Manchester City vs Southampton FA Cup Semi-final Predictions - City to sink the Saints in Cup semi

Simon Lewis

Editor

Last updated: 1 hour ago

Simon Lewis 1 hour ago

Share this article

Premier League leaders Man City meet Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Both sides are in great form with a high win percentage along with plenty of goals and clean sheets.
Can Man City stay on track for the treble by beating Southampton in their FA Cup semi-final clash on 25 April 2026?

Southampton beat Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-final (Getty Images)

Manchester City vs Southampton Predictions

Manchester City are in superb form, having beaten Arsenal 2-0 in the League Cup final. In their last four matches they have beaten Liverpool (4-0), Chelsea (3-0) and Arsenal (2-1). Their last match saw them beat Burnley 1-0 away to go top of the Premier League.

Manchester City vs Southampton Predictions
Head-to-Head
Manchester City Form
Southampton Form
Manchester City vs Southampton Team News & Squads

Southampton have enjoyed an excellent season and are in 4th place in the Championship with a goal difference of plus-24. They are almost assured of a playoff spot and are just three points behind an automatic playoff place with four matches left in the season.

Man City have won their last 5 matches by a goal aggregate of 12-2.
Man City’s Erling Haaland leads the Premier League Golden Boot race with 24 goals in 32 matches.
Man City have kept 7 clean sheets in their last 15 matches.
Southampton are unbeaten in their last 20 matches, winning 16 of those matches.
Southampton have scored 18 goals to 6 in their last 8 matches.
Southampton midfielder Azaz Finn is their leading scorer with 10 goals.

Head-to-Head

Man City have won six, lost one and drawn three of their last 10 matches against Southampton. The two teams drew their last meeting 0-0 at Southampton back in May 2025, with Southampton’s last win coming at home in the League Cup in 2023 (2-0).

City have scored four or more goals against the Saints in four of their last nine meetings. The two teams have drawn 0-0 twice in their last eight meetings.

Manchester City Form

Manchester City secured their 3rd clean sheet in five back-to-back wins before beating Burnley 1-0 away from to jump to top of the Premier League table.

Manchester City has lifted the FA Cup seven times, including three times in the last 15 years (2011, 2019 and 2023). City have won 21 consecutive FA Cup matches against non-Premier League sides, with Championship side Southampton lined up as potential win number 22.

Southampton Form

Southampton’s eight–match winning streak ended with a 2-2 home draw against Bristol City. Southampton have scored in each of their last 22 matches, keeping eight clean sheets. With nothing to lose and a good scoring record I’m backing them to score but to go down to City.

Southampton have won the FA Cup just once, which was 50 years ago in 1976.

Manchester City vs Southampton Team News & Squads

City will be without Josko Gvardiol (tibial fracture) and Ruben Dias (ankle), with midfield star Rodri a doubt after picking up a groin strain in the win over Burnley on Wednesday. They are certain to start again with James Trafford in goal after keeping a clean sheet against Arsenal in the League Cup final and against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final.

Manchester City (predicted XI): James Trafford; Matheus Nunes, Abdukodir Khusanov, Marc Guéhi, Rayan Ait-Nouri; Bernardo Silva, Nico O'Reilly; Savinho, Rayan Cherki, Omar Marmoush, Erling Haaland.

Southampton skipper Jack Stephens is a fitness doubt after pulling out of Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Bristol City with a calf muscle strain. Mads Roerslev (achilles) and Alex McCarthy (wrist) are also on the treatment table. Ross Stewart has netted three goals in his last five FA Cup matches, including scoring against Arsenal, so he is sure to get the nod to start upfront after sitting out on Tuesday.

Southampton (predicted XI): Daniel Peretz, James Bree, Nathan Wood, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Ryan Manning, Shea Charles, Flynn Downes, Kuryu Matsuki, Cameron Archer, Finn Azaz, Ross Stewart.

Verdict

Manchester City v Southampton

I am backing Man City to win, but I am backing both teams to score. I am also backing Erling Haaland to score for City, although the odds aren’t terribly attractive.

Ross Stewart is a good bet to top score for the Saints.