Chelsea and Manchester City are set to clash beneath the iconic Wembley arch on Saturday in the 145th FA Cup final, with both sides chasing silverware to cap off contrasting seasons.
Chelsea are aiming to lift the FA Cup for a ninth time, while Manchester City hope to secure their eighth triumph in England's oldest domestic competition.
Chelsea head into the final under immense pressure after a frustrating campaign that has left fans questioning the club's long-term project despite significant spending in recent years. Under-21 manager Calum McFarlane remains in interim charge. The young coach is looking to become Chelsea's first FA Cup-winning manager since Antonio Conte guided the Blues to glory in 2018.
McFarlane's spell began positively with a narrow 1-0 semi-final victory over Leeds United, courtesy of Enzo Fernandez's decisive first-half header. That result sent Chelsea into their 17th FA Cup final, with only Manchester United and Arsenal having appeared in more.
Chelsea's route to Wembley included wins over Charlton Athletic, Hull City, Wrexham and Port Vale before overcoming Leeds in the semi-finals. The Blues have been particularly impressive in attack throughout this FA Cup campaign, scoring 21 goals in five matches, their second-highest tally in a single edition of the competition.
Domestically, however, things have been far less convincing. Chelsea sit ninth in the Premier League table and remain six points off the top six. A 1-1 draw against Liverpool last weekend ended a six-match losing streak but extended their winless run in the league to seven matches. Winning the FA Cup would not only rescue their season but also secure qualification for next season's UEFA Europa League.
Despite their rich history in the competition, Chelsea's record in FA Cup finals is evenly balanced, with eight wins and eight defeats, including losses in three consecutive finals between 2020 and 2022.
Manchester City, meanwhile, have already created history by becoming the first club ever to reach four consecutive FA Cup finals. However, Pep Guardiola's side will be eager to avoid a third straight defeat in the showpiece after losing the previous two finals to Manchester United and Crystal Palace.
City's form in the competition has otherwise been dominant. Since Guardiola arrived in 2016, no side has won more FA Cup matches, scored more goals or kept more clean sheets than the Citizens.
Their journey to Wembley started with a stunning 10-1 win over Exeter City before victories against Salford City, Newcastle United and Liverpool. City then came from behind to defeat Southampton 2-1 in the semi-finals.
Another trophy would also move Guardiola's side closer to a historic domestic cup double after already lifting the EFL Cup earlier this year. The Citizens are still firmly involved in the Premier League title race as well, sitting just two points behind Arsenal following consecutive 3-0 victories over Brentford and Crystal Palace.
Saturday's final will mark Manchester City's 15th appearance in the FA Cup final. Like Chelsea, they have won seven and lost seven of their previous finals.
Head-To-Head
City also carry a major psychological advantage into the contest. Guardiola's men are unbeaten in their last 13 meetings with Chelsea across all competitions, winning 10 and drawing three since losing the 2021 UEFA Champions League final. That run includes an FA Cup semi-final victory in 2024 and a comfortable 3-0 Premier League win at Stamford Bridge earlier this season.
Venue, Match Time
The match will be played at the iconic Wembley Stadium in London. The kick-off time is 7:30 p.m. Indian Standard Time.
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Possible Starting Lineups
- Chelsea: Robert Sanchez; Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Jorrel Hato; Reece James, Caicedo; Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, Marc Cucurella; João Pedro
- Manchester City: James Trafford; Matheus Nunes, Abdukodir Khusanov, Marc Guehi, Nico O'Reilly; Nico Gonzalez, Bernardo Silva; Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki, Jérémy Doku; Erling Haaland
How to Watch Live Telecast?
The match will be broadcasted on Sony Sports newwork television channels.
How To Watch Live Streaming?
Live streaming of the match can be watched on the SonyLIV app and website.
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