FA Cup holders Manchester City start their campaign to defend the title against Championship strugglers Huddersfield Town at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Manchester City enters the tie on the back of a four-game winning streak, while Huddersfield Town has lost their last two matches in the Championship.
Match Preview
Manchester City ended a four-year FA Cup drought with a victory over Manchester United in June, completing their 2022-23 treble.
Since then, they’ve added more trophies to their cabinet and sit on a four-game winning run.
Pep Guardiola’s side, currently chasing the Premier League title, has been in strong form, netting at least twice in their last seven games across all competitions.
Moreover, City has a history of dominance at home in the FA Cup, with 11 consecutive home wins in the competition.
Huddersfield Town, currently in a challenging position in the Championship, hasn’t had an ideal start to the New Year.
They suffered a defeat against Leicester City and have won only one of their seven December fixtures.
Despite their FA Cup win in 1925, recent editions have seen them exit early, facing a difficult task against the defending champions.
They’ve struggled in recent encounters against City, especially at the Etihad, where their last visit resulted in a goalless draw in 2018.
Team News
Manchester City doesn’t face the impact of international tournaments but might miss Erling Haaland (foot injury) and John Stones (ankle).
Rodri is unavailable due to personal reasons, while a virus has affected several players, including Scott Carson, Matheus Nunes, Kalvin Phillips, and Bernardo Silva.
Huddersfield Town will miss Charles Ondo (Equatorial Guinea) and Yuta Nakayama (Japan) due to international commitments.
Additionally, they have numerous injuries, including Jaheim Headley (ankle), Oliver Turton (ACL), and several others, resulting in an injury crisis.
Predicted Lineups
Manchester City: (4-2-3-1)
Ortega;
Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gomez;
Lewis, Kovacic;
Bobb, Foden, Hamilton;
Alvarez
Huddersfield Town: (3-5-2)
Nicholls;
Lees, Ayina, Helik;
Kasumu, Rudoni, Wiles, Diarra, Edmonds-Green;
Thomas, Koroma
Prediction: Manchester City 5-0 Huddersfield Town
Despite potential lineup changes, Manchester City’s form and home advantage suggest a commanding performance.
Huddersfield Town’s injury crisis and struggles are likely to pave the way for City to continue their winning streak and comfortably advance to the fourth round.
