Plymouth are set to take on Pep Guardiola’s troops in the fifth round of the English FA Cup. The EFL Championship side will travel to the Etihad Stadium fresh off a stunning 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Home Park. Ahead of the game on March 1, Kick Off Nigeria editor Ayomide Oguntimehin provides betting tips and key insights into the match.
Match Overview
The Cityzens secured a 1-0 victory against Tottenham on the road, boosting their European qualification hopes after a disappointing spell that saw them drop down the English Premier League standings. Ahead of their clash with Argyle, they are clear favorites to win, but they must show more consistency after recently suffering a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool. On paper, this fixture looks like a straightforward win for City, given the disparity in squad quality.
Following a 2-0 loss to Blackburn Rovers and back-to-back 1-1 draws against Cardiff City and Luton Town, Miron Muslić’s troops face a huge challenge in their trip to Manchester. However, the second-division side could put in a stunning display, which would mean a lot for Muhamed Tijani and his teammates.
Manchester City’s Last Five Matches:
- 11.02.25 – Champions League: Manchester City 2-3 Real Madrid
- 15.02.25 – Premier League: Manchester City 4-0 Newcastle
- 19.02.25 – Champions League: Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City
- 23.02.25 – Premier League: Manchester City 0-2 Liverpool
- 26.02.25 – Premier League: Tottenham 0-1 Manchester City
Plymouth’s Last Five Matches:
- 09.02.25 – FA Cup: Plymouth 1-0 Liverpool
- 12.02.25 – Championship: Plymouth 5-1 Millwall
- 15.02.25 – Championship: Blackburn 2-0 Plymouth
- 19.02.25 – Championship: Luton 1-1 Plymouth
- 22.02.25 – Championship: Plymouth 1-1 Cardiff
Recent Form: Manchester City
Manchester City’s recent form has been inconsistent, both overall and at home. Away from the Etihad, they secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Tottenham in their latest outing but suffered back-to-back defeats to Liverpool in the Premier League and Real Madrid in the Champions League. Before that, they produced a dominant 4-0 win against Newcastlebut were edged out 3-2 at home by Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
At home, City’s performances have been mixed. While they registered commanding wins against Newcastle (4-0), Club Brugge (3-1), and Chelsea (3-1), their struggles against elite opposition have been evident. They fell short against Liverpool (0-2) and suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League. Despite flashes of brilliance, their recent home form—three wins and two defeats—shows their vulnerability against top-tier sides.
Recent Form: Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth’s recent form has been inconsistent. In their last five matches across all competitions, they secured a remarkable 1-0 FA Cup victory over Liverpool and thrashed Millwall 5-1 at home. However, they have struggled on the road, managing only draws against Luton (1-1) and Cardiff (1-1) while suffering a 2-0 defeat to Blackburn.
Away from home, Plymouth have shown signs of defensive solidity but have lacked a cutting edge in attack. They managed a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Luton and a goalless stalemate against Stoke but were undone by Blackburn (2-0). However, their 1-0 FA Cup win at Brentford and a 2-2 draw at Sunderland demonstrate their ability to compete against strong opposition. Despite their struggles, they remain difficult to break down away from home, with only one defeat in their last five trips.
Player to Watch: Muhamed Tijani
The Nigerian forward scored the only goal in Plymouth’s last outing against Cardiff to secure a 1-1 draw. He will be hoping to build on that performance when they face Manchester City at the weekend.
Best Betting Odds:
- Home win (Yes) – 1.07 on 1xBet
