Explained: Why Man City vs Man Utd will be first FA Cup final of its kind since 1885

United booked their place in next month's showpiece with a nerve-shredding penalty shootout win over Coventry City, a day after Man City scrapped their way to a 1-0 victory over Chelsea. It will be the first time the same teams have faced each other in back-to-back FA Cup finals for 139 years.

The only time the same teams have faced each other in consecutive finals was all the way back in 1885, when Blackburn Rovers beat Scottish side Queen's Park 2-0. They had beaten the Glaswegians 2-1 a year earlier. United and City will therefore become the first English teams to meet in consecutive FA Cup finals.

United and City had never faced each other in an FA Cup final until 2023, when Ilkay Gundogan scored the fastest ever goal in the history of the final. The German gave City the lead after just 13 seconds and restored their advantage in the second half following Bruno Fernandes' equaliser from the penalty spot.

Erik ten Hag's side can celebrate reaching successive finals but not for too long as they host Sheffield United in the Premier League on Wednesday, when they will be looking for their first league win since beating Everton on March 9. City visit Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday.