Two teams less than five miles apart but separated by 64 places in the English football pyramid meet at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, as Manchester City play host to Salford City in the third round of the FA Cup.
The Citizens and the Ammies will butt heads for the very first time, with the visitors preparing for their debut in the third round of the competition.
Match preview
© Imago
After ending 2024 on a much-needed high with a 2-0 win at Leicester City, Man City kick-started 2025 with a 4-1 victory at home to West Ham United last weekend, courtesy of two goals from Erling Haaland, one from Phil Foden and a man-of-the-match display from Savinho, who directly contributed to three of the hosts' four goals.
Man City's performance was by no means perfect, though, and Pep Guardiola has insisted that the champions-in-crisis - still sitting sixth in the Premier League table and two points behind the top four - are "absolutely not" back to their best just yet.
Before shifting their attention to important Premier League and Champions League fixtures later this month, the Citizens will begin their quest to win an eighth FA Cup this weekend and their third in the last seven years under Guardiola.
Last season's losing finalists to rivals Manchester United have progressed to at least the semi-final stage of the FA Cup in each of the last six years, while they have not been eliminated from the third round since losing 3-2 to the Red Devils in 2012. Including replays, Man City have won their last 11 third-round ties by an impressive aggregate score of 46-4.
The Citizens have also had plenty of success against teams from lower divisions in domestic cup competitions, winning each of their last 24 such matches (across both the FA Cup and EFL Cup) by an aggregate score of 88-12, since losing 2-1 at home to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup sixth round in 2018.
© Imago
Salford City have made history as they have progressed to the third round of the FA Cup for the first time after beating fellow League Two side Cheltenham Town 2-0 in the second round at the end of November.
That victory represents one of eight without reply that Karl Robinson's men have celebrated in their last nine matches across all competitions, and a superb six-game winning streak in the fourth tier has propelled them into the promotion picture.
The Ammies extended their fine run of form with a narrow 1-0 success at Robinson's former club MK Dons last weekend, courtesy of a first-half goal from Hakeeb Adelakun, and they have climbed up to third in the League Two standings, with only two points separating themselves and second-placed Crewe Alexandra with Doncaster Rovers down in seventh spot.
Salford are now preparing for just their third-ever meeting with Premier League opposition, having previously lost 3-0 away against Everton (2020) and 4-0 at home to Burnley (2023) in the EFL Cup.
Even though Robinson has admitted that it will be "very hard" for his in-form Salford side to keep a clean sheet in Saturday's clash with Man City, he has insisted that his team will continue to "play the same way" against a Citizens outfit that have won each of their previous 17 matches when facing an opponent for the first time.
Team News
© Imago
Man City trio Rodri (ACL), Ruben Dias (muscle) and John Stones (ankle) remain sidelined, and Ederson (knock) is a doubt, while Oscar Bobb has made a welcome return to training this week after over four months out with a leg fracture, although Saturday's game may come too soon for the attacker.
Guardiola is expected to ring the changes, with academy starlets Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, James McAtee, Nico O'Rielly and Jacob Wright all in contention to feature. Meanwhile, Divin Mubama - a summer signing from West Ham - could be handed his City debut up front, with Haaland expected to be one of several senior stars rested.
Seeking to prove his worth under Guardiola, out-of-form Jack Grealish will be pushing to start on the left flank, while the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Matheus Nunes and Jeremy Doku could also be recalled.
As for Salford, they are set to be without James Chester, Dan Chesters, Kelly Nmai, Francis Okoronkwo and Josh Austerfield as they continue to recover from injury, while Ben Woodburn will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Robinson is expected to name a strong starting lineup that includes top scorer Cole Stockton, who has netted six of his nine goals this season across his last nine appearances.
A back three of captain Curtis Tilt, Liam Shephard and Luke Garbutt - who has been nominated for December's League Two Player of the Month award - is set to remain intact, while key duo Tyrese Fornah and Ossama Ashley could be joined in midfield by Ryan Watson.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ortega; Walker, Simpson-Pusey, Akanji, Wilson-Esbrand; O'Reilly, Gundogan; Doku, McAtee, Grealish; Mubama
Salford City possible starting lineup:
Young; Shephard, Tilt, Garbutt; Taylor, Watson, Ashley, Fornah, Berkoe; Adelakun, Stockton
We say: Manchester City 3-0 Salford City
The unpredictable nature of the FA Cup is what makes the prestigious competition so special, and even though Salford City enter Saturday's contest as huge underdogs, they will have their tails up heading to the Etihad as they boast a strong run of form.
Man City are expected to make changes, but Guardiola potentially leaning on youthful, energetic and hungry players who are keen to stake a claim for more first-team opportunities may actually play into their hands, and we are backing the hosts to secure safe passage through to the fourth round.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
