Kevin de Bruyne will leave Manchester City in the summer but only after signing off by winning FA Cup

You know how it goes, fans revel in the Premier League elite being knocked out in the early stages of the FA Cup then start to grizzle as the prospect of a final featuring two unfashionable clubs beckons.

In truth, the last final to feature a true minnow was way back in 2014 when Arsenal played Hull and even that threw up unexpected drama when the Humberside outfit raced into an early two-goal lead before losing 3-2.

Since then, the showpiece occasion has largely featured Manchester United and Chelsea with a sprinkling of Liverpool and Manchester City, a dash of further Gunners’ glory and an unexpected victory registered by Leicester.

This has been a vintage year for drama, with United beating Arsenal in a penalty shoot-out at Emirates Stadium before the boot was on the other foot when they lost at Old Trafford to Fulham in another spot-kick thriller.

City boss Pep Guardiola has been put through the emotional wringer by both Leyton Orient and Plymouth, who caused the mother of all shocks when they humiliated Liverpool, while Carabao Cup winners Newcastle had a right old ding-dong at Birmingham before being outclassed on home soil by Brighton.

Preston are the only club outside the top-flight still in the running in this weekend’s quarter-finals and they look certain to be eliminated by Aston Villa, while the only one of the supposed big boys left in the hunt are City, who face a tricky trip to Bournemouth in Sunday’s other televised tie.

Saturday’s slate starts with the London derby between Fulham and Crystal Palace on the banks of the Thames before Brighton entertain Nottingham Forest on the south coast.

A final between the Eagles and the Seagulls would be fun because of their rivalry and Villa against City may work up a stack of interest but would any other combination really stir the imagination? There would certainly be those who would say it’s a substandard edition of the Wembley finale.

City have had a dismal season by their standards but superstars like Kevin de Bruyne, who scored in the last two rounds of the FA Cup but looks set to leave in the summer transfer window, look in the mood to deliver some much-needed silverware.

Guardiola’s side are 21/10 favourites with StarSports to regain the trophy they lost to neighbours United last year, despite just three wins in their last eight matches in all competitions, and can be backed at 14/5 with the same firm to lead HT/FT against the Cherries, who have gone stale in recent weeks.

Palace are 11/5 with bet365 to win at Fulham and Villa are the bet of the round at 4/1 with Paddy Power, Betfred and Betfair to win at Deepdale by more than one goal. Brighton v Forest is a tough call but let’s stick with our 40/1 ante-post selection to enjoy an away win by the seaside at BetMGM’s 16/5.

• Aaron Judge loves launching a home run into the bleachers and hit 52 in 2017, an American League record 62 in 2022 and 58 last year. 

The New York Yankees captain is 7/2 with William Hill to clobber the most home runs in the regular season but with, Juan Soto now playing across town for the Mets and Giancarlo Stanton out with a long-term injury, pitchers will likely give him a free pass to first base on a regular basis. 

The Athletics have moved from Oakland to Sacramento which will favour Brent Rooker, who is expected to improve on the 39 home runs he smashed last year, and he’s 16/1 with William Hill to finish the regular season as the home run leader. 

• The new Flat racing season gets fully under way at Doncaster on Saturday and Godwinson will give punters a run for their money as William Haggas attempts to win the Lincoln for a fourth time. Back the gelding each-way at 18/1 with bet365. 

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