Manchester City and Crystal Palace are set to meet in the 2024-25 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium this Saturday. Under Pep Guardiola, City aims for their first major trophy of the season (following the Community Shield). City`s season hasn`t been their strongest; they are competing for a Champions League spot and were knocked out of this year`s Champions League by Real Madrid early on. Despite this, they have a chance to win the historic FA Cup. For Oliver Glasner`s Crystal Palace, winning would be a monumental first top-flight trophy. City lost last season`s final to Manchester United but have a chance to redeem themselves this year.
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 Says
Pep Guardiola commented on Friday, calling the FA Cup final an “honor and privilege.” He emphasized the need for a strong performance and the desire to win the title in London. He highlighted specific Palace players, noting Mateta`s strength, Eze`s obvious quality, Sarr`s impact against Villa in the semifinal, and Wharton`s skill as a holding midfielder. Guardiola stated that the opponent wouldn`t change their approach, stressing that reaching the final requires winning previous matches, which City has done consistently. He also referenced last year`s final disappointment, expressing a clear desire to lift the trophy this time.
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.
Player to Watch
Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City is a key player to watch. This FA Cup final is expected to be his last major final with the club, as the Belgian midfielder is reportedly leaving at the end of the season. Winning this trophy offers him a chance to conclude his successful spell at City by adding another significant honor before moving on. His performance will be highly scrutinized, especially if City wins, marking a memorable farewell for a vital team member.
Storyline to Watch
A significant storyline is whether Pep Guardiola can secure a major trophy this season. While City`s season hasn`t been ideal, they`ve improved in the Premier League and are now contending for a top-five finish and Champions League qualification, which seemed uncertain earlier. Winning a prestigious trophy like the FA Cup would significantly alter the perception of their season, turning a potentially underwhelming campaign into one with silverware.
Prediction
Despite Crystal Palace`s strong desire to win their first major trophy, Manchester City possesses a superior squad with extensive experience in major finals.
Prediction: Manchester City 3, Crystal Palace 1.
Adrian Whitmore