Manchester City is set to face Crystal Palace on Saturday in the 2024-25 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, City will have the opportunity to secure potentially their first major trophy of the season (following the 2024 Community Shield win in August). City`s current season has been somewhat below their usual standards, as they are competing for a Champions League spot in the league and were eliminated from the Champions League playoffs this year by Real Madrid. Despite a less dominant season by their own high standards under Guardiola, Manchester City still has the chance to lift the FA Cup, a competition with immense historical prestige in England.
For Crystal Palace, managed by Oliver Glasner, winning the FA Cup would represent a truly historic achievement, as the club has never previously won a top-flight trophy in its history. Last season, Manchester City were defeated 2-1 by rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final, giving Guardiola`s side an immediate chance to respond and reclaim the trophy just twelve months later.
Match Details
- Date: Saturday
- Location: Wembley Stadium, London, England
- Live stream: ESPN
- Odds: Crystal Palace +340; Draw +270; Man City -135
What Manchester City`s Manager Says
Pep Guardiola spoke ahead of the final, stating, “It’s the final of the FA Cup, an honor and a privilege. Of course, we have to perform well. We`ve traveled to London and we will try to win the title. [Jean-Philippe] Mateta is strong on long balls, and beyond that, I`d say their quality with [Eberechi] Eze is obvious. [Ismaila] Sarr in the semifinal caused significant problems for Villa. Adam Wharton is a really good holding midfielder who links play effectively. It is a final. If we were playing against Villa, it would be the same mindset. When we are here, we want to lift the trophy. Last year, we were disappointed with our performance. To win this trophy, you have to get there by winning previous games, and we have done that many times over the years.”
Potential 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.
Manchester City XI: Stefan Ortega; Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nico O`Reilly; Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne; Jeremy Doku, Omar Marmoush, Savinho; Erling Haaland.
Player to Watch
Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City — The influential Belgian midfielder is always a key figure in major finals for City, capable of unlocking defenses and providing match-winning moments. His performance will be crucial to City`s chances.
Key Storyline
Defining the Season: Despite facing challenges earlier in the campaign, Manchester City have navigated their way to another major final. Winning a prestigious trophy like the FA Cup would significantly shape the perception of their season and add another significant honor to Pep Guardiola`s impressive record with the club.
Prediction
While Crystal Palace will bring strong motivation as they seek their first major trophy, Manchester City possess a squad with considerably more talent and extensive experience in high-pressure finals. The depth and big-game pedigree of City are expected to prevail.
Our Pick: Manchester City 3, Crystal Palace 1.
