For many years, the semifinals of the FA Cup would have been played at a neutral venue at one of the top grounds in the country, such as Villa Park, Old Trafford, Anfield, Goodison Park or similar. However, a move a few years back to play both semifinals at Wembley proved a big hit and now it has become customary for the games to be played there across one weekend in April.
That weekend is now here and on Saturday we will see the first of the two games taking place as Chelsea take on Manchester City with the Londoners hoping to end the Citizens hopes of winning the trophy for the second time in three years.
Then a day later, Leicester City will be hoping to reach their fifth FA Cup Final in their history, their first since 1969, when they take on a Southampton side also seeking to reach their fifth final. While the Foxes have lost all four FA Cup Finals they have contested, Southampton have won once, back in 1976 and their last appearance in the final came back in 2002.
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We are now going to preview both of the semifinal clashes this weekend in a bit more detail, giving you information on each of the two teams competing, as well as our tips for the bets to back in each game. All odds shown below were correct at the time of writing with bet365 Sport.
FA Cup Semi Finals Preview
Chelsea v Manchester City
- Date: Saturday 17th April
- Kick Off: 5.30pm
- Chelsea Odds: 15/4
- Man City Odds: 3/4
- Draw At 90 Mins Odds: 13/5
- Referee: Mike Dean
Chelsea Preview
How Chelsea Reached Wembley
- 3rd Round – V Morecambe (H) W 4-0 (Mount, Werner, Hudson-Odoi, Havertz)
- 4th Round – V Luton Town (H) W 3-1 (Abraham 3)
- 5th Round – V Barnsley (A) W 1-0 (Abraham)
- Quarterfinal – V Sheffield United (H) W 2-0 (Norwood OG, Ziyech)
Recent Form: LWWLWWdWWd
Team News
After their 2-1 aggregate win over FC Porto in midweek booked them a place in the Champions League semifinals, I don’t think Thomas Tuchel will be looking to make mass changes for this tie. City are going to pose a huge threat and anything less than Chelsea’s strongest team is not likely to be good enough to give them a chance of victory.
Predicted Chelsea XI – (5-3-2): Mendy, James, Chilwell, Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger, Kante, Jorginho, Mount, Havertz, Pulisic
Manchester City Preview
How Man City Reached Wembley
- 3rd Round – V Birmingham City (H) W 3-0 (B.Silva 2, Foden)
- 4th Round – V Cheltenham Town (A) W 3-1 (Foden, Jesus, Torres)
- 5th Round – V Swansea City (A) W 3-1 (Walker, Sterling, Jesus)
- Quarterfinal – V Everton (A) W 2-0 (Gundogan, De Bruyne)
Recent Form: LWWWWWWLW
Team News
Depending on whether City pick up any injuries or issues from their Champions League quarterfinal against Dortmund tonight, I d expect Pep Guardiola to rotate a couple of players for this FA Cup Semifinal. I don’t expect City to play a hugely changed team but a couple of key rotations for freshness, perhaps in the full back areas and midfield may be in Pep’s mind. Sergio Aguero could also be a consideration in attack as he approaches the end of his City career.
Predicted Man City XI – (4-3-3): Ederson, Walker, Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Rodrigo, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Silva.B, Mahrez, Aguero
Match Result Prediction & Other Betting Tips
This is a tough one to call. City would have been my easy pick not so long ago but they have looked beatable in the past couple of weeks. Chelsea though have also looked equally beatable and of the two sides, I still feel City are the team most likely to dominate and win the game.
My picks for this game would be a Manchester City win (3/4) and for a correct score in the match of 2-1 to Manchester City (15/2) and for an anytime goalscorer bet, you can back Kevin De Bruyne to score at 7/4.
Leicester City v Southampton
- Date: Sunday 18th April
- Kick Off: 4.30pm
- Leicester City Odds: 17/20
- Southampton Odds: 3/1
- Draw At 90 Mins Odds: 13/5
- Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Leicester City Preview
How Leicester Reached Wembley
- 3rd Round – V Stoke City (A) W 4-0 (Justin, Albrighton, Perez, Barnes)
- 4th Round – V Brentford (A) W 3-1 (Under, Tielemans, Maddison)
- 5th Round – V Brighton (H) W 1-0 (Iheanacho)
- Quarterfinal – V Manchester United (H) W 3-1 (Iheanacho 2, Tielemans)
Recent Form: LLWWWDLLWd
Team News
After being disciplined last week by the club, James Maddison, Ayoze Perez and Hamza Choudhary should return to the team for the semifinal. Of those players, I only expect Maddison to go straight back into the team behind Vardy and Iheanacho in attack with the other two players, if fit, likely to start on the bench.
Predicted XI – (3-5-2): Schmeichel, Fofana, Evans, Amartey, Castagne, Pereira, Ndidi, Tielemans, Maddison, Vardy, Iheanacho
Southampton Preview
How Southampton Reached Wembley
- 3rd Round – V Shrewsbury Town (H) W 2-0 (Nlundulu, Ward-Prowse)
- 4th Round – V Arsenal (H) W 1-0 (Gabriel OG)
- 5th Round – V Wolves (A) W 2-0 (Ings, Armstrong)
- Quarterfinal – V Bournemouth (A) W 3-0 (Djenepo, Redmond 2)
Recent Form: LWWLLWLLDL
Team News
Southampton have always tended to pick strong teams in the FA Cup, even in the earlier rounds and it has served them well in the competition so far. I expect Danny INgs and Theo Walcott to return to the team in attack here, with Djenepo and Redmond tasked with providing the supply from wide and Ward Prowse from midfield.
Predicted XI – (4-4-2): Forster, Walker-Peters, Bertrand, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Djenepo, Ward Prowse, Redmond, Armstrong, Walcott, Ings
Match Result Prediction & Other Betting Tips
Last season, Leicester beat Southampton 9-0 at St Mary’s but I think this semifinal will be very difficult. Back in the 1989 season, Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 9-0, but Palace exacted revenge with a 4-3 FA Cup Semifinal win in one of the classic games in the history of the tournament. Leicester will want to avoid that fate here.
I think they will as Southampton are not in very good form at the moment and I think the Foxes have by far the more talented side. Back Leicester to win (17/20) and I think the Foxes should run out comfortable 3-1 winners (14/1) and as an anytime goalscorer pick Kelechi Iheanacho at 5/4 would be my selection.