Aris Thessalonikis vs Marko - Cup

The Cup returns to the home ground on September 16, 2026, where Aris Thessalonikis and Marko 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 plenty riding on this Cup encounter for Aris Thessalonikis and Marko alike, and neither will want to leave the home ground empty-handed. Aris Thessalonikis's recent form is difficult to quantify, but the occasion itself should bring the best out of them. The visitors will travel in the hope that a change of scene can spark a turnaround, whatever the form book says. The Saudi Pro League side have now placed a €45 million package on the table, while Watkins himself is understood to be open to making the move.

Tactically, the contest promises a fascinating contrast. Aris Thessalonikis will look to impose their style on home soil, while Marko are likely to have ideas of their own about how to gain the upper hand. Few of Bouaddi's age possess such a rare blend of physicality off the ball, and poise and balance in possession.

In fixtures as finely poised as this one, it often comes down to who holds their nerve in the big moments — and both camps have players who relish that responsibility. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. Arsenal have signed midfielder Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle in a £75m transfer.

Current market odds — Aris Thessalonikis at 1.1200, the draw at 6.3500, Marko at 13.5000 — point to a competitive affair. The market has installed Aris Thessalonikis as commanding favourites, and the pricing suggests only one winner in the eyes of the bookmakers. Given the balance of the numbers, Aris Thessalonikis should have enough to edge it — a 2-1 victory looks the most likely outcome. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the Cup standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. 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.