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Manchester City to face Birmingham City in FA Cup

By J.C. Gonzalez

PORTO, PORTUGAL - DECEMBER 01: Ferran Torres of Manchester City in action during the UEFA Champions League Group C stage match between FC Porto and Manchester City at Estadio do Dragao on December 1, 2020 in Porto, Portugal. Sporting stadiums around Portugal remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
PORTO, PORTUGAL - DECEMBER 01: Ferran Torres of Manchester City in action during the UEFA Champions League Group C stage match between FC Porto and Manchester City at Estadio do Dragao on December 1, 2020 in Porto, Portugal. Sporting stadiums around Portugal remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images) /
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Manchester City will face Championship side Birmingham City in their opening match of the FA Cup this January.

Manchester City will open their FA Cup campaign on January 9 at the Etihad Stadium against Birmingham City. They currently sit 18th in the Championship table after 15 matches played, and City will be fully expecting a result at home.

The Citizens will be looking for redemption in this year’s competition after their surprise semi-final defeat to eventual FA Cup winners Arsenal. With the FA Cup set to start on time this year, the fixtures will continue to come thick and fast for a City team that remain alive in the Carabao Cup and Champions League.

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A busy December separates City from the beginning of the FA Cup, and while the squad is fully fit at the moment, the match against Birmingham could be an opportunity for some crucial rotation. Younger players could also see an opportunity, but given manager Pep Guardiola’s burning desire to win every match possible, the likelihood of seeing a strong team remains. There were some lower league sides in the draw, but on the whole City should consider themselves fortunate to be drawing competition on the lower end of the second tier.

The FA Cup is not the top priority, but reclaiming England’s premier cup after last season’s defeat would be an exciting achievement. City will be viewed among the favorites given their incredible record in domestic cups under Guardiola, and the journey toward winning the second FA Cup of the Catalan’s tenure is set to get underway in just over a month with a favorable draw.

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