Algyő SK vs ESMTK - Magyar Kupa

The Magyar Kupa returns to the home ground on August 22, 2026, where Algyő SK and ESMTK will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. That coronation came from City's £116m summer signing Elliot Anderson - and has been hotly debated in the build-up to the Manchester derby Super Sunday showdown at Old Trafford, which you can watch live on Sky Sports.

There is little to choose between Algyő SK and ESMTK on paper, and the Magyar Kupa encounter should reflect that balance. Algyő SK will be keen to seize the initiative and build some momentum on home soil. The visitors will travel in the hope that a change of scene can spark a turnaround, whatever the form book says. But the Reds are still unsure about Bologna's asking price for the defender, who turned 28 in June and has less than 12 months to run on his contract at the Serie A side.

Stylistically, this is a compelling matchup. Algyő SK favour a patient, possession-based approach, whereas ESMTK are at their most dangerous when allowed to hit quickly on the counter. His passing display at the World Cup was yet more evidence of his suitability for City and the possession-heavy style Maresca favours.

Game-changers are scattered across both line-ups, and the contest may well be decided by which side's match-winners deliver on the day. The wide areas will be a key battleground, with full-backs and wingers on either side capable of swinging the contest one way or the other. He would keep it close until the defender had a nibble and then shift it," says Carr.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. The signals point towards a stalemate, with the two sides closely matched across form and standings. A 1-1 draw is easy to envisage. With the standings tight and form on the line, this is a fixture neither side will want to lose. The 22-year-old was likely quite high up on the list of United's midfield targets and potentially even higher after Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga blows.