Football
Manchester City vs Exeter City Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Date: January 10, 2026 Venue: Etihad Stadium Kickoff Time: 17:00 One of the most magical weekends of the football calendar arrives as elite power meets underdog passion in the FA Cup third round. With the opportunity to boost your returns, check out the best football betting sites for early betting potential ahead of kickoff. Man City are no strangers to this competition, having lifted this trophy twice under Pep Guardiola and reached the final in each of the last three seasons. For Exeter City, this is the stage players dream of, as the League One outfit has a chance to test themselves against the very best after qualifying for the third round for the second year in a row. The Citizens are among the best football teams in world football, while the Grecians will travel from the south west carrying belief and bravery, making this another classic matchup for the FA Cup books.
SportsBoom offers honest and impartial UK bookmaker reviews to help you make informed choices. While we may earn commissions through affiliate links, our content remains independent and free from promotional influence. For more information, see our Content Transparency and How We Review pages.
Erling Haaland of Manchester City!
The Etihad Stadium will be buzzing with excitement as Man City hosts Exeter City in a first-ever meeting between these two clubs on 10 January 2026. With the magic of the FA Cup and the roar of supporters who know this competition, end-to-end action will be delivered on the day.
Pre-Game Odds & Win Probability
HOME (MAN CITY): 3/50 (1.06) – 94.3%
DRAW: 13/1 (14.0) – 7.1%
AWAY (EXETER CITY): 24/1 (25.0) – 4%
Odds courtesy of Betway, subject to change.
Head-To-Head Record
Last five meetings (All Competitions)
This is the first-ever meeting between these two teams, which makes for an exciting matchup.
Manchester City Current Form – DDWWW
Manchester City have entered a busy January period, and with the Citizens comfortably placed in both the Premier League and Champions League, the new year brings plenty of optimism. That said, knowing City and how they pride themselves on such high standards, they will go into this FA Cup third-round tie determined to maintain consistency and with silverware in sight.
The form table suggests City has looked like their usual dominant and overwhelming selves as they continue to display their strength as an elite powerhouse. They went through December unbeaten in the league, securing five consecutive victories and ending the year on a high note.
The turn of the new year handed the Citizens three tough matches to overcome, which saw them face Sunderland, Chelsea, and Brighton. After enduring a tough start to the year, Guardiola will be certain to put his squad depth on full display and reward themselves with another important victory that will see them advance into the next round.
Key Players To Watch
- Savinho: Savinho brings pace, exceptional dribbling, close control, and a joyful, direct attacking approach. His smart movement off the ball and ability to combine his skillset with expert vision to provide assists and goals make him a significant threat in attacking areas.
- Phil Foden: Foden thrives when given the freedom to operate in pockets of space between midfield and attack. His vision to pick out decisive passes is of the highest quality, and an excellent finisher with both feet, adept at scoring from distance or by finding space in the box.
- Erling Haaland: Haaland is among the greatest scorers in football history and every defender's nightmare. His physicality allows him to make direct runs to split and hold off defenders, while having elite scoring ability from various positions, making him a tough forward to contain on any occasion.
Man City Team News
City have welcomed back some key players from the injury list, but Omar Marmoush and Ryan Ait-Nouri will be away on international duty competing at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Exeter City Current Form – DWWLW
Exeter City is experiencing a tough season and fighting to keep themselves away from being dragged into the relegation fight at the bottom of the table. Scottish manager Gary Caldwell, with his experience, knows how tough a job he has on his hands and what needs to be done to take the Grecians to the top, having won League One with Wigan Athletic in 2015/16.
That said, Caldwell and his men have put together a positive run of results during a very busy festive period. During December, they played seven games, winning four and losing three. If they find the right balance and focus on defensive solidity, they could turn spirited performances into vital wins or more favourable results.
After beginning the year off with a statement victory against Luton, Exeter faced Huddersfield away and managed to come away with a well-deserved point. Just when you think it can’t get any more challenging for the Grecians, they will now focus on City, and every minute they survive will fuel the possibility of something extraordinary.
Key Players To Watch
- Jayden Wareham: Wareham is the focal point for Exeter and the leading goal scorer. He excels at flick-ons, layoffs and can be a physical presence when needed. While he is praised for his attacking threat, he is also part of the team's out-of-possession work, making him a vital player for Exeter in all phases.
- Joshua Magennis: Magennis is a physical, aggressive, and hardworking attacking player. He makes driving runs into dangerous areas, has powerful finishes, and a tireless engine, which allows him to be effective on both ends of the field.
- Ilmari Niskanen: Niskanen has been pivotal for Exeter this season, especially on the offensive end. He has been able to utilize his quality on the ball and defensive work rate to contribute largely in defence, while being the creative hub in the final third with the most assists in the team.
Exeter City Team News
Exeter City have no serious injury concerns and will have a full-strength squad to choose from coming into this fixture.
Predicted Line-Up
Man City: 4-2-3-1
Trafford, Lewis, Khusanov, Ake, O’Reilly, Gonzalez, Nunes, Foden, Cherki, Savinho, HaalandExeter City: 3-5-2
Whitworth, Sweeney, Fitzwater, Swinkels, Niskanen, Brierley, Cole, McMillan, Aitchison, Wareham, Magennis
Suggested Bets
Be sure to take advantage of the welcome bonus, which is designed to give you a strong start from the first step.
First Goal To Be Scored (1-15): Exeter will be under pressure from the first whistle; expect the Citizens to put on an attacking display. 19/20 (1.95) with Betway.
Man City To Win Both Halves (Yes): City will dominate and dictate proceedings, which will see them control this fixture, especially at the Etihad. 61/100 (1.61) with Unibet.
Total (Over 4.5): City will look to close this game off early, especially given the large contrast in quality. 24/25 (1.96) with William Hill.
Value Bets
Prepare for kickoff with expert insights and carefully selected value opportunities in this exciting first-time matchup between these two sides.
Goal Range (4-5): The quality City has at its disposal will be too much for the Grecians to handle on the day. 8/5 (2.60) with Midnite.
Anytime Goal Scorer (Ryan Cherki): Cherki is an exceptional footballer who provides scoring opportunities but is also an expert finisher, making him a significant threat in the final third. 9/5 (2.80) with BetMGM.
Highest Scoring Half (Equal). Exeter will have to prepare for long spells of pressure and conceding possession, which will give City all the time to create and score as the game opens up. 37/10 (4/10) with Hollywoodbets.
Prediction: Man City To Win
Man City are, by no surprise, the favourites to win this fixture and rightfully so as they are by far the superior team. Even though Exeter will hope to use the occasion to fuel their performance, they will be overwhelmed by City’s pure brilliance on the day, which will see the Citizens advance to the next round of the FA Cup.
A dedicated sports lover with a wealth of experience in the sports betting world, Marc Strydom has mostly worked as an Editor-in-chief of a sports betting newspaper in South Africa. Marc’s enthusiasm covers many sports, though he is most passionate about football and the NBA. He has covered a wide range of topics on multiple respected platforms.