Manchester City -165 Favorites to Win FA Cup Ahead of Semifinals

• Can Manchester City overcome recent losses to Chelsea and Manchester United as they seek to defend their FA Cup title?
• Three of City’s four most recent losses have come against the Blues and Red Devils, who both currently enjoy lengthy unbeaten streaks
• Read on to learn more about where the value is in the FA Cup odds

Manchester City kept their 30-month unbeaten streak in FA Cup action alive this past weekend with a decisive 2-0 victory in their quarterfinal matchup with Newcastle United. With the win, City now advances to the semifinals for the third time in four years and has emerged as a heavy -165 favorite to successfully defend their FA Cup crown.

Odds to Win 2020 FA Cup

Odds taken June 29

Can City Maintain FA Cup Dominance?

City have owned the FA Cup competition over the past two years, outscoring opponents by a wide 37-4 margin while marching to victory in 10 straight tournament contests since getting bounced from the fifth round of the 2018 FA Cup with a stunning 1-0 loss to Wigan Athletic. Now set to face Arsenal FC in a semifinal matchup at Wembley Stadium on July 18, and with Liverpool FC having already clinched the Premier League title, the Citizens will use the five EPL matches beforehand as preparation for their title defense.

FA CUP last four years winner

2016: Manchester United
2017: Arsenal
2018: Chelsea
2019: Manchester City

2020:???

— OO. Adeyinka (@shola_adeyinka) June 28, 2020

Thursday’s league clash with the Reds at Etihad Stadium will serve as a solid test for City, which has struggled at times in recent dates with top-flight opponents. After suffering back-to-back losses to Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in late January/early February, the club embarked on a five-match win streak against largely feeble competition, including West Ham, Aston Villa, and Sheffield Wednesday, before once again falling to the Red Devils by a 2-0 score in their final contest before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Premier League to shut down in mid-March.

Their recent return to play produced wins over Arsenal and Burnley, but once again City came up short against stiff competition in last week’s 2-1 loss to Chelsea. Considering that three of their four most recent defeats have come at the hands of the two clubs that will battle it out in the other FA Cup semifinal, do the Citizens deserve to be perched as such lofty favorites?

Manchester United Poised to Dethrone City

Chelsea and Manchester United enter the summer months as two of the hottest clubs in English soccer. With their 2-1 victory over Norwich City in FA Cup quarterfinal action, the Red Devils extended their current unbeaten run across all competitions to 14 matches. The club’s current tear has lifted them into contention for a spot above the line, giving them plenty to play for over the five league matches against largely inferior opponents prior to their semifinal date with the Blues.

During Manchester United's current 13 game unbeaten run, 33 goals have been scored with 3 conceded, resulting in 10 clean sheets. Opponents include Man City x2, Chelsea, Tottenham, Wolves and Sheffield. Pogba & Rashford have been available for selection twice

— Elliott (@URelliott) June 24, 2020

And unlike City, who have struggled to maintain discipline and have lost star striker Sergio Aguero to a knee injury that may have ended his season, the Red Devils enter July at full health. It is a similar story for Chelsea, whose 1-0 blanking of Leicester City in the quarterfinals marked their fifth straight win. In addition, last week’s 2-1 win over City marked their second victory in five meetings with the defending FA Cup champions.

Chelsea Own City, Can They Get Past the Red Devils?

The Blues have proven effective at shutting down the City attack, keeping clean sheets in each of their past three meetings with the Citizens ahead of Etihad Stadium. That’s a trend that extends to their recent outings, with Chelsea allowing just two total goals during their current 5-0-0 run, and just 16 total goals over their past 15 matches. The Blues have also enjoyed regular success in this tournament, raising the trophy on five occasions since 2007.

#Chelsea’s last five games in all competitions! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/vLTz7cFmDe

— Talk Chelsea (@talkchelsea) June 28, 2020

However, if the Blues are to make it to the FA Cup Final, they’ll have to do something they haven’t done in over two years, defeat Manchester United. Chelsea have failed to score in three of five meetings with the Red Devils, capped by a 2-0 loss in league play back in February.

Of course, Arsenal cannot be overlooked as a candidate to win this year’s FA Cup. The Gunners earned a spot in the semifinal in thrilling fashion, potting the winner in the 90th minute in this weekend’s 2-1 victory over Sheffield United. But after scoring just once during a dismal six-match losing streak against City, Arsenal offer little value as a +1000 longshot in the FA Cup odds.

Pick: Manchester United (+400)