FA Cup Semi Final Predictions & Tips
Four teams will head to Wembley this weekend to battle it out for a spot in the FA Cup final, with last season’s finalists Manchester City and Manchester United taking on Chelsea and Coventry respectively.
The reigning champions City will be keen to shake off their midweek Champions League defeat to Real Madrid by beating the Blues on Saturday, while their rivals United will be looking to salvage an otherwise disappointing season by overpowering their Championship opponents and returning to Wembley next month when taking on the Sky Blues on Sunday.
Tip 1 - Bet Builder: Chelsea or draw double chance, Cole Palmer to score, Moises Caicedo to be booked @ 13/1
While Chelsea’s season has largely been one to forget, they have shown some signs of improvement during an ongoing 12-match unbeaten run and they will be high on confidence following a 6-0 thrashing of Everton on Monday.
They have already stifled City twice this season - drawing 1-1 with the Citizens at the Etihad after a 4-4 thriller at Stamford Bridge - and they could hold out for at least 90 minutes at Wembley, with Pep Guardiola’s side likely to be feeling the effects of a gruelling 120 minutes with Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Cole Palmer has been a huge reason for Chelsea’s upturn in form, and the former City man now has 21 goals and 11 assists in his 32 appearances for the Blues this term. He netted four against Everton on Monday and could bag against his former employers for the second time this season.
No side in the Premier League has received more yellow cards than Chelsea (90) this season, and Moises Caicedo is responsible for 10 per cent of those cautions. The combative Ecuadorian will have his work cut out against City’s excellent midfielders, and given he was booked in both Premier League meetings with the Citizens, he rates a good bet to have his name jotted down by the referee on Saturday.
Tip 2 - Bet Builder: Both teams to score, Bruno Fernandes to score, Joel Latibeaudiere to be booked @ 22/1
Manchester United may be 20 places higher in the English football pyramid than Coventry, but that does not mean the Red Devils are fall-proof in this semi-final. Consistency has been a big issue for Erik ten Hag’s side all season, and their defensive issues are showing no signs of improvement.
United have shipped 12 goals in their last five matches - in no small part due to their plethora of injured defenders, including Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez - and could be breached by Coventry, who have scored 18 goals in their five FA Cup games this term, at Wembley.
However, the Sky Blues are far from solid themselves, having shipped 12 in a seven-match run in which they have failed to record a clean sheet. United should also score on Sunday, with Bruno Fernandes likely to leave his mark.
The Portuguese midfielder has scored four times in his last three matches, has two goals in his four FA Cup appearances this term and is the Red Devils’ designated penalty taker, suggesting he may net against Coventry.
With United likely to dominate possession at Wembley, Marcus Rashford could get plenty of opportunities to get at Coventry’s makeshift right-back Joel Latibeaudiere. The Sky Blues defender has been booked eight times in his 38 Championship games this term, including in both of his last two appearances and could struggle against top opposition.
