Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
William Strickson

Man City vs Watford prediction: How will FA Cup final play out?

Follow live coverage and reaction after Manchester City thrashed Watford to win the FA Cup to win the domestic treble.

Pep Guardiola’s City side clinched the League Cup in the same stadium in March, beating Chelsea in a penalty shootout, and sealed their second successive Premier League title last weekend.

A dazzling display of attacking football saw them prove far too good for the overmatched Hornets. Here's how it played out:

Hello! Welcome along to our live coverage of the 2019 FA Cup final between Manchester City and Watford, as Pep Guardiola's team aim to clinch a unprecedented treble in the men's game of the Premier League, League Cup and FA Cup. But it is a momentous day for Watford too, who have never won a major trophy before and are back in their first FA Cup final since 1984. These opportunities don't come around too often. 
 
Michael will be here shortly with all the build-up and team news ahead of the match (1700 BST kick-off). In the meantime, here's Jonathan Liew's interview with Watford's Kiko Fermenia which is well worth a few minutes of your time.
Manchester City are in the house! 
There's nothing quite like a day at Wembley for the FA Cup final.
 
For Watford this will be a day long remembered and if they can pull off a spectacular win then that'll be the icing on the cake.
 
For Man City this is business as usual. Under Pep this team has worked to be in this position, to be playing in cup finals, and they won't accept anything other than a victory. 
 

Man City vs Watford

Team news
 
 
Team news
 
The big news is that 32-goal top scorer Sergio Aguero is on the bench for Manchester City. As is Kevin De Bruyne.
 
For Watfo​rd Jose Holebas starts after his red card against West Ham was rescinded earlier in the week.  
 
 
Whatever happens today history will be made.
 
Watford are playing in their first cup final since 1984 and are hoping to take home their piece of major silverware. 
 
Man City are going for the domestic treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup. They've already got two of the three and a win today would see them complete the set and become the only team to achieve the feat. 
38-year-old goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes starts for Watford today. 
 
It is expected that he will retire from the professional game after the match and what better way to go out than with a win in the FA Cup final. 
 
 

Team news

Pep Guardiola makes one change to the Man City side that claimed the Premier League title at Brighton last week.

Gabriel Jesus returns in his first start since the semi-final win over Brighton at the expense of Sergio Aguero.

Kevin de Bruyne is again on the bench and there is no place in the squad for Phil Foden.

Watford make two changes to the side that lost 4-1 at home to West Ham last Sunday.

Heurelho Gomes, starts in goal after playing in each round this season.

Adrian Mariappa also returns to the defence in place of Christian Kabasele, who is on the bench.

Man City vs Watford
 
Full teams.  

Jose Holebas starts after a nervous week of waiting to see if his red card would be rescinded: 

"It was a ridiculous red card in the last game. It was given and I'm happy that they took it back and that I can play today.

"It's a really big day today for the boys and the club.

"Man City have the most pressure. We can go into the game free and think about enjoying it. We can focus on what we've spoken about and in the end we'll see what the result is.

"The boys have to step up now because it's not just the last game of the season, it's a big game. I don't know if we can reach this again."

 
The beauty of the cup. 
Just under 15 minutes until kick off, who are we going for?
 
My heart says Watford but my head says Man City. 
Abide with me is sung all over the stadium as the FA Cup is brought out. It's almost time and we're all hoping it'll be a cracker.
Watford are bidding to become only the second, first time winners of the FA Cup in the last 31 years. 
 
The last first time winners of the FA Cup were Wigan Athletic in 2013 when they defeated Manchester City. 
 
Prince William shakes hands with all the players and wishes them good luck, the national anthem is sung and kick off is next!
KICK OFF
Man City 0 - 0 Watford
 
Watford get the game underway. They boot it forward to the left but the ball goes out of play. Zinchenko wins a corner for Man City as he brings it down the wing. Gundogan sends it in and Watford head it clear.
3 mins: ​Man City 0 - 0 Watford
 
Watford aren't able to penetrate forward with the ball as Man City press high. They give it away with long ball forward. The ball comes to Laporte who takes a shot and sends it high over the bar. 
6 mins: ​Man City 0 - 0 Watford
 
Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva combine on the right wing for City to get the ball into the box. The cross is floated in and Gomes catches it. Watford get it quickly down the right wing and into City's box but Ederson claims the ball and ends the danger. 
9 mins: ​Man City 0 - 0 Watford
 
As expected it's non-stop Manchester City pressure but so far Watford have been up to the challenge. Bernardo gets in behind the defence on the right and pulls it back for Jesus but Cathcart gets there first and boots it away. 
12 mins: ​Man City 0 - 0 Watford
 
Mahrez wins a corner for City and he whips it into the box. Kompany misses the header and Watford can break quickly after Zinchenko mistimes a pass. Deulofeu sprints down the right wing and cuts the defence with a pass to Pereyra. Pereyra is one-on-one with the goalkeeper and Ederson bombs off the line and makes the save with his foot. 
 
What a chance for Watford!

Please allow a moment for the blog to load

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.