
After producing a seismic FA Cup shock within the fourth spherical, Plymouth Argyle should do it over again because the Championship aspect tackle Manchester City for a quarter-final place.
Miron Muslic’s second-tier strugglers stunned Premier League leaders Liverpool to proceed their cup run and arrange an encounter with one other of the highest flight’s giants. The hosts could also be out of the chase for silverware within the league and Europe however Pep Guardiola’s aspect are wanting stronger and stronger contenders on this competitors as lots of their rivals tumble out.
However their vulnerability was on show in a nervy outing against Leyton Orient within the earlier spherical, and their guests will hope to prey on any frailties this afternoon. Certainly one other giant-killing is past the Pilgrims? On this grand outdated competitors, by no means rule something out…
Follow all of the latest from the Etihad Stadium with our live blog below.
Match info
That is simply the second ever FA Cup assembly between Manchester Metropolis and Plymouth, with the Residents successful a fifth spherical tie at Maine Highway 3-1 in 1987-88 beforehand.
Plymouth have misplaced every of their final 5 conferences with Man Metropolis in all competitions.
Argyle have had 44 earlier FA Cup ties towards top-flight opponents, progressing from simply 4 of those. Nevertheless, two of these have come this season towards Brentford and Liverpool.
Chris Wilson1 March 2025 17:12
Contained in the magic of Plymouth’s FA Cup run – and its deeper that means
As Plymouth Argyle captain Joe Edwards sits within the membership’s Manchester resort and the thrill builds, he finds there’s immediately “a bit of bit extra time to suppose”. There’s actually quite a bit to mirror on forward of an FA Cup fifth-round match towards the English champions.
Ought to Plymouth beat Manchester City, it is not going to simply be one other enormous upset. It is going to type an argument for one of many nice cup runs, on condition that the Twenty second-placed Championship aspect have already eradicated Brentford away and Liverpool at home. That has provided a way of build-up in one other method, on condition that it’s gone from one good Premier League aspect to the league leaders’ second string, but now a full-strength City away from house in an enormous night match.
Chris Wilson1 March 2025 17:05
Crew information
Plymouth supervisor Muslic has made six adjustments to the crew that drew 1-1 towards Cardiff Metropolis final trip.
In defence, Julio Pleguezuelo is available in for Victor Pálsson, whereas Bali Mumba and Nathanael Ogbeta are available in at wing-back instead of Kornél Szűcs and Tymoteusz Puchacz.
In midfield, Adam Randell and Jordan Houghton drop out in favour of Malachi Boateng and Darko Gyabi, whereas Matthew Sorinola replaces Rami Al Hajj within the attacking midfield positions.
Chris Wilson1 March 2025 16:59
Crew information
Plymouth have already achieved one thing that Manchester Metropolis haven’t: they’ve crushed Arne Slot’s Liverpool. And if some could level out that Plymouth beat a weakened Liverpool aspect whereas Metropolis misplaced 2-0 twice to the full-strength crew, now it’s a second-string Metropolis aspect.
Pep Guardiola has made 11 adjustments – even when that has enabled him to recall Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden, amongst others. Plymouth are with out the injured Ryan Hardie, their matchwinner towards Liverpool.
Richard Jolly1 March 2025 16:55
Line-ups
Plymouth XI: Hazard; Tavolierov, Katic, Pleguezuelo; Mumba, Boateng, Gyabi, Ogbeta; Sorinola, Wright; Bundu.
Subs: Grimshaw, Houghton, Szucs, Edwards, Al Hajj, Puchacz, Baidoo, Roberts, Palsson.
Chris Wilson1 March 2025 16:52
Line-ups
Man Metropolis XI: Ortega; Lewis, Reis, Ake, O’Reilly, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), McAtee, Bernardo, Grealish, Foden.
Subs: Ederson, Dias, Marmoush, Haaland, Doku, Nico, Gvardiol, Savinho, Nunes
Chris Wilson1 March 2025 16:50
Crew information
With line-ups resulting from be launched within the subsequent 5 minutes, right here’s a reminder of the early crew information…
Erling Haaland seems to be obtainable for choice once more after struggling a knee harm which dominated him out of Metropolis’s defeats to Actual Madrid and Liverpool however John Stones will seemingly miss out after being substituted early towards Madrid, and Manuel Akanji can be anticipated to be out effectively into April.
The squad named towards Leyton Orient was a fairly sturdy one, however 22-year-old James McAtee was handed an opportunity to impress in central midfield. 19-year-old Nico O’Reilly could begin as Guardiola will likely be eager to get one other have a look at his newest academy gem.
With Plymouth gaining a repute as large killers, although, Guardiola is not going to wish to play issues too protected. Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, and Savinho ought to all seem on the crew sheet.
Chris Wilson1 March 2025 16:40
Pep Guardiola decided to keep away from FA Cup upset towards ‘tough’ Plymouth
The Pilgrims have already shocked an albeit weakened Liverpool and Brentford within the competitors this season and Guardiola doesn’t wish to turn into one other high-level casualty as they conflict within the fifth spherical.
Metropolis are enduring a tough marketing campaign by their very own lofty requirements and, with the Premier League title gone and the Champions League over, the FA Cup represents a possibility to salvage one thing from the season.
Chris Wilson1 March 2025 16:30
Head-to-head
Although these sides have met 20 instances previously, their final assembly passed off way back to 1989, once they met within the outdated Division Two.
Total, Metropolis have gained 11 earlier conferences, with Plymouth successful 5 and 4 ending as attracts.
Argyle’s final win towards Metropolis got here in January 1988.
Chris Wilson1 March 2025 16:20
The extraordinary Man Metropolis crew discarded by short-sighted selections
In a parallel universe, Porro may have been Walker’s successor. He was a Metropolis participant for 3 years, albeit in a distinctly fashionable method: purchased from sister membership Girona, loaned out after which offered with out debuting, he produced another €10m for City in a sell-on clause when Tottenham purchased him from Sporting CP.
Chris Wilson1 March 2025 16:10
Source link