FA Cup Semi-Final Showdown: Manchester City to Face Chelsea
The Road to Wembley
The first 2023/24 FA Cup semi-final takes place on Saturday evening as Manchester City and Chelsea lock horns at Wembley Stadium. Both teams have navigated a challenging path to reach this stage, with City overcoming Arsenal and Bristol City, while Chelsea defeated Liverpool and Luton Town.
Squad News and Betting Odds
Manchester City are without star striker Erling Haaland for the match, with Gabriel Jesus also a doubt. However, they can still call upon the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, and Bernardo Silva. Chelsea, on the other hand, have a fully fit squad to choose from. The bookmakers are heavily favoring Manchester City to win the match, with BetVictor offering odds of 4/7. Chelsea are priced at 4/1, while a draw after 90 minutes is priced at 14/5.
Previous Clashes
These two sides have a long and storied history, having faced each other in numerous cup finals and league matches over the years. In the past five meetings, Manchester City have won three times, with Chelsea winning once and the other match ending in a draw.
Key Players
Kevin De Bruyne: The Belgian midfielder is the heartbeat of the Manchester City team, providing creativity and goals from midfield. Raheem Sterling: The England international has been in scintillating form for Chelsea this season, scoring several crucial goals. Edouard Mendy: The Chelsea goalkeeper has been a reliable presence between the sticks, keeping numerous clean sheets this season.
Predicted Lineups
Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Ake, Cancelo; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Grealish, Foden
Chelsea: Kepa; James, Silva, Koulibaly, Chilwell; Rice, Jorginho, Mount; Sterling, Havertz, Pulisic
Komentar