It is now customary for the semifinals of the FA Cup to be played at Wembley across
Saturday and Sunday late in April. Four teams, all from the Premier League, remain in with a chance of lifting one of the world’s most famous trophies, all just two victories away from the prize.
In the first semifinal, Chelsea will take on Manchester City in what promises to be an intriguing game between Thomas Tuchel’s Londoners side and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Chelsea have, at the time of writing, already assured themselves of a Champions League semifinal berth and City look well set to join them if they can avoid defeat in Dortmund on Wednesday night.
The second semifinal features the two teams who are the outsiders to win the trophy. Leicester City are hoping to reach their first FA Cup Final since the 1968/69 season. The Foxes have never won the trophy, while their opponents Southampton have also reached four finals, the last in 2003, but they have won the trophy once previously (in 1976).
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Let’s now take a look ahead to the two games taking place this weekend, with the first semifinal on Saturday featuring the two teams that are most people’s favourites to win the trophy. All odds shown below were correct at the time of writing with bet365 Sport.
FA Cup Semi Finals Preview
Chelsea v Manchester City
- Date: Saturday 17th April
- Kick Off: 5.30pm
- Chelsea Odds: 15/4
- Man City Odds: 3/4
- Draw At 90 Mins Odds: 13/5
- Referee: Mike Dean
Chelsea
How They Reached Wembley
- 3rd Round – V Morecambe (H) W 4-0 (Mount, Werner, Hudson-Odoi, Havertz)
- 4th Round – V Luton Town (H) W 3-1 (Abraham 3)
- 5th Round – V Barnsley (A) W 1-0 (Abraham)
- Quarterfinal – V Sheffield United (H) W 2-0 (Norwood OG, Ziyech)
Current Form: LWWLWWdW
A midweek defeat to FC Porto wasn’t damaging as Chelsea progressed in the Champions League anyway 2-1 on aggregate. However, they have now lost two of their last four games in all competitions ahead of their game with City.
Team News
Champions League semi-finalists Chelsea will likely name a very strong for the game with City and in truth, I can’t see Thomas Tuchel making too many changes to the team that played on Tuesday. Alonso could give Chilwell a rest at left back while Werner or Abraham could replace Pulisic and Ziyech could replace Havertz, but I think the temptation will be to just rest one or two from that game on Tuesday.
Predicted XI – (4-3-3) – Mendy, James, Alonso, Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger, Kante, Jorginho, Mount, Ziyech, Abraham
Manchester City
How They Reached Wembley
- 3rd Round – V Birmingham City (H) W 3-0 (B.Silva 2, Foden)
- 4th Round – V Cheltenham Town (A) W 3-1 (Foden, Jesus, Torres)
- 5th Round – V Swansea City (A) W 3-1 (Walker, Sterling, Jesus)
- Quarterfinal – V Everton (A) W 2-0 (Gundogan, De Bruyne)
Current Form: LWWWWWW
City have won eight of their last ten and in fact, they have lost just twice in over 30 games. The Premier League Champions-elect are still pushing hard on four fronts (ahead of Wednesday night’s Champions League tie) and next week take on Spurs in the Carabao Cup final, the first part of a possible domestic treble.
Team News
Having played on Wednesday, I think Pep Guardiola is likely to rotate a couple of players for this game. I can see the likes of Fernandinho, Aguero, Sterling, Bernardo Silva and Zinchenko perhaps starting the game, but that would depend largely on which one of those plays on Wednesday night against Dortmund.
Predicted XI – (4-3-3): Ederson, Walker, Zinchenko, Dias, Stones, Rodrigo, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva.B, Sterling, Aguero
Match Tips And Result Prediction
- Manchester City to win – 3/4
- Correct Score – Chelsea 1-3 Manchester City – 14/1
- Anytime Goalscorer – Raheem Sterling (Man City) – 7/4
Leicester City v Southampton
- Date: Sunday 18th April
- Kick Off: 4.30pm
- Leicester City Odds: 17/20
- Southampton Odds: 3/1
- Draw At 90 Mins Odds: 13/5
- Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Leicester City
How They Reached Wembley
- 3rd Round – V Stoke City (A) W 4-0 (Justin, Albrighton, Perez, Barnes)
- 4th Round – V Brentford (A) W 3-1 (Under, Tielemans, Maddison)
- 5th Round – V Brighton (H) W 1-0 (Iheanacho)
- Quarterfinal – V Manchester United (H) W 3-1 (Iheanacho 2, Tielemans)
Current Form: LLWWWDLL
The Foxes have won just three of their last eight games, but that has included a win over Manchester United in the previous round of this cup. However, with some internal disciplinary issues, the Foxes are going to beed to put that, plus two defeats in their last two games behind them on Sunday afternoon.
Team News
After omitting Hamza Choudhary, Ayoze Perez and James Maddison from his squad for last weekend’s game for disciplinary reasons, Brendan Rodgers will recall the trio for this semifinal, and they will be needed after a second defeat for Leicester last weekend. Iheanacho will likely keep his place in attack after being the Foxes main goal threat in recent games.
Predicted XI – (3-5-2): Schmeichel, Fofana, Evans, Amartey, Castagne, Pereira, Ndidi, Tielemans, Maddison, Vardy, Iheanacho
Southampton
How They Reached Wembley
- 3rd Round – V Shrewsbury Town (H) W 2-0 (Nlundulu, Ward-Prowse)
- 4th Round – V Arsenal (H) W 1-0 (Gabriel OG)
- 5th Round – V Wolves (A) W 2-0 (Ings, Armstrong)
- Quarterfinal – V Bournemouth (A) W 3-0 (Djenepo, Redmond 2)
Current Form: LWWLLWLL
The FA Cup has provided some solace for Saints fans in recent times as they have struggled to pick up wins in the Premier League. They face a Leicester City side that inflicted a 9-0 defeat on them at St Mary’s last season. Five defeats in the last eight games doesn’t bode well for this cup semi.
Team News
Southampton boss Ralph Hassenhutl has consistently named strong sides in the FA Cup this year and I think he will do so once again here and that could mean that despite a 3-0 reverse at West Brom last weekend, most of those players will get a chance to take Southampton into a fifth FA Cup Final in the team’s history.
Predicted XI – (4-4-2): Forster, Walker-Peters, Bertrand, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Djenepo, Ward Prowse, Redmond, Armstrong, Walcott, Ings
Match Tips And Result Prediction
- Leicester City to win – 17/20
- Correct Score – Leicester City 2-1 Southampton – 15/2
- Anytime Goalscorer – Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester) – 5/4