Manchester City vs Plymouth Prediction - FA Cup Fixtures

​​Josh Ingram is on hand to look at the game involving last season’s beaten finalists and this season’s major surprise package in bettingexpert’s Man City vs Plymouth Argyle prediction betting preview at the Etihad. Plymouth Argyle shut out Liverpool at Home Park, and now the travelling Green Army are travelling up in their masses to witness the possibility of an historic outcome. This is the only trophy that Manchester City can win this season, and that prospect could mean Pep Guardiola takes this game very seriously, resulting in a potential drubbing. 

Man City vs Plymouth Argyle Prediction: Mesmerising Marmoush

England, FA Cup, Saturday, March 1st, 17:45 (UK)

Omar Marmoush was overshadowed by his fellow countryman when City lost to Liverpool, but he has shown what he is capable of since moving to Manchester. None more so than his exceptional performance against Newcastle, where he scored a hattrick made up of some very astute finishes. What he will offer between Argyle’s defensive lines will no doubt give Miron Muslic headaches. The former Frankfurt man’s ability to drive with the ball and score from any angle will mean he can’t be afforded space by the worst defence in the top four divisions this season. 

Personnel-wise, Argyle’s big centre-halves would probably much prefer the physical aerial battle with Erling Haaland than a tricky player like Marmoush, who wants the ball at his feet first. The problem lower league opposition has facing City is they have so many threats all over the front line, providing situations where Marmoush might not be the first thought to protect against, and if he does manage to find a few yards, he will score. 

Argyle have been on a heroic run in this FA Cup, collecting two Premier League scalps back-to-back in the past two rounds. The now departed Morgan Whittaker spearheaded the win against Brentford. Since then, they oversaw a win against Liverpool via a converted Ryan Hardie penalty at the Devenport End, undoubtedly one of the biggest in the club’s history. 

Miron Muslic has inspired the club and its fans following his arrival. There is far more belief that he can keep the team up. This game is exciting for the club – it’s a big day out for the fans. However, there will be large swathes of the fan base who would much rather win the relegation six-pointer next Tuesday against Hull City. This prominent midweek outing could play into Muslic’s thinking by possibly changing some of the starting eleven or by conceding defeat if the game is out of sight with 30 or so minutes to play before shifting focus to the game versus the Tigers. 

Marmoush’s attacking numbers in the last year are phenomenal. The Egyptian livewire is averaging 0.52 non-penalty goals per90 while averaging 3.96 shots per90. Since he joined City, he has slotted in quite well, considering he has joined a team short on confidence. While he gets used to Pep Guardiola’s style of play and way of thinking, these six months will be an adjustment period. He is now shooting less, at a pace of 2.4 per game for City in the League, while his volume of key passes and dribbles have also reduced compared to his Frankfurt days. 

• Man City vs Plymouth Argyle Prediction: Omar Marmoush Anytime Goalscorer (TRACKED BET) 
• Best Odds: 2.05
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10 (TRACKED BET) 

Man City vs Plymouth Argyle Prediction odds via bet365 as at 12:00, February 27th, 2025. Odds may now differ.

Rotation for Pep and Argyle are short of Strikers

Apart from the high-profile injuries of Rodri, Manuel Akanji and John Stones, who will all be out for a while longer, Pep has a lot of options heading into this game, especially with only playing one game a week from now on. Several hopefuls are looking for a recall, such as James McAtee, Jack Grealish, Rico Lewis and Vitor Reis. It’s unclear if Guardiola will risk Haaland, but even without the big Norwegen, Marmoush can lead the line against this level of opposition very well. Despite his powers waning, De Bruyne would love to end the season and time at City with a trophy. Since his debut in the FA Cup in January 2016, no player has been involved in more goals in the competition from the first round than the Belgian playmaker  (26: nine goals and 17 assists). 

The hero at Home Park in the fourth round, Ryan Hardie, will miss this massive fixture, which is a shame as he is the one who fired the Penalty past Kelleher. The Greens aren’t just missing him in forward areas, but also loanee Muhamed Tijani, who is injured once again. He has suffered persistent groin and hamstring issues all season, featuring in just eight appearances in all competitions. These injuries will likely force Muslic’s hand to play Mustapha Bundu up top. The back three is expected to be the same as the one who shut out Liverpool, with the Spanish defender Julio Pleguezelo signing a new deal just this week. 

Man City possible starting lineup:
Ortega; Lewis, Reis, Ake, O’Reilly; Gundogan, De Bruyne; Doku, Foden, Grealish; Marmoush

Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:
Hazard; Talovierov, Katic, Pleguezuelo; Sorinola, Randell, Gyabi, Puchacz; Wright, Al Hajj; Bundu

Match Stats: Man City imperious record against the Pilgrims

• This is the second ever FA Cup between Manchester City and Plymouth, with the then City side winning a 5th round tie at Maine Road 3-1 in 1987/88.
• It’s the first meeting between the two since February 1989 (0-2); Plymouth has lost each of their last five.
• Man City have won each of their last 18 FA Cup games against lower league opposition with an aggregate score of 69-9 since the loss to Wigan in the 2017/18 5th round. 

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