Erling Haaland Aims to Break Major Cup Final Goal Drought in FA Cup Showdown Against Chelsea

Manchester City's star forward, Erling Haaland, will be looking to break a curious goalscoring "curse" in major cup finals as his team prepares to take on Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium this Saturday. Despite his incredible scoring record since joining City in 2022, Haaland has yet to find the back of the net in any of his 15 appearances in major cup semi-finals and finals for the club.

Haaland has established himself as one of the world's most feared strikers, currently ranking second in Manchester City's all-time scoring charts with 161 goals in 196 games, only behind Sergio Aguero. This season alone, the Norwegian has netted 37 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions, including a league-leading 26 goals in the Premier League and three in the FA Cup. His FA Cup record includes 12 goals in 13 appearances, notably featuring three hat-tricks, such as his triple against Liverpool in a 4-0 quarter-final victory. However, his final appearances have proven to be a different story.

The Final Frustration

Haaland's inability to score in major cup finals for Manchester City spans across five different competitions. These include three FA Cup finals, three Community Shield matches, and one each in the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and EFL Cup. Across these nine finals, he has registered 15 shots without any success. His last goal in any major cup final came for his former club, Borussia Dortmund, in the DFB-Pokal showpiece in May 2021.

Key facts

Wembley's Challenge

Adding to this peculiar record is Haaland's performance at Wembley Stadium. The iconic venue is the only stadium where Haaland has played more than twice for Manchester City without scoring. In eight matches at Wembley, totaling 601 minutes, he has taken 11 shots but has yet to register a goal. This Saturday's FA Cup final presents another opportunity for him to break this streak at the national stadium.

Previous Encounters with Chelsea

Against this weekend's opponents, Chelsea, Haaland has a more favorable personal record. He remains undefeated in eight games against the West London club (W5 D3), all in the Premier League, and has scored four goals in these encounters. This includes a brace in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge in November 2023 and goals in home and away victories during the 2024-25 campaign. However, he did not score against Chelsea in the most recent Premier League season, with City drawing 1-1 at home in January and winning 3-0 away last month.

Guardiola's Expectations

Pep Guardiola is anticipated to restore Haaland to Manchester City's starting lineup for the final. Haaland was an unused substitute in City's recent 3-0 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace. The Citizens will be aiming to secure their eighth FA Cup title and avoid an unwanted record currently held by Chelsea when they clash under the Wembley arch. This match holds significant importance for both Haaland and his team as they look to conclude the season on a high.

Fuente: Sports Mole Football RSS, https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-city/fa-cup/news/man-citys-haaland-out-to-break-bonkers-goalscoring-curse-in-fa-cup-final-against-chelsea_597635.html