Manchester City vs Manchester United FA Cup Final: The Road to Wembley for both teams

The two fierce rivals will clash with a crystal clear purpose in mind. Man United would love to end the season with a domestic cup double, whereas Man City would be looking to proceed a step further towards a potential treble-winning season.

Erik Ten Hag’s Man United won the Carabao Cup already this season, and Pep Guardiola managed Man City defended their Premier League crown successfully to win five out of the last six PL titles.

As the two teams collide for the oldest football competition in the world, here we take a look at their road to the Final this season-

Manchester City Road to FA Cup Final 2022-23

Manchester City reached the FA Cup final for the first time in four years. They were beaten semi-finalists in the 2019-20 season when Arsenal won the FA Cup a record 14th time in history. They shrugged off Chelsea and Arsenal in their road to the final showdown this season.

Here is how Man City have reached the FA Cup final this season-

Man City 4 Chelsea 0 (third round, Jan 8)

City sailed through with surprising ease as Chelsea put up little resistance at the Etihad Stadium just three days after a hard-fought Premier League clash between the sides at Stamford Bridge.

A superb Riyad Mahrez free-kick, a Julian Alvarez penalty and a Phil Foden effort effectively wrapped up the contest in the first half. Mahrez completed the scoring from the spot late on.

Man City 1 Arsenal 0 (fourth round, Jan 27)

City edged a tight and entertaining game that lived up to its pre-match billing as a heavyweight contest.

A tidy finish from defender Nathan Ake, placing a shot into the bottom corner after good work from Jack Grealish, settled the tie in the 64th minute.

Bristol City 0 Man City 3 (fifth round, Feb 28)

Foden struck twice as City saw off their Championship hosts with little alarm.

The England midfielder opened the scoring after seven minutes when he turned home a low Mahrez ball at the back post and made victory certain with a deflected effort after the break. Kevin De Bruyne added a brilliant third with a low curling shot from outside the area.

Man City 6 Burnley 0 (quarter-finals, Mar 18)

Man City destroyed the Championship champions, managed by City legend Vincent Kompany.

The prolific Erling Haaland scored a sublime hat-trick as the Clarets were put to the sword. Alvarez weighed in with a double and Cole Palmer also got on the scoresheet in the rout.

Man City 3 Sheff Utd 0 (semi-finals, Apr 22)

Another promotion-challenging Championship side failed to lay a glove on City as Guardiola’s men booked a return to the final for the first time in four years after three successive semi-final defeats.

Mahrez took centre stage by scoring the first FA Cup semi-final hat-trick since 1958 and the first at Wembley.

Manchester United Road to FA Cup Final 2022-23

Manchester United’s journey have been much less challenging than their city rivals. Man United played all of the FA Cup matches at home this season, and excelled in front of the Old Trafford crowd.

Here is how they have managed a berth in the FA Cup Final-

Man Utd 3 Everton 1 (third round, Jan 6)

Marcus Rashford and Antony scored the goals for Manchester United. Conor Coady got Everton’s equalizer, but then scored an own goal for Everton in the match.

Man Utd 3 Reading 1 (fourth round, Jan 28)

Casemiro scored a magnificent brace before Fred flicked home audaciously as United’s Brazilian stars sparkled.

The hosts initially made hard work of the straightforward fourth-round assignment against Championship opposition, but second half samba magic in the Manchester rain sealed victory on a night when Amadou Mbengue grabbed Reading a consolation after Andy Carroll was sent off.

Man Utd 3 West Ham 1 (fifth round, March 1)

Teenage star Garnacho inspired United to a late comeback win as Ten Hag’s men sealed progress to the FA Cup quarter-finals three days on from their Carabao Cup triumph.

United looked set to be brought back down to earth with a bump after Said Benrahma put the Hammers into a deserved lead, only for Nayef Aguerd’s 77th-minute own goal to spark an impressive turnaround.

Garnacho’s superb 90th-minute effort followed, before a stoppage-time strike by Fred.

Man Utd 3 Fulham 1 (quarter-finals, March 19)

United punished five minutes of madness from Fulham as they came from behind to progress to the semi-finals.

Fulham boss Marco Silva, Willian and Aleksandar Mitrovic were all sent off in quick succession, with Bruno Fernandes levelling from the resulting penalty.

Marcel Sabitzer flicked home to put United ahead, before Bruno Fernandes lashed in another in stoppage time.

Man Utd 0 Brighton 0 – United win 7-6 on pens (semi-finals, April 23)

An affair which ended without a goal in 120 minutes, Man United stood tall and came away with the victory in the penalties at Wembley. The penalties went to sudden death and Victor Lindelof scored the winner after Solley March missed one from the spot for Brighton.