FA Cup Semi - Final - Manchester City v Manchester United

You can’t beat El Clasico but the Manchester Derby’s no back – number and you’ll get few bigger stages for the two to clash than an FA Cup semi – final.

 Starting with City (given that they are the “home side”), as said nearly word – for – word on Monday, their record against other big clubs is poor. A bore – draw against United was followed by a 2-1 loss at Old Trafford, while they were convincingly brushed aside by Chelsea at the Bridge (overlooking the fact they beat them at Eastlands) and they failed to win against Arsenal, suffering a 3-0 defeat at home.  This would suggest that Roberto Mancini looking to avoid defeat rather than seeking a win against other giants has generally failed this year.

They also couldn’t have had a worse dress rehearsal then when a soundly beaten 3-0 at Liverpool on Monday night (which made it 10 matches away from Eastlands without a win) in which they also lost their talisman Carlos Tevez to Injury.  

United can make their 10th FA Cup final of modern times

The FA Cup is City's last chance of silverware, and while it seems to many that they are well set to achieve their primary objective of securing Champions League football again next year, Tottenham are breathing down their necks and still have one game to play against them, so all’s not finished yet (just three points separate City from fifth-placed Tottenham).

This test is huge for the Blues, and also as every bit as big an opportunity as it is a potential season, ender, which has been factored into quotes as short as 3/1 for them to win in 90 minutes and 11/8 to qualify (why else would they be that short) .

However, Manchester United have lost only three times in the Premiership this year and come here on an absolute roll. 6 wins in their last 6 include a double over Chelsea, to take them closer to a treble for the first time since 1999, as well as wins over Bolton and West Ham to all but seal the Premiership.

United will also be hampered by the absence of Rooney, who has been in red-hot form of late, but have plenty of back-up options available, with Berbatov and Hernandez proving at least very able to The credentials for United in big games are impeccable, For instance, the Red Devils have lost only one of their previous nine semi-finals under, to Everton in 2009.

I’m not keen on overs (6/5) or unders (8/13) of 2.5, but the double results make for interesting reading. 11/4 with Stan James about a double result of United/United is fair but given that in five of City’s seven games against the Big Five, the half-time scoreline has been 0-0, Draw/United at 9/2 with Coral is the value if you feel so inclined. 4/7 United to qualify could be seen as a banker, but I’ll play is straight and simple and back United in 90 minutes at a general 11/10.

Advice

3 pts Manchester United to beat City (11/10 General)