The 2025/26 FA Cup semi-finals are set to take place at Wembley over the weekend, with Southampton meeting Manchester City on Saturday evening before Chelsea take on Leeds United on Sunday.
Manchester City vs Southampton
Saturday 25April, 17:15
Wembley Stadium
Manchester City are undoubtedly the favourites heading into this clash against Championship Southampton, especially given the Citizens’ impressive run of five straight wins across all competitions.
The Citizens have lifted the Carabao Cup, secured their place in the FA Cup semi-final and returned to the top of the English Premier League table during that fantastic run, and they will be eager to maintain that momentum with another win on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Southampton are hoping to secure their place in the final for the first time since 2003, and they are impressively undefeated in their last 20 games, including beating the likes of Fulham and Arsenal in previous rounds of this competition.
Team News
Man City remain without Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias and Rodri, while the remainder of the side that started in the win against Burnley earlier this week could feature as Pep Guardiola aims to maintain their momentum.
Southampton are without Alex McCarthy and Mads Roerslev due to injury, while Flynn Downes is suspended. Elsewhere, Tonda Eckert could also name a largely unchanged team to the one that has lead the Saints to a fantastic unbeaten run.
Man City Predicted XI: Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Silva, O’Reilly; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland
Southampton Predicted XI: Peretz; Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Manning; Charles, Jander; Matsuki, Archer, Azaz; Larin
Manchester City will be expected to dominate the ball and secure a commanding win against the Saints, especially with Guardiola likely to name a strong side in an attempt to move one step closer to the trophy and to maintain their winning momentum going into the final weeks of the campaign. You can get odds of Manchester City to win and over 2.5 goals scored of 1.50 with Bet9ja – 5BZLDNL.
Chelsea vs Leeds United
Sunday 26 April, 15:00
Wembley Stadium
Chelsea may be the stronger side on paper, but the Blues are in turmoil heading into this semi-final, having lost seven of their last eight matches, including five consecutive English Premier League defeats without scoring – their longest goalless losing run in the league since 1912.
Those results have led to the recent dismissal of Liam Rosenior, meaning the Blues will be under the guidance of interim manager Calum McFarlane on Sunday, something that will provide a confidence boost to the Leeds United side.
Leeds will also be boosted by their own fantastic form, remaining undefeated in their last seven games with four wins and three draws, seeing them book their place in the semi-final and significantly strengthen their English Premier League survival hopes.
Team News
Chelsea are dealing with injuries to Joao Pedro, Reece James, Filip Jorgensen, Levi Colwill, Cole Palmer, Estevao and Jamie Gittens, while Mykhaylo Mudryk remains suspended. The Blues could name numerous changes under interim McFarlane, but the likes of Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez should certainly keep their places.
Meanwhile, Leeds are solely without Anton Stach due to injury, and given their recent run of results, Daniel Farke may opt to name an unchanged starting side against the Blues in the semi-final.
Chelsea Predicted XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Adarabioyo, Hato, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Neto, Fernandez, Garnacho; Delap
Leeds United Predicted XI: Perri; Justin, Bijol, Struijk; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; Aaronson, Okafor; Calvert-Lewin
Chelsea are enduring a disastrous run of results and will be lacking confidence coming into this match, and given Leeds United’s phenomenal run of results coming into this encounter, we are predicting Farke’s side to win this one. You can get odds of Leeds United to win of 3.35 with Bet9ja – 5BZM62D.
