Where to watch Manchester City vs Exeter City live with likely FA Cup lineups By Thiago Lemos
3 min read
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Manchester City faces Exeter City this Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Etihad Stadium, in the third phase of the FA The game starts at 3pm Manchester local time (12pm Brasília time). The Pep Guardiola team debuts in the oldest competition in the world looking to recover their good momentum after recent draws in the Premier League, while the Exeter, from the League One, tries to surprise a giant of English football.
Manchester City arrives with a very renewed squad due to injuries and international call-ups. Jogadores as Rúben Dias, Joško Gvardiol, John Stones, Mateo Kovačić, Oscar Bobb and Savinho are out. The team maintains an impressive unbeaten record at home in the FA Cup, with 15 consecutive victories since 2015.
Exeter City advanced after beating Wycombe 4-0 in the previous round, with emphasis on Jack Aitchison, who scored two goals. The club occupies 14th place in the League One and is going through a reasonable moment, with three wins in the last five games.
Where to watch Manchester City x Exeter City
The match will be broadcast live on Brasil by ESPN (closed channel) and by Disney+ (streaming). Coverage includes narration and comments in Portuguese, with the program starting minutes before kickoff.
Fans in other regions have a variety of options, such as ESPN+ on Estados Unidos and official FA Cup platforms in several countries. The broadcast guarantees images of Etihad Stadium and details of the final lineups.
Probable lineups for Manchester City
Pep Guardiola should field a mixed team with many young and less used athletes. The defense has reinforcements from Max Alleyne, recently returned from loan. The focus is on ball possession and creation in midfield.
The likely lineup for Manchester City is: James Trafford; Rico Lewis, Abdukhodir Khusanov, Max Alleyne, Nathan Aké; Nico González, Ryan McAidoo; Rayan Cherki, Jacob Gray, Reigan Heskey; Divine Mukasa. The expected tactical scheme is 4-1-4-1 or variations with 4-2-3-1.
Probable lineups for Exeter City
Gary Caldwell leads Exeter with a more complete team, despite some minor absences. The 3-4-1-2 or 3-4-2-1 formation should prioritize defensive solidity and quick counterattacks.
The likely Exeter City lineup includes: Joseph Whitworth; Pierce Sweeney, Ed Turns, Jack Fitzwater; Ilari Niskanen, Jake Doyle-Hayes, Edward Brierley, Jack McMillan; Ryan Cole; Joshua Aitchison, Jayden Wareham. Jayden Wareham is the main offensive reference.
History and curiosities of the confrontation
Manchester City and Exeter City have never faced each other in official competitive games. The duel is unprecedented in history. The City have extensive dominance against teams from lower divisions in the FA
Gary Caldwell, coach of Exeter, has a special connection with City. Ele was part of the Wigan squad that surprised Manchester City in the 2013 FA Cup final.
Expectations and house factor in Etihad
Manchester City is the clear favorite due to its technical superiority and record at home. Mesmo with rotations, the reserve squad has enough quality to control the game from the beginning.
Exeter bets on tactical organization and the support of almost 7,800 visiting fans. FA Cup has seen surprises, but City rarely stumbles at this stage against teams from League One.
Final match details
Etihad Stadium should receive a good crowd despite the afternoon slot. The perfect pitch and typical January weather conditions in Manchester favor the technical spectacle.
The ball rolls at 3pm local time, with the home team expected to have dominant possession. The winner advances to the fourth stage of the competition.
