The FA Cup trophy
The FA Cup trophy

FA Cup final 2018/19: The story of Manchester City and Watford's route to Wembley


Manchester City and Watford will meet in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday, in English football's domestic finale.

Fresh after winning the Premier League title last week, City can win a third trophy of the season and become the first side in history to complete a domestic treble.

Watford, meanwhile, will be hoping to upset the odds by topping off an impressive season with silverware.

The Hornets were runners up in 1983/84 and Javi Gracia will be hoping to go one better.

We take a look at both sides' results from the third round to reach the final...

Manchester City

Gabriel Jesus: The Brazilian heads home for Man City in the FA Cup semi-final against Brighton
Gabriel Jesus: The Brazilian heads home for Man City in the FA Cup semi-final against Brighton
  • Third round - 7-0 v Rotherham (h)

The gulf in class was evident here. Despite making eight changes, Guardiola's men brutally dismantled Paul Warne's Sky Bet Championship side at the Etihad.

Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden and a Semi Ajayi own goal put City into a comfortable half-time lead.

Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez, Nicolas Otamendi and Leroy Sane then completed the rout as the Millers were outclassed.

  • Fourth round - 5-0 v Burnley (h)

After beating the Clarets by the same score in the league a couple of months previously, City kept their quadruple hopes alive by hitting another five in a commanding win over Burnley.

The hosts won at a canter at the Etihad with Jesus, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne strikes, a Sergio Aguero penalty and a Kevin Long own goal.

  • Fifth round - 1-4 v Newport County (a)

Foden's second-half double saw City beat Sky Bet League Two outfit Newport County 4-1 to progress to the quarters.

Sane opened the scoring at Rodney Parade after 51 minutes with his 12th goal of the season, before Foden doubled City's lead with a quarter of an hour left to play.

Newport striker Padraig Amond briefly gave Michael Flynn's men hope of a stunning fightback by pulling a goal back in the 88th minute, only for late strikes by Foden - just 71 seconds later - and Mahrez to seal the contest.

  • Quarter-final - 3-2 v Swansea (a)
Sergio Aguero (centre): Celebrations for the Man City forward after scoring at Swansea in the FA Cup
Sergio Aguero (centre): Celebrations for the Man City forward after scoring at Swansea in the FA Cup

City survived an almighty FA Cup scare as they came from 2-0 down to beat Sky Bet Championship side Swansea 3-2.

Aguero's 88th-minute header at the Liberty Stadium kept City's quadruple dream alive when it looked for a long time that it was going to end.

They found themselves 2-0 down inside 30 minutes to Graham Potter's side as Matt Grimes's penalty and a Bersant Celina effort had the Swans dreaming of an upset.

City had to wait until the 69th minute to get back in the game as Silva scored and they drew level when Aguero's penalty deflected into the net off goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt.

With extra-time looming Aguero pulled off the great escape as City advanced to Wembley.

  • Semi-final - 1-0 v Brighton (Wembley)

Jesus this time kept City's quadruple dream alive as his early header saw them past Brighton 1-0 at Wembley and into the final.

The Brazilian netted the only goal to keep City on track for an unprecedented trophy haul.

City have since been knocked out of the Champions League by Spurs in a dramatic quarter-final second leg, meaning the quadruple is no longer on, but they can at least complete a domestic treble.

Watch the story of Man City's Road to Wembley in full, below...

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Watford

Celebrations for Watford after Etienne Capoue's goal against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup
Celebrations for Watford after Etienne Capoue's goal against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup
  • Third round - 2-0 v Woking (a)

Woking's FA Cup run came to an end as Watford avoided a shock third-round upset.

Goals from Will Hughes and Troy Deeney earned the visitors a 2-0 win over the National League South side.

  • Fourth round - 2-0 v Newcastle United (a)

Andre Gray and Isaac Success punished a below-par Newcastle and sent the Hornets into the fifth round.

As he had done in round three, Javi Gracia made 11 changes for the trip to St James' Park but saw his understudies outplay Rafael Benitez's reshuffled Magpies.

Gray's 62nd-minute strike and a late second from Success (90) were enough to settle an underwhelming tie on Tyneside.

  • Fifth round - 1-0 v Queens Park Rangers (a)

Another away fixture in the competition, this time a shorter trip, and Etienne Capoue's goal on the stroke of half-time was enough to send Watford into the quarters.

As four minutes of added time were shown at the end of the first half, Capoue swept the ball home after a mis-hit from Tom Cleverley and it proved to be the winner.

  • Quarter-final - 2-1 v Crystal Palace (h)

Gray's strike a minute after coming on sent the Hornets into the semis with a 2-1 win over fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace.

Gray's goal 11 minutes from time booked Watford's place at Wembley for the second time in four years after a passionate quarter-final at Vicarage Road, which the hosts were good value for edging.

The tie looked to be heading to extra-time with clear chances at a premium late on until Gray, who had been on the pitch barely 60 seconds, slotted in Roberto Pereyra's perfect lob to seal their place in the last four.

  • Semi-final - 3-2 v Wolves (after extra-time, Wembley)
Gerard Deulofeu
Gerard Deulofeu celebrates at Wembley

A remarkable Gerard Deulofeu cameo and a last-minute Deeney penalty saw Watford come from 2-0 down to beat Wolves 3-2 in extra-time to make the final.

Deulofeu inspired Watford to only their second FA Cup final as the super sub's magical brace sealed an extraordinary comeback win against a stunned Wolves in a semi-final that will live long in the memory.

Watch the story of Watford's Road to Wembley in full, below...

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Click below to check out our pieces for the clash...

Betting preview

Manchester City will take on Watford in the FA Cup final at Wembley
Click here for our betting preview as Manchester City take on Watford in the FA Cup final at Wembley

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