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Manchester City-Birmingham Preview: FA Cup Begins

By J.C. Gonzalez

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 21: Sergio Aguero of Manchester City celebrates scoring the first goal from a penalty during the UEFA Champions League Group C stage match between Manchester City and FC Porto at Etihad Stadium on October 21, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around the UK 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 Visionhaus)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 21: Sergio Aguero of Manchester City celebrates scoring the first goal from a penalty during the UEFA Champions League Group C stage match between Manchester City and FC Porto at Etihad Stadium on October 21, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around the UK 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 Visionhaus) /
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After reaching the final of the Carabao Cup by defeating Manchester United, City’s attention now turns to the other domestic cup competition.

Manchester City are set to get their FA Cup campaign underway with a Third Round tie at home against Championship side Birmingham City. City were unable to retain the trophy last season, which they captured during the domestic treble-winning campaign of 2018/19. In a shocking result, Pep Guardiola’s men were eliminated by Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at the semi-final stage, and will be seeking redemption in 2021.

The road to Wembley begins with a match where City will be universally expected to progress. Birmingham are winless in their last 12 matches away to City in all competitions, with 10 defeats showing the Citizens’ dominance of the fixture. Given the team’s recent run of form, there will only be one result expected, but as per usual, the “magic of the cup” has the potential to strike on any given day.

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Birmingham currently sit 18th in the Championship table, on 23 points from their first 23 matches. In the league, they are looking to avoid being pulled into a relegation scrap while local rivals Aston Villa continue to flourish in the Premier League. There should only be one winner from City’s cup tie as they look to redeem themselves from last season’s exit, but avoiding a major upset is always easier said than done.

The Citizens have won five matches in a row in all competitions, and extending that record would be a huge positive as they look to assert themselves and ascend toward the Premier League summit. Guardiola is short on options at the moment, but there is more than enough talent to get the job done, and this could even be the perfect moment for Sergio Agüero to make his full return to the starting lineup.

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Predicted XI: Zack Steffen (GK), Kyle Walker (RB), Taylor Harwood-Bellis (CB), Rúben Dias (CB), Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB), Rodri (CDM), Fernandinho (CDM), Phil Foden (CAM), Riyad Mahrez (RW), Sergio Agüero (ST), Raheem Sterling (LW)