FA Cup holders Manchester Metropolis begin their marketing campaign to defend the title towards Championship strugglers Huddersfield City on the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Manchester Metropolis enters the tie on the again of a four-game profitable streak, whereas Huddersfield City has misplaced their final two matches within the Championship.
Match Preview
Manchester Metropolis ended a four-year FA Cup drought with a victory over Manchester United in June, finishing their 2022-23 treble.
Since then, they’ve added extra trophies to their cupboard and sit on a four-game profitable run.
Pep Guardiola’s facet, at present chasing the Premier League title, has been in sturdy type, netting at the very least twice of their final seven video games throughout all competitions.
Furthermore, Metropolis has a historical past of dominance at dwelling within the FA Cup, with 11 consecutive dwelling wins within the competitors.
Huddersfield City, at present in a difficult place within the Championship, hasn’t had an excellent begin to the New 12 months.
They suffered a defeat towards Leicester Metropolis and have received solely one in all their seven December fixtures.
Regardless of their FA Cup win in 1925, latest editions have seen them exit early, dealing with a tough job towards the defending champions.
They’ve struggled in latest encounters towards Metropolis, particularly on the Etihad, the place their final go to resulted in a goalless attract 2018.
Staff Information
Manchester Metropolis doesn’t face the impression of worldwide tournaments however may miss Erling Haaland (foot harm) and John Stones (ankle).
Rodri is unavailable as a result of private causes, whereas a virus has affected a number of gamers, together with Scott Carson, Matheus Nunes, Kalvin Phillips, and Bernardo Silva.
Huddersfield City will miss Charles Ondo (Equatorial Guinea) and Yuta Nakayama (Japan) as a result of worldwide commitments.
Moreover, they’ve quite a few accidents, together with Jaheim Headley (ankle), Oliver Turton (ACL), and a number of other others, leading to an harm disaster.
Predicted Lineups
Manchester Metropolis: (4-2-3-1)
Ortega;
Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gomez;
Lewis, Kovacic;
Bobb, Foden, Hamilton;
Alvarez
Huddersfield City: (3-5-2)
Nicholls;
Lees, Ayina, Helik;
Kasumu, Rudoni, Wiles, Diarra, Edmonds-Inexperienced;
Thomas, Koroma
Prediction: Manchester Metropolis 5-0 Huddersfield City
Regardless of potential lineup adjustments, Manchester Metropolis’s type and residential benefit counsel a commanding efficiency.
Huddersfield City’s harm disaster and struggles are more likely to pave the way in which for Metropolis to proceed their profitable streak and comfortably advance to the fourth spherical.