The 193rd edition of the Manchester derby will be the main event at Wembley Stadium, where Manchester City will battle against Manchester United in the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon. The iconic arch of Wembley Stadium will be the backdrop for this highly-anticipated match.
On the last day of the 2023-24 season, Pep Guardiola’s team secured their fourth consecutive Premier League title by defeating West Ham United 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium. This victory is unprecedented as no other team has achieved four consecutive titles in a row.
Manchester City secured an impressive 31-point lead over Manchester United, managed by Erik ten Hag, who faced their worst-ever Premier League finish in eighth place. Despite their 2-0 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion on the final day, United could not escape their condemned position.
The final of the FA Cup is the Red Devils’ final opportunity to win a trophy and the only way to secure a spot in European football for the upcoming season. However, in order to win, they will have to defeat the unrelenting Citizens team who are aiming to achieve a domestic double for the second consecutive year.
Throughout the years, there have been numerous noteworthy Manchester derbies. In this piece, Maltasport delves into the head-to-head statistics and past encounters of the two teams in the FA Cup.
Historical Comparison of FA Cup Performances
Number of Matches: 10
Wins for Manchester City: 4
Draws: 0
Wins for Manchester United: 6
In the FA Cup, Man City and Man United have faced off against each other 10 times. The Red Devils hold a slight lead in their head-to-head record with six victories compared to the Citizens’ four.
The initial encounter between these neighboring opponents in the oldest cup tournament of England occurred in 1891, when Man City – previously named Ardwick – experienced a 5-1 loss at their home ground to Man United in the first qualifying round.
The initial FA Cup victories for both teams occurred in different years – Manchester City in 1904 and Manchester United in 1908. They would then face each other once more in the semi-finals in 1926, where City emerged victorious with a convincing 3-0 score before eventually falling to Bolton Wanderers in the final.
In 1955, Man City achieved a 2-0 victory against Man United, but ultimately lost in the final against Newcastle United. However, in the following three FA Cup Manchester derby clashes spanning over 26 years from the 1970s to late 1990s, it was Man United who emerged victorious, claiming the trophy six times.
In the FA Cup, the Manchester derby has occurred four times since the year 2000. One of these instances was a thrilling match in 2004, with Man United emerging victorious with a 4-2 score at Old Trafford in the fifth round. They then went on to win the final against Millwall at the Millennium Stadium.
The period of dominance for Man City in their domestic competitions started with their victory in the 2011 FA Cup, breaking their 35-year trophy drought. Yaya Toure played a crucial role in both the semi-final and final, scoring the lone goal in a 1-0 win against Man United and securing the winning goal in the final against Stoke City.
During Sir Alex Ferguson’s second to last season as a manager, Manchester United exacted revenge on the holders by defeating them 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium, just nine months after their previous encounter. Wayne Rooney scored on both sides of a Danny Welbeck goal, giving the Red Devils a three-goal lead before the end of the first half. Although City managed to score twice in the second half through Aleksandar Kolarov and Sergio Aguero, the visitors were able to hold on and advance to the third round.
In a historic event, Man City and Man United faced each other in the final of the FA Cup, marking the first time in the competition’s 153-year history. The Citizens emerged as the victors with a 2-1 win, thanks to a double from their captain Ilkay Gundogan, who also set a record with a 12-second goal. This win was part of Guardiola’s team’s remarkable treble and they will now aim to make history once again by becoming the first team to achieve a back-to-back league and FA Cup double.
The Most Recent 10 Encounters in the FA Cup
Jun 3, 2023: In the FA Cup Final, Manchester City defeated Manchester United 2-1.
Jan 8, 2012: Manchester City lost 2-3 to Manchester United in the FA Cup Third Round.
Apr 16, 2011: In the FA Cup Semi-Final, Manchester City beat Manchester United 1-0.
Feb 14, 2004: Manchester United emerged victorious with a 4-2 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup Fifth Round.
Feb 18, 1996: Manchester United defeated Manchester City 2-1 in the FA Cup Fifth Round.
Jan 10, 1987: In the FA Cup Third Round, Manchester United edged out Manchester City with a 1-0 win.
Jan 24, 1970: Manchester United dominated Manchester City with a 3-0 victory in the FA Cup Fourth Round.
Jan 29, 1955: In the FA Cup Fourth Round, Manchester City secured a 2-0 win over Manchester United.
Mar 27, 1926: Manchester City advanced to the FA Cup Final with a 3-0 win over Manchester United in the Semi-Final.
Oct 3, 1891: In the FA Cup First Qualifying Round, Ardwick (now Manchester City) suffered a 1-5 defeat against Manchester United.
