Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion
2018/19 FA CUP
Semi-Final 1
Wembley Stadium, London
Saturday, April 6th
Premier League leaders Manchester City will set aside their top-flight duties this weekend as they make their way to Wembley for the first of this season’s
FA Cup semi-finals. Standing in their way are Brighton and Hove Albion – the Seagulls, placed 15
th on the log, are aiming to reach only their second-ever FA Cup final as they in 1983, narrowly missing out lifting on the trophy as they were defeated 4-0 following a replay against Manchester United.
The duo both had to claw themselves back from the depths of despair, each winning their quarter-final match-up after being two goals down on the night to Swansea and Millwall respectively with the latter coming through a nervy penalty shootout to seal their spot at the National Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side recorded their eighth straight league win on Wednesday to send them back to the summit of English football for the time-being. They eased past relegation threatened Cardiff City 2-0 - their 13
th victory in-a-row in all competitions since the start of February.
The Citizens top-scorer Sergio Aguero missed the midweek win through injury and could be rested on Saturday with a UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur looming on the horizon. The Sky Blues will travel to the new 62 000-seater stadium for the first-leg on Tuesday.
Manchester City recent results:
03/04/2019 – Man City 2-0 Cardiff
30/03/2019 – Fulham 0-2 Man City
16/03/2019 – Swansea 2-3 Man City (FAC)
Brighton and Hove Albion knocked Manchester City out of the competition, in the fourth round, en route to the final in 1983 and the travelling party to Wembley on Saturday will certainly be hoping for a repeat of that famous feat. Pascal Gross has failed to recover from his hamstring injury in time while fellow midfield lynchpin Solly March is also a doubt for the weekend.
Chris Hughton’s side are without a win in their last two matches, after back-to-back defeats against Southampton and Chelsea respectively leaves their top-flight aspirations hanging in the balance with just six matches left to play.
Brighton & Hove Albion recent results:
03/04/2019 – Chelsea 3-0 Brighton
30/03/2019 – Brighton 0-1 Southampton
17/03/2019 – Millwall 2-2 Brighton*
*Brighton won 5-4 on penalties
Man City will be looking to make it three consecutive victories against Albion since their last meeting in a cup competition when Brighton sent City crashing out of the League Cup on penalties in the second round back in 2008, prior to all their rags and riches that the club has become so synonymous with in recent years.
Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero were both on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win for the home team when the sides met at the Etihad earlier in the season. The return fixture is scheduled for the final day of the season where both the fate of relegation and/or the destination of title could be on the line for either side.
Manchester City vs Brighton recent head-to-head:
29/09/2018 – Man City 2-0 Brighton
09/05/2018 – Man City 3-1 Brighton
17/08/2017 – Brighton 0-2 Man City
24/09/2008 – Brighton 2-2 Man City**
**Brighton won 5-3 on penalties
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