FA Cup | Third Round

Jan 11, 2025 at 5.45pm UK

Etihad Stadium

Man City vs Salford City

Match preview

After ending 2024 on a much-needed high with a 2-0 win at Leicester City, Man City kicked off 2025 with a 4-1 home win over West Ham United last weekend, thanks to two goals from Erling Haaland, one from Phil Foden and a man-of-the-match display from Savinho, who had a hand in three of the hosts' four goals.

Man City's performance was far from perfect, however, and Pep Guardiola has insisted that the reigning champions - who sit sixth in the Premier League table, two points outside the top four - are "absolutely not" back to their best.

Before turning their attention to the Premier League and Champions League later this month, the Citizens will begin their quest for an eighth FA Cup and third in the last seven years under Guardiola this weekend.

Last season's finalists against rivals Manchester United have reached at least the semi-finals of the FA Cup in each of the last six years, while they have not been knocked out in 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 enjoyed plenty of success against lower-division sides in domestic cup competitions, winning their last 24 such matches (in both the FA Cup and EFL Cup) by a combined score of 88-12 since losing 2-1 at home to Wigan Athletic in the sixth round of the FA Cup in 2018.