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Manchester United take on Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium this weekend to compete for the first piece of silverware of the season.

Both teams beat Premier League rivals in the two-legged semi-finals to reach this stage, with United beating newly promoted Nottingham Forest while Newcastle edged out relegation-threatened Southampton. The north-eastern club can be considered to have overcome the most difficult path to the final after also eliminating top-tier teams Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Leicester City, as well as entering a round early due to not competing in any competition from UEFA.

United manager Erik ten Hag had a tough first test in the competition against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa just four days after being beaten by the same team in the Premier League, but after winning that draw 4-2, league leaders Championship, Burnley and League One. Charlton Athletic were dispatched without conceding a goal to face Forest in the quarter-finals.

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Before this weekend’s game, the Manchester evening news He wanted to explain the rules of the Carabao Cup final. Will VAR be used? Does the game go to extra time or straight to a penalty shootout? We’ve answered those questions and others below…

Is VAR in use?

Yes. Unlike in the early rounds of the competition, a pair of video assistant referees will officiate the final. Peter Bankes is the main VAR official, while Eddie Smart will work as a VAR assistant.

The Carabao Cup chooses to use VAR only in both semi-final matches and the final, despite the technology being available in all Premier League stadiums. This is due to the presence of English Football League clubs that participate in the competition before that stage and do not have such access.

Is there extra time?

There is. If the match is tied at the end of 90 minutes, then the two teams will play another half hour of extra time, and if they do not split up after that, then a penalty shootout would follow, as was the case during the past. end of the year between Chelsea and Liverpool.

Like VAR, extra time is only implemented after the semifinal stage. Earlier rounds of the tournament go straight to penalties if the match ends in a draw, as Newcastle found out after their 0-0 draw with Palace in the third round.

How many substitutions are allowed?

Both clubs can name up to nine substitutes, but only a maximum of six of those players can be used for the entirety of the final. Five substitutions are allowed during the 90 minutes, with an additional one allowed if extra time is required.

Coaches only have three chances to make those five changes within the game, which excludes halftime. An additional one is also allowed for use in overtime, while substitutions made before the additional half hour or during halftime of overtime are not counted towards that total.

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