Football Results

The last round of 16 match of the FA Cup is clash between two unequal teams, given that the home team, Wigan, currently competes in the third division of English football system, while the guests from Manchester are just one step away from winning a new title in the Premier League. True, in 2013 and 2014 Wigan managed to defeat the Citizens, who in between those two matches had an upper hand in the League Cup.

Wigan

In the meantime difference in quality between the two teams has significantly increased in the Citizen’s favour. Everyone in Wigan is well aware of the task ahead of them in this match. However, in two previous rounds of the FA Cup Wigan had opponents from the Premier League too, but it won at home Bournemouth and West Hem, and its fans believe that their team can put up a decent resistance to leading team of the Premier League.

It is expected that manager of the visiting team, Pep Guardiola, sends the 2nd team on the pitch in this match unlike his counterpart from Wigan, Cook, who simply has no choice than to start the match with his strongest team. At the moment Wigan occupies the second place in the League One, where it has just one point fewer than leading Shrewsbury, meaning it is on good path to expressly return to the Championship. Let’s add that due to injuries currently out of action are only stopper Morgan and midfielder MacDonald.

Probable lineups Wigan: Walton – Burne, Dunkley, Burn, Elder – Morsy, Power – Jacobs, Powell, Massey – Grigg

Manchester City

It is unnecessary repetition to say that leading team of the Premier League and most probably new champions of England are absolute favourites to win this round of 16 match of the FA Cup, but we are all well aware that Cup matches often bring surprises, especially if objectively stronger team doesn’t play maximally seriously. True, Guardiola players did a routine job in two previous rounds of the FA Cup against Burnley and Cardiff, and they recently become finalists of the League Cup.

Besides, the Citizens have practically secured last week a place in the quarter-final of Champions League after they won the 1st leg with Swiss Basel by even 4-0. Regarding the Premier League, just a couple of points separate the City from mathematical confirmation that they are new champions of England, given that at the moment they have even 16 points more than 2nd-placed Manchester United. Let’s add that due to injuries this match should skip defender Mendy, midfielder Toure and forward Jesus.

Probable lineups Manchester City: Bravo – Danilo, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko – Gundogan, Foden, D. Silva – B. Silva, Aguero, Sane

Verdict:

Of course that leading team of the Premier League is regarded as an absolute favourite to win this FA Cup match, but given that the City will probably play with the 2nd team and that third-division Wigan had eliminated two Premier League teams, Bournemouth and West Ham, in two previous rounds we wouldn’t be surprised at all if they put up a fierce resistance to the Citizens.

Pick:  Asian handicap +2.25 Wigan 1.86 - 86/100 @1XBet