Thirteen months after suffering an 8-0 humiliation at the hands of Manchester City, Salford City returned to the Etihad Stadium with a vastly improved performance. The League Two club, co-owned by Gary Neville and David Beckham, pushed the Premier League champions all the way before losing 2-0. Captain Luke Garbutt acknowledged how confidence has rebuilt since last season's demoralizing defeat.

Salford, playing in the FA Cup fourth round for the first time, went toe-to-toe with the club still pursuing an unprecedented quadruple. Pep Guardiola's side struggled to break down the visitors' defense until substitute Marc Guehi, who joined for a £20m move from Crystal Palace, doubled the lead in the 81st minute.

Guardiola praised Salford's defensive performance against one of Europe's best teams. Manager Karl Robinson views this as a benchmark for progress as his League Two side aims to escape the fourth tier. The result stands in stark contrast to last season's embarrassment, showing how Salford has developed under Robinson's guidance despite still sitting sixth in the fourth tier.