Manchester City vs Plymouth Argyle: betting odds 1 Mar 2025

Plymouth Argyle’s dream run in the FA Cup continues, but their luck is being tested to the extreme—first they faced the future Premier League champions, and now they meet the reigning holders. Meanwhile, Manchester City must stay fully focused, with Liverpool’s recent cup elimination serving as a cautionary tale.

The FA Cup is now Manchester City’s most realistic shot at silverware this season. As brilliant as Pep Guardiola is, retaining the league title without Rodri Hernández seems unlikely, with second place looking like their ceiling. Manchester City have already been eliminated from the Champions League, so they can afford to field a strong side here, though Pep Guardiola is unlikely to take unnecessary risks. Given Plymouth Argyle’s aggressive approach, the priority will be avoiding injuries.

Plymouth Argyle stunned Liverpool before thrashing Millwall (5:1), but their magic appears to be running out. A 0:2 defeat to Blackburn Rovers quickly grounded them, followed by consecutive 1:1 draws against fellow Championship relegation battlers Luton Town and Cardiff City. Plymouth Argyle remain in the thick of the survival fight, and while their FA Cup adventure is remarkable, their league form has suffered as a result.

Pep Guardiola will want his side to get the job done early, control possession, and conserve energy. A dominant but measured performance from Manchester  City is expected, without the need for a thrashing. A routine 2:0 or something similar feels likely.