Manchester City become the first team in 57 YEARS to reach an FA Cup final without conceding

Manchester City hold the FA Cup trophy in one hand after dominating promising champions Sheffield United in Saturday’s 3-0 knockout win at Wembley.

Riyad Mahrez grabbed a hat-trick and finished every shot in the same corner of goal as the Manchester side kept their treble ambitions on track.

City boss Pep Guardiola celebrated his 29th FA Cup win as manager and enjoyed one of the club’s more comfortable semi-finals in the capital and will find out who his team will face in the final when Manchester United take on Brighton on Sunday.

Accustomed to breaking records under their Spanish leader, the reigning Premier League champions can now boast another stunning performance.

Thanks to Man City’s routine performances, they are now the first team to reach an FA Cup final for the first time in 57 years without conceding a goal. Everton were the first to do it in 1966. Sportsmail looks back at Guardiola & Co’s record-breaking run to the final.

Erling Haaland’s (left) cup goals have helped City set another great record this season

THIRD ROUND: Manchester City v Chelsea (4-0)

This was intended as a test for Guardiola as Chelsea wanted to kick-start their season and challenge for a first trophy under then manager Graham Potter. It wasn’t.

Riyad Mahrez secured his run of Cup goals this season with a brace against the Blues and was helped to victory by goals from Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden.

Chelsea managed just one shot on goal during the match, while the finalists centre-back Aymeric Laporte and Manuel Akanji enjoyed a quiet night at the office.

FOURTH ROUND: Man City v Arsenal (1-0)

More Premier League opposition followed in the next round and this time it was current English league leaders Arsenal who had the chance to test City’s resolve.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta decided to leave some of his best players on the bench at the Etihad and lamented a missed opportunity to win his second FA Cup as Arsenal boss.

Centre-back Nathan Ake was City’s unlikely goalscorer as his second-half goal guaranteed them a place in the next round.

Nathan Ake (right) scored the only goal of the game in City’s fourth round victory over Arsenal

Ake was the difference as City continued their march into this year’s FA Cup competition

FIFTH ROUND: Bristol City v Man City (0-3)

More goals without reply followed for City as they traveled to Bristol and in the hope of continuing their magnificent run.

Lower level opponents can sometimes cause more problems if they give it their all and have nothing to lose against the big boys from the Premier League.

City knocked them down and eliminated the competition, as they had done before with goals from Kevin de Bruyne and a Phil Foden cementing the difference.

QUARTER-FINAL: Man City v Burnley (6-0)

And so Vincent Kompany returned to the Etihad to cause a stir against the team who have erected a statue of him outside their stadium.

Guardiola didn’t take it easy against the Man City legend as Kompany’s Burnley was hit for six by another hat-trick from Erling Haaland, a brace from Alvarez and a rare goal for youngster Cole Palmer.

The record-breaking run continues as Guardiola secures another trip to Wembley.

Erling Haaland (pictured) showed no signs of rust as he scored a hat-trick against Burnley

Vincent Kompany (centre) was shown no love on his return to Man City as Burnley boss

SEMI-FINAL: Man City v Sheffield United (3-0)

Saturday was the final hurdle and City leapt over it with ease as they pushed Sheffield United aside like those who had fallen victim before.

The Championship side scored just one shot on target as City went on quietly for 90 minutes as if their place in the final was just a technicality.

Everton’s defense was finally broken in the 1966 final by Sheffield United. Surely Brighton or Manchester United will end City’s defensive record in the final?

Riyad Mahrez grabbed a hat-trick on Saturday as City became the first team in 57 years to reach an FA Cup final without conceding a goal