Manchester City – Southampton: Wembley is set for a David vs Goliath showdown 
Wembley is the stage on Saturday for a FA Cup semi-final that looks like a mismatch on paper and, to be fair, probably is. Manchester City, the top dogs in the elite, take on Southampton, the surprise package from the division below. After seeing off Liverpool in the last round, City head in full of belief and looking to book a place in the final on 16 May. The stakes are huge: City are chasing a historic domestic treble and they are not about to let this chance slip against a Championship side, even if Saints have already pulled off a shock against Arsenal recently.
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City’s grip on the cup 
City are into their eighth straight FA Cup semi-final, an outright record, which tells you all you need to know about their hold on this competition under Pep Guardiola. Since the Spaniard arrived, they have turned the cup into a procession, with a jaw-dropping 157 goals scored since the 2016-2017 season. There is some uncertainty around Rodri’s fitness in midfield, but the squad remains stacked. Erling Haaland is still the headline act, with the Norwegian already netting 12 times in as many appearances in this competition. City will want to smother Saints early and avoid giving them even a sniff. Their record against teams outside the Premier League is ruthless, with 21 straight wins, and they will be out to make it 22 on Saturday night.
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Southampton’s wild dream 
Fifty years on from their famous 1976 triumph, Saints are back at Wembley hoping to knock over another Manchester giant. Under Tonda Eckert, Southampton have surged through the Championship and were unbeaten in 20 matches before their recent draw with Bristol City. They can lean on Shea Charles, once of the Manchester City academy, to try to make something happen in midfield. But this is a massive ask against a City side that normally gives opponents crumbs at this stage of the competition. Southampton will need the perfect performance if they are to reach the final and face Chelsea or Leeds.
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Probable lineups
Manchester City : Trafford ; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, Ait-Nouri ; Bernardo, O’Reilly ; Savinho, Cherki, Marmoush ; Haaland
Southampton : Peretz ; Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Manning ; Downes, Charles ; Fellows, Azaz, Scienza ; Stewart
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Football prediction Manchester City vs Southampton
Manchester City by 2 goals or more
City’s technical quality should tell quickly on the Wembley turf. Saints will scrap, but the gap between the Premier League leaders and a Championship side is simply too wide in a knockout tie.
City know these nights inside out, and Pep Guardiola will not treat this one lightly. With a Haaland keen to make his mark in a semi-final and an attack capable of ripping apart almost any defence, City should win comfortably and seal their spot in the final without much fuss.
Expect City to take control, hit the front early and then manage the game with one eye on the run-in.
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