Manchester City will be back in the saddle as they welcome a Huddersfield Town side for their FA Cup replay. City have hit a purple patch in recent weeks when it comes to goals and unlike in the middle of the season where they failed to put away the chances created, now they are at least capitalising on them. Sergio Aguero looks rejuvenated after his unexpected return to the starting XI following an unfortunate injury to Gabriel Jesus. With a Premier League game just days after the Cup replay, it is safe to assume that they will probably not be playing their full strength team.
But Huddersfield have shown their potential, that too with a fairly weakened team. Although we are expecting to see a similar team with the main priority being their promotion to the Premier League. Both the teams have a unique record of not having conceded a single goal till now but it is going to change after the replay.
TRIVIA
- The teams have met in two previous FA Cup ties, with Manchester City winning both, although they needed two replays in the most recent meeting in 1988.
- Huddersfield’s club record defeat is the 10-1 loss to Manchester City in Division Two in November 1987.
- City are unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions (W5, D2).
- They have won just one of their last four FA Cup games against lower league opposition (D1, L2).
- Pep Guardiola has never been knocked out of a cup competition by lower league opposition in his managerial career.
- Yaya Toure has scored in both rounds of the FA Cup so far this season.
- Huddersfield are unbeaten in nine matches in all competitions (W7, D2).
- Like Manchester City, Huddersfield have scored eight goals without conceding any so far in this season’s FA Cup.
- The Terriers haven’t reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup since 1971-72.
- Huddersfield won the FA Cup in 1922.
TEAM NEWS & PREDICTED LINE-UPS
MANCHESTER CITY (4-1-4-1)
Manchester City defender Gael Clichy is likely to be available after a back problem. Skipper Vincent Kompany remains unavailable but could soon be playing in front of his fans if his recovery good at a steady pace.
Bravo; Zabaleta, Otamendi, Kolarov, Clichy; Fernando; Toure, Delph; Navas, Nolito; Iheanacho
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (4-2-3-1)
Huddersfield will be without midfielder Aaron Mooy, who is ineligible against his parent club. Nakhi Wells picked up an ankle injury in training last Friday. Kasey Palmer still has a hamstring issue.
Coleman; Cranie, Hudson, Stankovic, Holmes-Dennis; Whitehead, Billing; Lolley, Payne, Van La Parra; Quaner
BETTING ODDS
MANCHESTER CITY- 1/7
DRAW- 9/1
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN- 20/1
TRIVIA COURTESY- OPTA
