Hello and welcome to another football weekend preview. This Friday, Europe`s focus returns to potential trophy wins. The FA Cup final is set to take place, while the Serie A title race remains undecided as the league enters its second-to-last round of fixtures.
The Forward Line
Manchester City, Crystal Palace Meet in FA Cup Final
The final English domestic trophy of the season is on the line this Saturday at London`s Wembley Stadium, featuring a classic matchup of favorites versus underdogs in the FA Cup final.
Manchester City arrive at their third consecutive FA Cup final as strong favorites, with significant motivation. While their early season form was shaky, Pep Guardiola`s side has stabilized impressively in the latter half of the season. Winning the FA Cup would be a crucial way to cap off their season, especially as they haven`t finished a campaign without a major trophy since Guardiola`s first year in charge in 2016-17.
City will be boosted by the return of star striker Erling Haaland, who played 90 minutes last week after recovering from an ankle injury. He`s expected to be a key player for Guardiola. City might look to their dominant 5-2 victory over Crystal Palace in April for inspiration. Five different players scored in that match, including Kevin de Bruyne. This final could mark one of de Bruyne`s last appearances for City after a storied 10-year career, potentially adding another title to his collection. It could also be one of the final times de Bruyne and Haaland link up, having combined for 25 goals in 92 games so far. De Bruyne`s departure is anticipated, and tributes are already being paid, including from Haaland:
- Haaland: “It`s been a pleasure to play with him. Hopefully, in the last couple of games, we`re going to have a really good time. We clicked straight away from the first second, and it`s going to be emotional when a good friend leaves. Maybe the best player ever to play for City – one of the best to play in the Premier League as well. Hopefully, we can make it a good one in the last few weeks. You really can`t replace a player like him because he`s got something so special with the way he puts the ball into the box. You can see many of my goals are assisted by him, and some of them have been ridiculous. We have to make the best out of it and give him a good farewell.”
Standing in their way at Wembley is Crystal Palace, who are participating in their third-ever FA Cup final, hoping to secure their first major trophy as a top-flight club. Led by forwards Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eberechi Eze, who have collectively scored 29 goals this season, Palace aims to achieve a truly remarkable feat for the club and the competition`s recent history. Since Wigan Athletic`s win in 2013, only one non-traditional “big six” team (Leicester City in 2021) has lifted the FA Cup. Could another surprise be on the horizon this Saturday if things go Palace`s way?
Midfield Link Play
A Serie A Weekend of Epic Proportions
Serie A action resumes on Sunday for a dramatic day as Europe`s most compelling title race nears its conclusion. Nine out of ten matches will kick off simultaneously, with particular attention on games involving title contenders Inter and Napoli.
Napoli enters the penultimate week with a one-point lead over Inter and a seemingly favorable match against 16th-placed Parma. However, last week`s unexpected 2-2 draw against Genoa has raised doubts about Antonio Conte`s side`s ability to clinch the title. Despite outshooting Genoa significantly (22 to 8), they were arguably unlucky not to win, with an own goal hindering their effort and their expected goals tally of 1.7 seeming low given their attacking output. Sunday presents an opportunity for them to regain momentum and hold onto the top spot, maintaining pressure on Inter.
Inter faces a challenging match on Sunday against fifth-placed Lazio. Lazio is level on points with fourth-placed Juventus and is pushing hard for a top-four finish to secure a spot in next season`s UEFA Champions League. Inter benefited from Napoli`s draw last week and did their part by securing a 2-0 win at Torino. This result, combined with their progression to the Champions League final, suggests positive momentum is with Inter. Nevertheless, facing Lazio will be a genuine test of their title aspirations, even as favorites in the fixture.
Top Stories
- Barcelona clinch La Liga title with a victory over Espanyol, showcasing Hansi Flick`s impact and Lamine Yamal`s talent.
- Bologna ends a 51-year wait by winning the Coppa Italia, defeating AC Milan 1-0 in Rome.
- The NWSL Players Association calls for a policy change regarding game postponements following a medical incident involving Angel City`s Savy King.
- A closer look at Bournemouth center back Dean Huijsen, potentially a summer signing target for Real Madrid.
- The latest NWSL power rankings ahead of the weekend`s matches, indicating which teams are trending up or down.
- Several members staged a walkout at the FIFA Congress on Thursday as a protest against president Gianni Infantino`s significant delay.
- At least eight people suffered minor injuries after a car drove into a crowd outside RCDE Stadium during the Espanyol vs. Barcelona match.
The Back Line
Best Bets
- FA Cup Final — Eberechi Eze to have 1+ shot on target (-135): Eze has a history of performing in big matches. Despite City`s improved defense, he is likely to find opportunities to test the goalkeeper, as he`s difficult to contain from outside the box. If Crystal Palace is to pull off an upset, a strong performance from Eze will be essential, and he seems ready for the occasion.
