fourth-tier Newport County had all the makings of another routine task for the second-most frequent FA Cup winners, but it was not to be.

Ten Hag’s charges squandered a two-goal cushion before Antony and Rasmus Hojlund scored on the hour mark to seal United’s 4-2 triumph at Rodney Parade.

It wasn’t until the fifth round that Man Utd had to worry about the challenges presented by fellow Premier League rivals when Nottingham Forest almost equalized in the second leg replay.

However, Casemiro’s late heroics settled a tightly contested game at the City Ground as United went 1-0 past the bottom-half strugglers throughout the season.

The Brazilian’s 89th-minute winner foreshadowed the drama to follow, with a tasty quarter-final draw against Liverpool keeping the Old Trafford faithful on the edge of their seats.

After a 2-2 draw was overturned in regulation time, Amad Diallo won the hearts of United fans with a 121st-minute winner to give the Red Devils a memorable 4-3 win.

When Man Utd lined up against Coventry City at Wembley in the semi-finals, everyone thought it was going to be a blowout.

With Ten Hag’s side 3-0 up in the 58th minute, it looked like a walk in the park, only for the Sky Blues to score three unanswered goals after the 70th minute to take the game to penalties.

United came out on top in the shootout to book a second successive final meeting against Man City, reaching their 22nd FA Cup title decider.

They say lighting never strikes twice, but in this case, it seems inevitable.

Man City are in much better form despite Man Utd’s 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.

Guardiola has beaten Ten Hag in four of their five Manchester derby meetings, including wins in both Premier League meetings this season.

The writing is on the wall for United and it’s only natural to assume that Man City will heap more misery on the Red Devils after the club’s lowest finish in the Premier League era.