Riyad Mahrez scored a hat trick as Manchester City worked its way past Championship side Sheffield United in an FA Cup semifinal at Wembley Stadium on Saturday as Pep Guardiola chases a treble.
The 32-year-old Mahrez now has three career club hat tricks. He scored one for Leicester versus Swansea City in the 2015-16 Premier League season and got his next for Man City against Burnley in PL play during the 2020-21 campaign.
The 3-0 win means City will meet either Brighton and Hove Albion or Manchester United in June in a bid to claim yet another trophy.
[ LIVE: Follow Manchester City v Sheffield United here ]
The Blades, favorites to join Burnley In going back up the Premier League, had early control and nearly made it 1-0.
But Mahrez scored from the spot before halftime and a City lineup resting Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, Rodri, and Ruben Dias didn’t have to bother those stars about making an impact.
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Here’s everything you need for Manchester City vs Sheffield United
Manchester City vs Sheffield United final score: 3-0
Goals: Riyad Mahrez (pen 43', 61', 66').
Assist: Jack Grealish (66')
Manchester City vs Sheffield United player ratings: Stars of the Show
What’s next?
City has a little match with Arsenal on Wednesday, and a win would tighten its grip on a third-straight Premier League Trophy.
Sheffield United hosts West Brom on the same day, and a win would see it promoted to the Premier League.
Riyad Mahrez goal video: Algerian slots penalty
UNSTOPPABLE 🤩@Mahrez22 scores from the spot for @ManCity #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/A6Kg92XQL7
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 22, 2023
What a run 😳@Mahrez22 with an incredible solo goal!#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/u4jIRAlGYc
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 22, 2023
Hat-trick hero 🎩@Mahrez22 scores the first FA Cup semi-final treble since 1958 🤯#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/uQmIBRV9jJ
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 22, 2023
How to watch Manchester City vs Sheffield United live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 11:45am ET, Saturday
Where: Wembley Stadium, LondonOnline: Stream via ESPN+
Updates: Stats, commentary on NBCSports.com
Key storylines & in-form players to watch
Erling Haaland has now scored 48 goals in all competitions this season as his record-breaking first campaign at Manchester City boggles the mind. City are on auto-pilot right now and Guardiola will be wary of rotating his lineup too much so his top players keep their rhythm ahead of the title showdown with Arsenal next week. That said, with Nathan Ake suffering an injury in midweek he will likely shuffle his defense around to avoid further issues.
The Blades are without two of their star players from this season, James McAtee and Tommy Doyle as both are on loan from Man City so are ineligible for this game. That said, Sheffield United are playing with house money here. Nothing is expected of them in this game and with promotion back to the Premier League almost secured, the Blades will sit back, defend deep and then try to spring counters. Watch out for Iliman Ndiaye and Ollie McBurnie in attack, while Sander Berge is a top quality central midfielder.
Manchester City team news, lineup options
OUT: Nathan Ake (hamstring)
🔵 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚔️
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 22, 2023
XI | Ortega Moreno, Walker, Akanji, Laporte, Gomez, Gundogan (C), Bernardo, Mahrez, Alvarez, Grealish, Haaland
SUBS | Ederson, Dias, Phillips, Stones, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Foden, Palmer, Lewis#ManCity | @HaysWorldwide pic.twitter.com/qUVG87hbje
Sheffield United team news, lineup options
OUT: James McAtee (unable to fare parent club), Tommy Doyle (unable to fare parent club), Jack O’Connell (knee), Rhian Brewster (hamstring), Enda Stevens (unknown)
Jebbison & Ndiaye lead the line. 👊
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) April 22, 2023
Here is your Sheffield United starting XI for today's FA Cup Semi Final. pic.twitter.com/mfs9G0j5mJ