FA CUP FINAL: Crystal Palace, who've never lifted a major trophy in their 119-year history, take on seven-time winners of the competition Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday
Comments
Sport
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: Manager of Crystal Palace Oliver Glasner and Manager of Manchester City Pep Guardiola during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Crystal Palace FC at Etihad Stadium on April 12, 2025 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Oliver Glasner and Pep Guardiola will meet under the arch(Image: Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Step aside, Premier League, it's FA Cup final day. All eyes will be on Wembley come 4:30pm as Crystal Palace face Manchester City.
Having crushed Aston Villa 3-0 in the semi-finals, Palace are hoping to make it third time lucky after cup final heartbreak in 1990 and 2016. Both of those narrow defeats came against Manchester United but now it's their noisy neighbours who they'll have to beat in order to lift their first ever major trophy.
City, on the other hand, have won the FA Cup seven times and reached the past three finals. The former English champions were overwhelming favourites coming into last year's showpiece, only for United to cause an upset and leave Pep Guardiola gutted.
Oliver Glasner will be targeting the same outcome and knows how to win a cup final, having guided Eintracht Frankfurt to the Europa League in 2022. Will history be made for Palace or will normal service resume for City?
We asked the Mirror Football team for their predictions.
READ MORE: Crystal Palace can provide crowning glory to forgettable season - and they deserve itREAD MORE: Mateo Kovacic targets FA Cup win at FIFTH time of asking and backs Man City to rule the world
John Cross
Crystal Palace 1-2 Man City
I love the FA Cup. And I would love to see a new name on the trophy, but… I think Manchester City will win it.
Crystal Palace is a great story. Oliver Glasner has been fantastic and Eberechi Eze is one of the players of this year's whole tournament, especially after his great show in the semi-final. It's a big achievement for them to even be there and you can get suckered into thinking it means more to Palace to win because they have not done it before. But that is wrong.
One of the many reasons Pep Guardiola has been so good for English football - apart from the trophies, style and tactical innovations - is that he respects tradition. Just look at their success in the domestic cups. While other managers have been guilty of disrespecting our crown jewel, the FA Cup, Pep loves it.
Guardiola has also been a serial winner in the League Cup. City love Wembley - and I think they will win it.
Andy Dunn
Crystal Palace 2-1 Man City
As a rule, I don't bet on football but the bookmakers' odds for Crystal Palace to win the FA Cup are extremely tempting. Oliver Glasner's side are the 12/5 outsiders and that is a big price in a contest that is fiendishly close to call.
Manchester City are on a long unbeaten run but have not always been overly convincing - that was certainly the case in that last Premier League game at Southampton. Palace, on the other hand, had the ideal warm-up game at Spurs and if you had to pick a winner on the evidence of their respective semi-final victories, you would have to go for Glasner's men.
From a City point of view, Pep Guardiola's selection will be interesting. If he opts to play his veterans in midfield, they might just find the conditions a little on the energy-sapping side.
Of course, City have the experience of getting over the line in these games but Palace have got key players such as Eberechi Eze in fine form and will end that long wait for a major trophy.
Who'll win the FA Cup final - Crystal Palace or Man City? Give us your score prediction in the comments section.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze evades a challenge from Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Crystal Palace FC at Etihad Stadium on April 12, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Eberechi Eze could be a thorn in Manchester City's side
Simon Mullock
Crystal Palace 1-2 Man City
It's the Last Dance at Wembley for many of the Manchester City players who have helped the club dominate the Premier League over the last eight years - and I'm backing the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva to prevail.
But only just. Crystal Palace showed in the semi-final win over Aston Villa that on their day they can beat the best and Oliver Glasner's men will be desperate to make history by becoming the first Eagles side to lift a trophy.
Pep Guardiola has had a full week to prepare his team and there are no excuses if the Blues fail to turn up like they did against Manchester United in last year's final after enjoying an extended Premier League title bender. City won't underestimate Palace after going 2-0 down against the Londoners at the Etihad last month before De Bruyne's masterclass saw them reply with five goals of their own.
Neil McLeman
Crystal Palace 2-1 Man City
Pep Guardiola's serial champions against a team which has never won a major trophy - and started the season with eight Premier League games without a win and sit down in 12th. Usually, Manchester City would be the red-hot favourites but this is not a usual season.
I watched their goalless draw at Southampton last weekend and they were lost up front. Erling Haaland, playing his first game since March, lacked match fitness and any service.
This final will be decided by the contest between City's fit-again defence and the Palace attack. The Eagles showed in their semi-final destruction of Aston Villa that they have pace and power - and a match winner in Eberechi Eze.
Jean-Philippe Mateta is only more than just a poacher as he showed with his exquisite finish at the Emirates last month. Oliver Glasner is not worried about his stars getting sold this summer and has even told them 'the better they perform, the better the offers will be'.
There is no better stage - nor shop window - than Wembley.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: Oliver Glasner, Manager of Crystal Palace, looks on as Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, gestures during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Crystal Palace FC at Etihad Stadium on April 12, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Oliver Glasner has never beaten Pep Guardiola after three clashes
Matt Maltby
Crystal Palace 2-1 Man City
Palace are underdogs, and rightly so, but Oliver Glasner has got the Eagles flying - and they'll down Manchester City with a trademark performance at Wembley. Back-to-back 3-0 wins, in the quarter and semi-finals, is proof that they can deal with the pressure that comes with playing in high-stakes matches.
City, despite their underwhelming campaign, will be no pushovers. They've won this competition seven times in their history - but does it really mean that much to them this year? I'll go as far as saying they could do without this game.
Yes, they'd love to end a miserable season with a cup - but their focus is on securing Champions League football. They've been so successful over the last decade that the novelty of going to Wembley is beginning to wear off.
This game means so much more to Palace fans and their players. The chance to win the first major trophy in the club's history - and to book a spot in the Europa League next season. They've lost out in the final twice, both times to United - the last being back in 2016. But Palace are in much better shape now. They have so many match winners across the pitch - including Daniel Munoz at the back, Adam Wharton in midfield, Eberechi Eze in the No.10 role and Jean-Philippe Mateta leading the line.
It'll be a tight game, with City dominating possession and Palace relying on their dangerous counter-attacks on show in the win over Tottenham last weekend. But my money is on Palace - and Eze will score the winner.
Mark Jones
Crystal Palace 3-2 Man City
Let's make it one for the ages shall we? Palace went 2-0 up at the Etihad in the recent Premier League meeting and but for a tight offside it would have been three. There is a world where their pacy attack - including the extremely underrated Ismaila Sarr - run all over a City side with a soft centre.
Palace won't play like Southampton did last weekend, something which will no-doubt delight Ruben Dias, but they will sit deep and spring on City at times, and that could make this a hugely entertaining watch.
City are going to be looking towards Kevin De Bruyne - surely the standout FA Cup player of the last 10 years - to deliver in one last hurrah on the Wembley stage, but I just think Palace might be too quick, too strong and too determined for them. Strap yourselves in.
Manchester City's Belgian midfielder #17 Kevin De Bruyne (L) and Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland (R) during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Manchester City at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England on May 10, 2025. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland are back on the pitch together
Nathan Ridley
Crystal Palace 2-1 Man City
I know I'm not alone when I say that I didn't expect Crystal Palace to hammer Aston Villa at Wembley last month, but after watching Oliver Glasner's side run riot over a Champions League-level side, I'm convinced that they can do the same to Manchester City. The energy, the tactical discipline, the organisation - they're all traits which Palace have in abundance and are suited to a final.
Obviously, Pep Guardiola's serial winners will have the lion's share of the possession but the Eagles will know how to scavenge possession and hurt them. Experience is on City's side, too, but we've seen plenty of times this season how they can be made to look ordinary by a variety of teams, even with their biggest stars on show.
Unless Erling Haaland or Kevin De Bruyne come up with some special, I'm not convinced that this team in its current state are ready to win a trophy. So I'm backing Palace, a refreshing winner of what's been a refreshing FA Cup campaign.
Daniel Orme
Crystal Palace 1-3 Man City
Usually, I'd be more inclined to plump for the underdog and that's exactly what Crystal Palace are as they head to Wembley. That's despite the Eagles absolutely flying under Oliver Glasner and City scrambling just to keep their season together.
The fact that Pep Guardiola's men have a place in the Champions League still to secure, that could see Palace given some encouragement. But the recent record between the two sides would say otherwise.
Palace have won just once against City over the past six years - that solitary success being a 2-0 win at the Etihad in October 2021. Regardless of their troubles, Guardiola still has a hugely talented squad at his disposal, capable of striking fear into even the best sides in the country.
And that should just about be enough to get them over the line at Wembley in Kevin De Bruyne's swansong. Palace might open the scoring - and the in-form Eberechi Eze could be the man to get them going - but the day looks likely to belong to City.
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 26: Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the Emirates FA Cup Semi Final match between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa at Wembley Stadium on April 26, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Crystal Palace dismantled Aston Villa in the semi-finals
Jacob Leeks
Man City 5-0 Crystal Palace
This has all the makings of the 2019 final when City pumped Watford 6-0. Underdogs Palace inspire little confidence that they can take down the favourites.
While the Eagles are on a five-game unbeaten run, their previous two defeats were a 5-0 hammering at Newcastle and a 5-2 defeat to City. In fact Palace have beaten City only twice in the last decade.
Pep Guardiola's side have Erling Haaland back to fitness and will be looking to ensure their season is not a total failure. Sorry, Palace fans, but it could be a difficult day.
Tom Victor
Crystal Palace 1-2 Man City
As poor as City have been this season, and as great as Palace were in their semi-final, I can't see past Pep Guardiola's men somehow brute-forcing a win at Wembley. They have already come from behind three times during this run, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see three become four.
There are reasons to be hopeful for a Palace win, of course. Oliver Glasner got the job done on a big stage in the 2022 Europa League final, while the Eagles gave as good as they got when they held City in the league in December.
They'll also be able to call upon captain Marc Guehi, whose absence was keenly felt in the 5-2 defeat at the Etihad in April. However, the manner of City's comeback in that game - not to mention the return of one of their own big players in Erling Haaland - ought to give them the upper hand.
Join our new WhatsApp community* *and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.