Manchester City is set to face Crystal Palace in the 2024-25 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium this Saturday. Pep Guardiola`s side has an opportunity to claim their first major trophy of the season (after securing the Community Shield in August 2024). It hasn`t been City`s most dominant campaign; they are currently vying for a spot in next season`s Champions League and were eliminated from this year`s competition by Real Madrid in the pre-knockout play-offs. Despite a less-than-perfect season under Guardiola, Manchester City still has the chance to lift the FA Cup, a historically significant trophy in English football.
For Crystal Palace, led by Oliver Glasner, victory would represent a landmark achievement, as the club has never won a major top-flight trophy in its history. Manchester City will be motivated to bounce back from last season`s FA Cup final, where they lost to rivals Manchester United. They now have an immediate chance to rectify that defeat and win the trophy twelve months later.
Match Details
- 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
What Manchester City are Saying
Pep Guardiola commented ahead of the final, calling it an honor and privilege to be there. He highlighted the need for a strong performance. Guardiola noted Crystal Palace`s strengths, mentioning Mateta`s effectiveness with long balls, Eze`s clear quality, Sarr punishing Villa in the semifinal, and Adam Wharton`s skill as a holding midfielder. He emphasized that winning the trophy is the goal, regardless of the opponent, stating they earned their place by winning previous rounds and are determined to lift the cup after last year`s disappointment.
Predicted Lineups
Crystal Palace Predicted XI: Dean Henderson; Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi; Daniel Munoz, Will Hughes, Adam Wharton, Tyrick Mitchell; Eberechi Eze, Ismaila Sarr; Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Manchester City Predicted XI: Ederson; Rico Lewis, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nico O`Reilly; Ilkay Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne; Omar Marmoush; Erling Haaland.
Player to Watch
Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City — This final is expected to be Kevin De Bruyne`s last major final playing for Manchester City, as the Belgian star has reportedly announced his intention to leave the club at the end of the current season. Winning the FA Cup would be a perfect way for KDB to conclude his highly successful chapter with Manchester City before potentially moving elsewhere. If City lifts the trophy, it will be remembered as a final triumph for a key figure of this era.
Key Storyline
Can Guardiola End the Season with a Major Trophy? Despite facing challenges this season, Manchester City and Pep Guardiola managed to improve their position in the Premier League, securing a spot in the race for a top-five finish and Champions League qualification, which seemed less certain earlier in the campaign. However, winning a prestigious trophy like the FA Cup would significantly change the overall perspective on their season, marking it a success despite early exits elsewhere.
Prediction
While Crystal Palace is highly motivated to win their first-ever major trophy, Manchester City possesses a squad with superior talent and extensive experience in playing and winning such finals. City is expected to leverage their quality and big-game pedigree. Predicted Score: Manchester City 3, Crystal Palace 1.
