FA Cup LIVE! Man City vs Salford City

Manchester City hosted Salford City in the FA Cup Fourth Round at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, February 14, 2026, kicking off at 3:00 PM UTC. This local derby rematch followed City's dominant 8-0 thrashing of the League Two side in the third round on January 11, 2025[5][6]. Refereed by Matt Donohue, the match showcased a stark contrast in divisions, with City entering on a strong run[1][3].

Team News and Lineups

City fielded a rotated squad featuring James Trafford in goal, defenders Max Alleyne, Abdukodir Khusanov, Rayan Aït-Nouri, and Rico Lewis, alongside John Stones (captain, returning from injury), Tijjani Reijnders, Nico González, Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki, and Phil Foden[4][9]. Substitutes included Rúben Dias, Rodri, and Gianluigi Donnarumma. Salford's lineup details were limited, but key performers like Lewis N'Mai (3 goals in recent FA Cup) were highlighted[1][5].

Recent Form

Man City arrived unbeaten in six, with wins over Fulham (3-0), Liverpool (2-1), Newcastle (3-1 in Carabao Cup), and others[3]. Salford struggled in League Two, losing to Accrington (0-1) and Chesterfield (0-1), despite a 3-2 FA Cup third-round win over Swindon[3].

Match Context

Previews noted City's 20-match winning streak and Salford's poor record against Premier League teams (0-3, 15 goals conceded aggregate)[9]. Live updates promised real-time stats on possession, xG, and momentum via Opta[1]. As the game began, lineups warmed up, with no early goals reported—score at 0-0[3][4]. This clash pitted Premier League giants against ambitious neighbors, promising giant-killing potential despite the odds.

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