Crystal Palace and Manchester City are set to face off in the highly anticipated FA Cup final this Saturday at the iconic Wembley Stadium.
Match Overview
This encounter marks the grand finale of the world`s oldest football knockout competition, the 153rd FA Cup final.
Crystal Palace`s Journey
For Crystal Palace, this is just their third appearance in an FA Cup final, and they will be hoping that this time proves to be successful. Their previous two final appearances, in 1990 and 2016, both ended in defeat against Manchester United. In fact, Palace is one of only four clubs to have reached the final multiple times without ever lifting the coveted trophy.
However, under the guidance of Oliver Glasner, Palace has shown significant improvement and spirit. Their route to Wembley has been impressive, marked by consistent attacking output – scoring exactly three goals in each of their last three rounds. Defensively, they have been solid, keeping four clean sheets in their five ties and conceding only once throughout the entire tournament.
The Eagles have also hit a strong run of form at a crucial time, going unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions (two wins, three draws). This recent run includes positive results against challenging opponents such as Bournemouth, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, and Tottenham.
Manchester City`s Challenge
To claim the trophy, Palace must overcome a formidable opponent in Manchester City. Pep Guardiola`s side holds a strong record against Palace, being unbeaten in their last seven meetings across all competitions (four wins, three draws). Their recent FA Cup clashes have been particularly one-sided, with City winning the last three ties by a combined score of 18-4.
This will be City`s 14th FA Cup final, a tally surpassed only by Arsenal (21), Manchester United (21), Chelsea (16), and Liverpool (15). They have previously lifted the trophy seven times, and an eighth triumph would see them draw level with Tottenham and Liverpool in the all-time standings.
Despite their numerous recent successes, this final holds added importance for the Citizens. By their usual incredibly high standards, the current season has been less decorated, missing out on the Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup titles. Therefore, the FA Cup represents their final opportunity for silverware this campaign.
Their most recent meeting with Palace was just over a month ago, a 5-2 victory for City at Selhurst Park. Despite the scoreline, Glasner remained defiant after the match, stating to Guardiola, “If we meet again, you can’t play in this system, because we will solve it.” The final will reveal if Palace can indeed find a solution.
Key Players and Predictions
Eberechi Eze: Palace`s Attacking Threat
For Crystal Palace, Eberechi Eze stands out as a pivotal player. The 26-year-old England international has had an excellent season, contributing significantly with 12 goals and 11 assists across 40 appearances in all competitions. He enters the final in sharp form, having recently scored two goals in Palace`s 2-0 league win against Tottenham.
Eze has also been crucial to Palace`s FA Cup run, directly contributing to four goals (3 goals, 1 assist) in the competition. He opened the scoring in their semi-final victory against Aston Villa and also found the net in the recent 5-2 league defeat to City. His attacking presence is further highlighted by his expected goals (xG) figure over the last six Premier League matches, which is among the highest in the league, averaging an effort on goal every 29 minutes.
Potential Goalscorer & Scoreline Outlook
Considering potential threats, Omar Marmoush is identified as a possible first goalscorer.
Looking at the potential outcome, a prediction of a 2-2 draw is suggested.
Kevin De Bruyne: City`s Creative Hub
For Manchester City, Kevin De Bruyne represents significant attacking value. The Belgian midfielder is highly experienced on the big stage, with this final marking his fourth FA Cup final appearance for City. His impact is clear, having been directly involved in four goals (1 goal, 3 assists) across his previous three final outings.
De Bruyne has contributed two goals and an assist in his last five matches. His creativity remains unmatched within the City squad; over the last six Premier League fixtures, he boasts more than double the expected assists (xA) of any teammate. Furthermore, De Bruyne has an impressive record against Crystal Palace throughout his career, with 16 goal involvements in 19 appearances.
