Our prediction for this FA Cup match:
Man City
Match Time & Date:
01/03/2025
18:45
Prediction: 4-1
Plymouth
Manchester City and Plymouth face each other at Etihad Stadium in a David-vs-Goliath FA Cup game. The Citizens failed to defender their Premier League trophy and given their Champions League elimination, Pep Guardiola’s troops will be fully focused on the FA Cup in the remainder of the season. Even though Guardiola is expected to shuffle his pack, his men are seen as hot favourites to win Saturday’s encounter. Erling Haaland has overcome his injury, while all Oscar Bobb, Manuel Akanji, John Stones, and Rodri remain in the recovery room.
The Pilgrims, on the other hand, aim to claim yet another major scalp in the FA Cup after shocking Liverpool in the previous round, but given their poor away record in the Championship, anything but a routine home win would be a big surprise. All Ryan Hardie, Joe Edwards, and Brendan Galloway are out of contention with injuries for the visiting team.
Highlighted Player (Mateo Kovacic):
Born to Croatian parents in Linz, Austria, Mateo Kovacic spent seven years in the LASK Linz youth academy before joining Dinamo Zagreb, where he showed a great deal of potential shortly after being promoted to the senior squad.
The good return of 7 goals in 43 league appearances saw him secure a high-profile move to Inter Milan, where he acted as both holding midfielder and attacking midfielder, during the three years at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. And despite not exactly impressing in Italy, Kovacic was purchased by mighty Real Madrid, where he has been ever since. The youngster is widely regarded as one of Croatia’s most talented footballers at the moment and he has represented the country on international stage since the age of 19.
In just three years he managed to make over 25 appearances for the national team, playing at the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016 finals for Vatreni. Kovavic has yet to be given a real chance to impress at Real Madrid, but he has entire future ahead of him.
Highlighted Team (Plymouth):
Nicknamed the Pilgrims, Plymouth are a professional football club that host their rivals at Home Park. The stadium, which can hold up to 18,600 people, was built in 1892 and opened the following year. Plymouth footballers wear dark green jerseys and white shorts when playing in front of home fans, while light green and white are the dominant colours of their away kit.
The Pilgrims made it to the FA Cup semi-finals in the 1983-84 season, with the team advancing to the Football League Cup semis on two occasions (1964-65, 1973-74). The Pilgrims recorded their biggest win against Millwall on January 16, 1932, with the team beating the Lions 8-1, and they repeated the success in 1994 as they rolled over Hartlepool United in the Second Division.
The club suffered their heaviest defeat against Stoke City (0-9) on December 17, 1960. Fellow Devon teams Exeter City and Torquay United are seen as the club’s fiercest rivals.
Crystal Palace 
Millwall 
Preston
Burnley 
Bournemouth
Wolves
Napoli
Inter
Betis 
Real Madrid 
Atletico Madrid 
Athletic Bilbao 
