Manchester City vs Southampton: FA Cup semi-final preview, predictions and bet builder tips

• Fixture: Manchester City vs Southampton

• Competition: FA Cup

• Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026

• Kick-off: 5.15pm BST

• Venue: Wembley Stadium

Our prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Southampton

Manchester City

Our predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Trafford / Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, Ait-Nouri / Bernardo, O'Reilly / Savinho, Cherki, Marmoush / Haaland

Southampton

Our predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Peretz / Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Manning / Charles, Jander / Fellows, Azaz, Scienza / Stewart

Just days after Man City went top of the Premier League with a win at Burnley, they have a superb opportunity to reach a fifth FA Cup final under Pep Guardiola. City face Championship side Southampton, who have been in great form of late, but on paper should be no match for the likes of Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki. However, the same could have been said before the Saints stunned Arsenal in the quarter-finals, winning 2-1 in front of a raucous St. Mary's.

Southampton are unbeaten in their last twenty games in all competitions and currently lie 4th in the Championship, still in the hunt for automatic promotion with a huge game against Ipswich to come. A return to the top-flight is their main goal, but an FA Cup semi-final represents a huge opportunity in itself. The south coast club have won the competition once back in 1976, and are looking to become the first non-Premier League team to reach the final since Cardiff in 2008.

Unfortunately for them, they're coming up against a City side in dominant form themselves, who are unbeaten in their last fifteen domestic games. There are few, if any, that thrive in this part of the season more than Pep, and his squad will be desperate to make amends for their FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace last year. We're predicting that Man City will reach the final again, winning 3-1 in ninety minutes to end Southampton's dream run.

To go with our 3-1 prediction, we're selecting over 2.5 goals as part of our Man City vs Southampton bet builder. This pick has landed in three of each side's four FA Cup games, while there have been over 2.5 goals in all of Southampton's last five Championship fixtures, as well as in eight of Man City's last ten Premier League matches.

Man City youngster Nico O'Reilly has been a revelation this season, and looks to have cemented his place in the England World Cup squad, if not the starting eleven at left-back. He has excelled there as well as in midfield, and had a dream day out in his last appearance at Wembley, as his brace secured a 2-0 win for City against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final. With Rodri an injury doubt, O'Reilly could line up in midfield again, which makes him an even greater threat going forward.

O'Reilly has had at least one shot on target in four of the last five games, averaging 1.56 SOT per 90 in that stretch, and his odds for one here look appealing compared to some of his teammates. We're tipping the Mancunian to star at Wembley again, testing the keeper at least once.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis played an important role in Southampton's promotion campaign in 2023/24, enough to convince them to make his loan move from Man City permanent, and he's been integral to their side again this season in the second tier, making 43 appearances in all competitions.

The centre back is adept at breaking up play as well as technically proficient, and also provides a goal threat with six Championship goals this season. However, his disciplinary record could be improved. Harwood-Bellis has picked up ten yellow cards this season, and we're tipping him to collect another booking against his former club.

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.