May 25th 2024.
There is excitement brewing as Manchester United prepares for the FA Cup final showdown against Manchester City this afternoon. Fans and players alike are hoping for a return of their first choice defensive partnership, with Casemiro potentially making a comeback to the midfield. After a tough season at Old Trafford, United is looking to salvage some pride by winning the Cup, while City is aiming for a double after securing the Premier League title on the final day of the season.
United's defense has been plagued by injuries, but there is some good news as some key players have returned to fitness. Lisandro Martinez played the full 90 minutes in their last game against Brighton, and Raphael Varane made a successful comeback off the bench after being out since April with a muscle injury. The two haven't started a game together since February, and with Varane's impending exit from the team, this could be their last chance to play together. However, there will be one major absentee as Harry Maguire has been ruled out due to a muscle injury that has kept him out of action since April. Luke Shaw, who suffered a minor setback earlier this month, is also still recovering and is a major doubt for England's Euro 2024 campaign.
In training this week, Mason Mount was seen back with the team after suffering yet another injury leading up to their game against Arsenal. Along with him, Anthony Martial and Victor Lindelof were also back in training, giving United some much-needed options. Rasmus Hojlund, who has been impressive in their last two games off the bench, may also make a case for a starting spot, with manager ten Hag shifting to a 4-2-2-2 formation.
On the other hand, City will be without their first-choice goalkeeper Ederson, who suffered a fractured eye socket in their game against Tottenham last week. His replacement, Stefan Ortega, has been Guardiola's go-to in the FA Cup and is likely to start in the final. City has a relatively clean bill of health, with Jack Grealish and Nathan Ake returning to the squad in their last game against West Ham.
With both teams having strong lineups, it's anyone's game. City's Phil Foden, who scored twice in their last game, will be a key player to watch out for. As for United, all eyes will be on Bruno Fernandes, who has been operating as a false nine in their new formation. The predicted lineups for City and United include some surprise names, with Ortega and Onana likely to start in goal for their respective teams.
The FA Cup final is set to kick off at 3pm BST and will be broadcast live on BBC one and ITV1. For those unable to watch on TV, there will be live streaming available on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. It's sure to be an exciting match for both teams and fans, so be sure to tune in and see who will come out on top.
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