Manchester United will face off against Brighton in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday, April 23 at Wembley Stadium. United will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing loss to Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-finals, while Brighton will be hoping to pull off a memorable victory and cap off a stunning campaign with a domestic Cup as well as a European spot next year.
United have already enjoyed domestic success in winning the Carabao Cup in February, and will be looking to secure a place in the FA Cup final in the hope of completing the domestic double this season in May. Meanwhile, the Seagulls have beaten FA Cup holders Liverpool, Stoke City, and Grimsby to reach the semi-final stage and create FA Cup history.
Both teams will have their eyes on the prize, and the match promises to be a thrilling encounter. The two sides are fairly evenly matched, with United coming in with a record of L-W-D-W-W in all competitions, while Brighton has a W-L-W-D-W record.
One player to watch for United is Marcus Rashford, who has been instrumental this season in helping United be competitive on multiple fronts with his goals and assists. The England forward scored in the 2-0 Carabao Cup final win over Newcastle in February and will be hoping to turn up yet again in this tie against a tricky Seagulls side. Meanwhile, Brighton will be looking to Japanese winger Kairo Mitoma, who has been nothing short of a revelation in the Premier League this season. His dribbling accuracy is off the charts, and he is almost impossible to mark on the left wing.
Based on recent form, it seems that Manchester United has an edge going into the match. However, Brighton has shown that they are a force to be reckoned with, and they will likely put up a strong fight. United will be disadvantaged by the absence of their first-choice centre-back pairing of Martinez(foot) and Varane(muscle), who both have long-term injuries. Additionally, McTominay(knock) and Garnacho(ankle) are doubtful, and they could miss the match. Brighton also has a series of injury doubts.
The kick-off for the semi-finals is on Sunday, April 23rd, at 3:30 PM (GMT). For viewers in India, the game will be broadcasted live on Sony Liv and Sony Ten 2, while UK viewers can watch it on BBC Sport and ITV Sport. USA viewers can tune in to ESPN, while SuperSport will telecast it in Nigeria.
The FA Cup always brings its fair share of drama, glory and heartbreak for so many who try to win it, and a semi-final encounter at Wembley Stadium is likely to be a close and exciting affair. With both sides determined to make it to the final, fans can expect a thrilling match filled with goals. Manchester United is the favorite to emerge victorious and secure a spot in the final, but in a Cup competition, anything is possible. The match-up against Brighton is sure to be a mouth-watering encounter that fans won’t want to miss.
