Second leg of Manchester City's treble quest secured. A maiden Champions League title now stands between City and immortality in English football after beating Manchester United 2-1 on Saturday to clinch their latest Premier League title, add the FA Cup. "We're in a position," City manager Pep Guardiola said, "and we'll never be again." Ilkay Gundogan scored twice - the first in 13 seconds, the fastest in an FA Cup final in 142 years - to lead City to their 16th trophy since 2011 in what looked like a crowning moment under Abu Dhabi's ruling family. If the Germany midfielder's opener, a perfectly executed volley from the edge of the area, was his best goal in seven years at City, his 51st-minute winner at Wembley Stadium may be one of his best. After the fight against Arsenal, the Citizens have won the Premier League title by showing their dominance in English football. Meanwhile, the Red Devils won the EFL Cup final by beating Newcastle in a thrilling encounter.
With these two dynamic forwards taking center stage, the footballing world eagerly awaits the clash between Manchester City and Manchester United in the FA Cup Final. It was a fascinating display of skill, determination and goalscoring prowess from two of the game's greatest talents. Manchester City have a significant advantage as the favorites to win the FA Cup final, boasting a moneyline of -370. On the other hand, Manchester United face more challenges with a moneyline of +295. Known as the Manchester Derby, the rivalry between these two football clubs lasted until their inaugural meeting in 1881. In recent times, City have won three of United's last four derbies. The victory was secured in their latest fight in January this year. Notably, City's most recent FA Cup triumph occurred in 2019, surpassing United's triumph in 2016.
Like their local rivals, Manchester United will be aiming to lift their second trophy in the upcoming FA Cup final. In Erik ten Haag's inaugural season in English football, his side won the EFL Cup by defeating Newcastle United in the final in February. In addition, they finished in the top four in the English Premier League (EPL), securing qualification for the UEFA Champions League for the following season. Manchester United's journey so far in the FA Cup has been relatively smooth. They started with back-to-back 3-1 wins over Everton, Reading and West Ham respectively before facing Fulham in the quarter-finals. In a match overshadowed by the Aleksandar Mitrovic controversy, which led to an eight-match ban for pushing the referee, the Red Devils staged a late second-half comeback to score three goals against the Cottagers. Manchester City and Manchester United will meet in the Emirates FA Cup 2022-23 final today at Wembley Stadium in London. This is the first time the Manchester derby has been played in a cup final. A win would take EPL 2022-23 champions City closer to a treble. The last time an English team won the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League titles was Manchester United in 1999. Three days later, City progressed with surprising ease at the Etihad Stadium, while Chelsea put up little resistance. The Premier League is a fierce battle between the two teams at Stamford Bridge. In doing so, the 32-year-old, who is expected to leave City in the summer after seven trophy-laden years, became the oldest player to score an FA Cup final brace since Nat Lofthouse for Bolton Wanderers in 1958 against United. United, seeking to win both domestic cups in the same season for the first time in their history, dashed City's hopes of emulating their historic treble in 1999 when Bruno Fernandes equalized with a 33rd-minute penalty.
Pep Guardiola's side resisted United's pressure to win the trophy for a record seventh time.
It is the 13th time he has scored a double in the English league and FA Cup. But City now want more, traveling to Istanbul to face Inter Milan and become European champions for the first time and match United's 1998-99 Premier League/FA Cup/Champions League sweep under Alex Ferguson. The clubs clashed for silverware for the first time in 190 meetings, and Wembley was decked out in red and sky blue as fans braved a rail strike to descend on the capital in droves, not just to claim bragging rights. Even the smoke from the pre-match pyrotechnics had not cleared as City took the lead in spectacular fashion. When keeper Stefan Ortega's long punt was deflected towards Erling Haaland and the ball bounced into the path of Gundogan, a right-footed volley didn't hesitate to pounce over David De Gea. Rodry and Jack Grealish didn't touch the ball for United in the first five minutes. Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne went close for City and United got an unexpected gift. United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka headed a diagonal ball harmlessly across the area, prompting referee Paul Tierney to check the pitch-side VAR monitor for a Grealish handball after play resumed. It was extremely harsh on Grealish, but Tierney pointed to the spot and Fernandez calmed down to send Ortega the wrong way with a penalty and sparking celebrations in the east end of the stadium packed with United fans. United City's game looked short as half-time approached, with Raphael Varane volleying over from a corner. But that proved to be a myth. It took a little longer for City to reassert their dominance in the second half, with Gundogan once again showing his ability to score crucial goals.
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