Manchester City is set to face Crystal Palace this Saturday in the 2024-25 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Pep Guardiola`s squad has an opportunity to claim their first major trophy of the season (or second, following the Community Shield win in August 2024). While this hasn`t been City`s most dominant season under Guardiola, including an early Champions League exit against Real Madrid and a battle for a top league spot, winning the historically significant FA Cup remains a major objective. For Crystal Palace, managed by Oliver Glasner, lifting the trophy would be a momentous achievement, marking the club`s first-ever top-flight honor. Manchester City will also be seeking redemption after their 2-1 defeat to local rivals Manchester United in last season`s final, aiming to secure the trophy just twelve months later.
How to Watch the 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
Pep Guardiola`s Pre-Match Comments
Speaking ahead of the final, Pep Guardiola described participating in the FA Cup final as `an honor and privilege`. He emphasized the need for a strong performance. He acknowledged Crystal Palace`s threats, highlighting Mateta`s effectiveness with long balls, Eze`s undeniable skill, Sarr`s impact in the semi-final against Villa, and Adam Wharton`s quality as a holding midfielder. Guardiola stated that reaching the final, regardless of the opponent, demonstrates the team`s quality and reiterated the desire to win the trophy, motivated partly by last year`s disappointing final performance.
Projected Starting 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.
Key Player Spotlight
Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City — This FA Cup final could potentially be Kevin De Bruyne`s last appearance for Manchester City, as reports suggest the Belgian star may depart at the end of the season. For De Bruyne, this presents a final chance to win a trophy with the club and conclude his highly successful chapter in style, adding another major honor before potentially moving on. If City wins, this victory would be particularly memorable as the final triumph for a key player and legend of this team.
Intriguing Narrative
Will Guardiola secure a major trophy? Despite encountering inconsistencies throughout the season, Manchester City and Pep Guardiola managed to improve their form in the Premier League, putting them back in contention for a top-five finish and qualification for next season`s Champions League – a prospect that seemed uncertain earlier in the campaign. However, securing a prestigious major trophy like the FA Cup would undoubtedly change the perception of their season, transforming it from merely a recovery into a successful one.
Match Prediction
Although Crystal Palace is highly motivated to win their first major trophy, Manchester City possesses a significantly more talented squad with extensive experience in playing and winning major finals.
Prediction: Manchester City 3, Crystal Palace 1.
