Manchester City is set to face Crystal Palace in the 2024-25 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Pep Guardiola`s side has the opportunity to secure their first major trophy of the current season (or second, counting the 2024 Community Shield won last August). This season has been somewhat inconsistent for City, who are currently battling for a top-five spot in the league to qualify for the next Champions League, having been eliminated early from this year`s competition by Real Madrid. Despite not being their most dominant season under Guardiola, Manchester City still has the chance to win the prestigious FA Cup.
For Crystal Palace, managed by Oliver Glasner, winning this match would mark a truly historic achievement, as the club has never lifted a major top-flight trophy in its history. Last season, Manchester City lost the FA Cup final to their cross-city rivals, Manchester United, but Guardiola`s team has an immediate chance to respond and claim the trophy twelve months later.
How to Watch the FA Cup Final
- Date: Saturday, May 17
- Time: 11:30 a.m. ET
- Location: Wembley Stadium, London, England
- Live stream: ESPN
- Odds: Crystal Palace +340; Draw +270; Man City -135
Manchester City Manager`s Comments
Speaking ahead of the final, Pep Guardiola commented, “It`s final of the FA Cup, an honor and privilege. Of course, we have to perform well. We travel to London and we will try to win the title.” He praised Crystal Palace players, noting, “Mateta is strong on long balls and after that I would say their quality with Eze is obvious. Sarr in the semifinal punished Villa a lot. Adam Wharton is a really good holding midfielder who links well.” Guardiola added perspective on the occasion: “It is a final. If we played against Villa it would be the same. When we are here we want to lift the trophy. Last year we were disappointed with our performance. To win the trophy you have to be there and win previous games and we have done it many times in previous years.”
Predicted Lineups
Crystal Palace XI: Dean Henderson; Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi; Daniel Munoz, Will Hughes, Adam Wharton, Tyrick Mitchell; Eberechi Eze, Ismaila Sarr; Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Man City XI: Ederson; Rico Lewis, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nico O`Reilly; Ilkay Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne; Omar Marmoush; Erling Haaland.
Key Player Spotlight
Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City: This FA Cup final is anticipated to be Kevin De Bruyne`s last final appearance for Manchester City, as reports suggest the Belgian star will leave the club at the conclusion of the current season. It represents his final opportunity to win a trophy with City and potentially leave on a high note. Should City win, it will be remembered as a final triumph for a vital player of this era.
Main Storyline
Can Guardiola Cap the Season with a Trophy? Despite a season that has seen some disappointment, particularly in Europe, Manchester City has shown resilience in the Premier League, climbing into contention for a top-five spot and Champions League qualification—a scenario that seemed uncertain earlier in the campaign. However, winning a major trophy like the FA Cup would undoubtedly change the overall perception of their season.
Prediction
While Crystal Palace has significant motivation to claim their first-ever major trophy, Manchester City possesses a squad with superior talent and extensive experience in high-stakes finals. Their pedigree in such matches is expected to be a deciding factor.
Predicted Score: Manchester City 3, Crystal Palace 1.
Dominic Ashworth