Football can be cruel. Just ask a Watford fan.
There's something about the sky-blue shirts of Manchester City that seems to act as a catalyst for chaos whenever these two teams meet. It isn't just about the wins or the losses anymore; it's about the sheer, overwhelming scale of the scorelines that have defined this fixture over the last decade. Honestly, if you're a neutral, Man City vs Watford is usually a guarantee of goals. If you’re a Hornet, it’s a recurring nightmare.
The most recent meeting in the Carabao Cup on September 24, 2024, at the Etihad Stadium, felt a bit different, though. City didn't just roll over them with the usual "cricket score." They won 2-1, which, given the history, felt like a massive win for Watford’s dignity.
Jeremy Doku opened the scoring just five minutes in, and Matheus Nunes bagged his first-ever City goal before half-time. But Watford stayed in it. Tom Ince curled a beauty into the far corner in the 86th minute to set up a finish that was—believe it or not—actually tense. Pep Guardiola’s side eventually saw it out, but it wasn't the usual bloodbath.
The Day the Scoreboard Broke: That 8-0 Demolition
We have to talk about September 21, 2019. It’s the game everyone brings up.
Most teams try to "keep it tight" for the first twenty minutes against City. Watford tried that, and they were 5-0 down by the 18th minute. David Silva scored after 52 seconds. By the time the clock hit 18:00, Sergio Agüero, Riyad Mahrez, Bernardo Silva, and Nicolás Otamendi had all found the net.
👉 See also: Steelers News: Justin Fields and the 2026 Quarterback Reality
It was arguably the most ruthless twenty minutes of football ever played in the Premier League.
Bernardo Silva ended up with a hat-trick that day. Kevin De Bruyne, who had spent the whole afternoon carving the defense like a Sunday roast, capped it off with a thunderbolt for the eighth. Ben Foster, the Watford keeper at the time, later said City were "breathtaking" and that his team didn't even "lay a glove on them."
Why does this keep happening?
- The Tactical Mismatch: Watford often tries to stay compact, but City’s ability to switch play rapidly using wingers like Grealish or Doku stretches that low block until it snaps.
- The Psychological Scars: When you’ve lost 15 games in a row to the same opponent, the heads drop the moment the first goal goes in.
- The Squad Depth: In that 2024 Carabao Cup game, City started 16-year-old Kaden Braithwaite and still dominated 70% of the ball.
The Historic 6-0 FA Cup Final
The 2019 FA Cup Final was supposed to be a celebration for Watford. Their first final in 35 years. Their fans turned Wembley into a sea of yellow and black.
Then the game started.
Watford actually had a golden chance early on. Roberto Pereyra went through one-on-one, but Ederson—as he always does—smothered it. If that goes in, maybe history changes. Instead, City went down the other end and started the machine.
✨ Don't miss: South Dakota State Football vs NDSU Football Matches: Why the Border Battle Just Changed Forever
Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus basically lived in the Watford box. By the time the whistle blew, it was 6-0. It equalled the record for the biggest-ever win in an FA Cup final, a record that had stood since 1903. It also secured the first-ever domestic treble for a men's team in England.
It felt like a training session by the end. City players were almost apologetic, but they just couldn't stop scoring.
Can Watford Ever Beat City Again?
History says no, but football is weird.
The last time Watford actually beat Manchester City was in March 1989. That was in the old Second Division. George Bush Sr. had just been inaugurated. The Berlin Wall was still standing.
Since the 2006-07 season, the aggregate score between these two is somewhere in the region of 61-8. That is not a typo.
🔗 Read more: Shedeur Sanders Draft Room: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
However, the 2-1 loss in September 2024 showed a different Watford. Under Tom Cleverley—a man who knows what it’s like to play against City from his Manchester United days—they looked organized. They didn't panic when Doku scored early. They didn't collapse after the second.
What to watch for in future meetings
If you're betting on or watching the next Man City vs Watford clash, look at the "over 2.5 goals" markets. It’s almost a freebie. But keep an eye on how Watford handles the "half-spaces." City loves to tuck their full-backs (like Rico Lewis) into midfield, creating a 3-2-4-1 shape that overwhelms Championship-level defenses.
Watford’s best bet is catching City on a "hangover" week, perhaps right after a massive Champions League tie. Even then, as we saw in the Carabao Cup, City's "B-team" is still full of internationals and $50 million signings.
To stay ahead of the next fixture, you should track the recovery of City’s key creative hubs. When De Bruyne or Phil Foden are rested, the scorelines tend to stay in the single digits. When they play, all bets are off. If you’re looking for a silver lining for the Hornets, focus on their transition play; they’ve finally started scoring against City again, which is a start.
Check the official Premier League and EFL schedules for the next confirmed date, as these two often meet in cup competitions even when Watford is playing in the Championship.