When Joe Cole and Karen Carney paired Newcastle United and Manchester Metropolis collectively throughout Monday evening’s FA Cup fifth spherical draw, there was a way of déjà vu for supporters of each golf equipment.
That is the fifth time this decade the 2 sides have been drawn to face one another in home cup competitions, making it the commonest tie of the 2020s – and one which often sees Metropolis come out on high.
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The Magpies’ 70-year look ahead to a serious home trophy got here to an finish once they lifted final season’s EFL Cup, however their defence fell on the semi-final stage this 12 months when Metropolis swatted them apart 5-1 on combination over two legs.
Pep Guardiola’s aspect, in the meantime, have reached three consecutive FA Cup finals. They have been the holders once they beat Newcastle en path to the 2024 decider however have now suffered two successive defeats within the showpiece occasion.
With such frequent cup clashes on high of the standard Premier League conferences – the subsequent of which is on the Etihad Stadium this Saturday – it begs the query; are their followers bored of one another? Freddie Pye, BBC Sport’s Manchester Metropolis fan author, would not suppose so.
“I really feel as if maybe as a result of there is a completely different feeling round such video games in comparison with the Premier League scheduling that they really feel barely extra distinctive, in a method,” says Freddie.
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“There’s additionally a component of shock with these fixtures although, and with Newcastle now having the ability to put up a very stern check and the true risk of knocking us out of cup competitors, it often makes for a pleasant encounter.”
His Newcastle counterpart, Charlotte Robson, is not so positive. “We joked in all our group chats that after comprehensively beating Aston Villa, we would find yourself with Manchester Metropolis away within the FA Cup,” she reveals.
“It was simply alleged to be a joke, not a premonition. I rang my dad’s home simply after the draw was introduced and heard wailing within the background. Right here we go once more.”
Total, that is the seventeenth time the 2 golf equipment have been drawn collectively, which means they nonetheless have some approach to go to match England’s most typical cup tie; Arsenal versus Liverpool, who’ve thrashed it out 27 occasions.