Manchester City is set to take on Crystal Palace this Saturday in the 2024-25 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. This match offers Pep Guardiola`s squad a chance to secure their first trophy of the season (potentially their second if the Community Shield win from last August is included). It hasn`t been City`s most dominant season under Guardiola; they are currently competing for a spot in the next Champions League and were eliminated by Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of this year`s tournament. Despite these challenges, winning the FA Cup, a highly esteemed trophy in England, remains a significant target.
For Crystal Palace, managed by Oliver Glasner, lifting the trophy would be a truly historic achievement, as the club has never won a major top-flight honor in its history. Last season, Manchester City suffered a 2-1 defeat in the FA Cup final against rivals Manchester United. Now, just 12 months later, Guardiola`s side has an immediate opportunity to bounce back and claim the trophy. Here`s what you need to know:
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
What Man City`s Manager is Saying
Speaking ahead of the final, Pep Guardiola highlighted the occasion as “an honor and privilege.” He stressed the importance of performing well in London to win the title. Guardiola also commented on Crystal Palace`s key players, mentioning Jean-Philippe Mateta`s strength on long balls, Eberechi Eze`s clear quality, Ismaila Sarr`s effective play against Villa in the semi-final, and Adam Wharton`s skill as a holding midfielder who links play well. He stated that the desire to win the trophy is constant, regardless of the opponent, reflecting on their disappointing performance in the previous year`s final and their consistent success in reaching this stage.
Predicted Lineups
Crystal Palace XI: Dean Henderson; Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi; Daniel Munoz, Daichi Kamada, Adam Wharton, Tyrick Mitchell; Eberechi Eze, Ismaila Sarr; Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Man City XI: Stefan Ortega; Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Rico Lewis; Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne; Jeremy Doku, Julian Alvarez, Savinho; Erling Haaland. (Note: Lineups are speculative based on typical formations/squads, slightly adjusted from original text as requested for paraphrasing/rewriting).
Player to Watch
Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City — Kevin De Bruyne stands out as a player to watch. With reports suggesting this could potentially be one of his final matches for Manchester City before a possible departure at the season`s end, the Belgian star will be highly motivated to win another major trophy and potentially cap his successful tenure with the club in style. If City are victorious, it would be a memorable final honor for this influential player.
Storyline to Watch
A significant storyline is whether Pep Guardiola can guide Manchester City to major cup success this season. While they have managed to improve their position in the Premier League and are set to secure a Champions League spot after a less consistent start to the campaign, winning a prestigious trophy like the FA Cup would greatly enhance the narrative of their season, transforming what some perceived as an off-year into a successful one.
Prediction
Despite Crystal Palace`s strong motivation to win their first major trophy, Manchester City possesses a deeper, more talented squad with extensive experience in high-pressure finals. While Palace will compete fiercely, City`s quality is expected to prevail.
Predicted Score: Manchester City 3, Crystal Palace 1.
