Manchester City will attempt to claim the FA Cup for a ninth time and inflict a third final defeat on Crystal Palace as the two meet at Wembley in the FA Cup Final. It is City’s third consecutive appearance in the season showpiece, while the Eagles make their third ever challenge for the famous old trophy, after being beaten by Manchester United in 1990 and 2016.
The Blues will go into the match as favourites, but will be eager to avoid another 2013 final, where they were surprisingly beaten 1-0 by Wigan Athletic. Palace have pushed City all the way this season, twice taking the lead at Selhurst Park in December, and taking a 2-0 lead at the Etihad Stadium in April. City drew 2-2 in the first match, then came back to win 5-2 in the return fixture and Palace will be eager to take a modicum of revenge this afternoon.
As always, our team are here to give us their views and feelings on how the match will go. Here’s what our guys think for the Cup Final.
Saul
Big, big match. 3-2 win for the blues. Pep and the lads get up for this one and behind KDB, Marmoush, and Haaland, I foresee a high scoring affair. Title time for City.
Palace 2-3 City
Will
The biggest game of the season awaits for City, but for their opponents, it’s the biggest game in their history.
Crystal Palace have never won a major trophy, and their supporters will be looking to get at a City side who struggled last week against Southampton.
The Blues are just a fortnight away from beginning their much required summer rebuild, but they should still have enough quality to overcome the Eagles and win their eighth FA Cup.
Crystal Palace 1-3 Manchester City
Thomas
It’s a fairly safe bet Palace will attempt to [lay with a fair bit more positivity than Southampton did last time out. After all, there is silverware on the line. As this is City’s only remaining chance at a trophy this season, I expect Pep to have the lads ready at Wembley. After a miserable season, lifting the FA Cup would certainly salvage it a little.
Palace 1-3 City
Pete
Am I the only one who is nervous about this game? Palace have pushed us quite far this season and my mind keeps drifting back to 2013 when we should have beaten Wigan. It’s the only chance KDB will have to lift a trophy as captain and hopefully the team will perform to give him the perfect send-off. I’m still worried though and, while I can’t put City down to lose, I’m not confident at all.
Palace 2-3 City
What Happened at Southampton
In short, nothing. Nothing happened and it wasn’t the ideal match to build up to a Cup Final. Southampton were well marshalled at the back and just set out to frustrate City and the Blues, for whatever reason, couldn’t break them down.
Suffice to say that none of our team saw that one coming and no one gets any points. The price you pay for optimism and belief!
It means that Thomas is on course to replace Saul as king of gut feelings this season, unless something spectacular happens and Pete gets an abundance of points and takes it from him. That’s when he’ll swoop in on a flying pig and take the lead!
Here’s the table: