Current FA Cup holders Manchester City are gearing up for their third-round clash against Championship side Huddersfield Town. As Pep Guardiola & Co. embark on another FA Cup journey, anticipation fills the air for what promises to be a thrilling encounter. Last year, Manchester City lifted the trophy after defeating Manchester United, completing their historic domestic double. The Cityzens aim for a repeat, but their path starts with a straightforward encounter against Huddersfield Town.

City are overwhelming favorites to march towards the next round in the FA Cup. Whereas, the Terriers, with just one win in their last five games, face an uphill battle ahead. Let’s explore all the critical angles you need to know ahead of the clash.

Manchester City v Huddersfield Town Team News

The defending FA Cup champions boast a relatively stable squad, unaffected by the Africa Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup. However, Guardiola will have to manage the absence of three vital stars due to injuries. Erling Haaland, nearing a return, looks likely to be kept cautious and probably start on the bench, while John Stones and Jeremy Doku will miss out due to injuries. City’s star Kevin De Bruyne, featured on the bench in the last game of 2023, is anticipated to make a comeback after a prolonged absence.

Likewise, Huddersfield faces a significant challenge due to the international competitions. Charles Ondo and Yuta Nakayama will be unavailable due to international commitments. The Terriers also grapple with an injury crisis, with Jaheim Headley, Oliver Turton, Patrick Jones, and Jonathan Hogg spending time on the sidelines.

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Starting Manchester City Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol, Gomez; Lewis, Kovacic; Bobb, Foden, Grealish; Alvarez.

Expected Huddersfield Town Lineup (3-5-2): Nicholls; Lees, Ayina, Helik; Kasumu, Rudoni, Wiles, Diarra, Edmonds-Green; Thomas, Koroma.

Key Stats and Prediction

• Manchester City has been prolific at Etihad Stadium. Guardiola’s men have scored two or more goals in eight of their last ten matches.
• The defending champions have won 13 of their last 20 matches while maintaining an unbeaten streak in the previous four games.

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Prediction: A formidable Manchester City side is expected to dominate, with a predicted score-line of 4-0.

Head-to-Head History

Huddersfield Town faces an uphill battle to break the historical trend, having last won against Manchester City in November 1999. The head-to-head record weighs more in favor of Manchester City with 28 wins, while Huddersfield trails with 22 victories and 30 matches ended in a draw.

So, will City cruise to a comfortable victory, or will Huddersfield pull off a monumental upset? The answer, as always in the FA Cup, lies somewhere between the lines. It’ll be interesting to see who comes out on top.

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