2025 FA Cup Final Betting Preview: Crystal Palace vs Manchester City

Wembley Stadium is set to host the 144th edition of the FA Cup final this Saturday, as Premier League rivals Crystal Palace and Manchester City go head-to-head under the iconic arch.

For Manchester City, this is a chance to secure their eighth FA Cup title in club history, while for Crystal Palace, the final represents a historic opportunity to win their first major trophy in over a century. It’s a true David vs. Goliath encounter, with the Eagles hoping to make history and the Citizens looking to rescue their season with silverware.

According to the latest odds from EveryGame, Manchester City enter the match as favorites with odds of -125. Crystal Palace are considered underdogs at +320, while a draw after 90 minutes is priced at +275.

Crystal Palace: Chasing Historic Glory at Wembley

Crystal Palace are set to make their third appearance in an FA Cup final, hoping to lift the prestigious trophy for the very first time in their 120-year history. After falling short against Manchester United in the finals of 1990 and 2016, the Eagles now have a golden opportunity to rewrite their legacy under the arch at Wembley. They join a small group of clubs – alongside Queen’s Park, Birmingham City, and Watford – who have reached two finals without yet securing a win.

Oliver Glasner’s men have enjoyed an outstanding FA Cup campaign, navigating their way to the final with wins over Stockport County, Doncaster Rovers, Millwall, Fulham, and Aston Villa – conceding just one goal along the way. The Eagles have netted precisely three goals in each of their last three fixtures in the competition, including a dominant 3-0 victory over Villa in the semi-finals at Wembley, a result that highlighted their growing momentum and belief.

Manager Glasner has played down the pressure surrounding the occasion, insisting it’s “business as usual” at training and warning against altering the team’s mindset, which could “make them dizzy.” That level-headed approach will be vital as Palace look to end a frustrating seven-game winless streak against Manchester City (losing four of these games) – a run that continued just five weeks ago when they suffered a 5-2 defeat at the Etihad despite taking a surprise 2-0 lead inside 21 minutes.

Since securing their place in the final, Palace have remained unbeaten across five consecutive matches in all competitions. A 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest was followed by an assured 2-0 victory away to Tottenham, where Eberechi Eze delivered a standout performance with a clinical brace. Now sitting 12th in the Premier League and already matching last season’s tally of 49 points with two games to spare, the South London club can momentarily put their top-half ambitions on hold as they pursue the biggest prize in their history. A win would not only mark their first major trophy but also seal a return to European football for the first time since their Intertoto Cup campaign in 1998.

Palace have also struggled historically in this fixture, winning just once in five FA Cup ties against City. That lone victory came in their very first meeting back in 1921. However, they do hold a decent recent record in finals, having won three of their last five across all competitions, including two Championship playoff triumphs (1997, 2013) and the now-defunct Full Members’ Cup in 1991.

In terms of squad availability, Adam Wharton is expected to return after missing the Spurs match due to a twisted ankle. The midfielder has trained throughout the week and should be in contention to start. Meanwhile, defenders Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucouré continue their recovery from long-term knee injuries and will remain on the sidelines. Should Wharton reclaim a starting spot, either Will Hughes or Jefferson Lerma may have to make way in central midfield. Daichi Kamada is another option Glasner could turn to as he finalizes his lineup.

Eberechi Eze, who has scored five goals in his last four games and contributed to four goals in as many FA Cup appearances (three goals, one assist), is expected to take up an advanced role behind the striker. Alongside him will be Ismaila Sarr, who netted twice in the semi-final win over Aston Villa. Up front, Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has found the net 17 times this season, should lead the line, while Eddie Nketiah will push for minutes off the bench after scoring or assisting in each of his last three FA Cup outings.

At the back, Glasner is unlikely to tinker with a well-drilled defensive unit that has protected Dean Henderson effectively throughout the competition. The ex-Manchester United goalkeeper will be hoping to add an FA Cup medal to his resume with a clean sheet against a formidable City attack.

Though underdogs, Palace have shown they can punch above their weight and will be backed by over 30,000 passionate fans at Wembley. If they can replicate their semi-final performance and maintain defensive discipline, the Eagles could yet soar to their first-ever major trophy.

Guardiola’s Men Eye FA Cup Redemption

Manchester City are making history of their own, becoming the first English club to reach both major domestic cup finals in three consecutive seasons. This will be their 14th appearance in the FA Cup final and their third in a row under Pep Guardiola.

Their road to Wembley this season included victories over Salford City, Plymouth Argyle, Leyton Orient, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest. The semi-final against Forest ended in a comfortable 2-0 win. City have become frequent visitors to Wembley, playing at the stadium 30 times since 2011 – more than any other club during that period.

With their Premier League hegemony ended, the FA Cup now stands as Manchester City’s last realistic chance to win a major domestic trophy this season. A recent goalless draw with relegated Southampton leaves their Champions League qualification in doubt. And with Chelsea and Aston Villa both winning their matches on Friday night, City now find themselves slipping to sixth place in the league. 

Despite a midweek league fixture against Bournemouth, Guardiola is expected to field the strongest possible lineup for the FA Cup final. A win would see Manchester City draw level with Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur on eight FA Cup titles – only Arsenal and Manchester United have more, with 14 and 13 trophies respectively.

Manchester City head into the final on the back of a 10-match unbeaten streak in all competitions, with seven victories and three draws during that run. Their recent record against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup is particularly dominant, having come out on top in the last three encounters with an aggregate score of 18-4. Notably, this includes a remarkable 11-4 triumph in 1926: the highest-scoring game in FA Cup history.

After losing to Manchester United in last year’s final, City will be eager to avoid back-to-back defeats in major finals. Such a scenario has only happened once in their history, during the 1926 and 1933 seasons.

Pep Guardiola faces several selection challenges ahead of the final, with key players such as Rodri, Nathan Ake, and Oscar Bobb still recovering from injuries, though all three are reportedly progressing well. John Stones, however, remains unavailable due to a persistent thigh issue. In their absence, Guardiola may once again turn to Nico O’Reilly and Matheus Nunes to deputize as improvised full-backs. O’Reilly, in particular, has impressed in this season’s FA Cup, contributing three goals and two assists – ranking just behind Exeter’s Josh Magennis in total goal involvements in the competition.

In midfield, Kevin De Bruyne is poised to lead the charge once again. The Belgian maestro boasts four goal contributions from his previous three FA Cup final appearances and is likely to line up alongside Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva, though Ilkay Gundogan or Nico Gonzalez could also be in contention for a starting role. Out wide, Jeremy Doku and Omar Marmoush may be preferred to Phil Foden and James McAtee, both of whom struggled to make an impact in City’s recent stalemate against Southampton.

Leading the line for Manchester City, Erling Haaland continues to be their most potent attacking threat. The prolific Norwegian has racked up 30 goals across all competitions this season, including an impressive six strikes in just four games against Crystal Palace. However, he’s still searching for his first goal at Wembley, having drawn a blank in all five of his previous appearances at the iconic venue for City.

Possible Starting Lineups of Crystal Palace and Manchester City 

Crystal Palace: Dean Henderson – Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi – Daniel Munoz, Will Hughes, Adam Wharton, Tyrick Mitchell – Eberechi Eze, Ismaïla Sarr – Jean-Philippe Mateta. (3-4-2-1) 

Manchester City: Ederson – Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nico O’Reilly – Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva – Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne, Omar Marmoush – Erling Haaland. (4-2-3-1) 

Spooky Express Betting Prediction 

While Manchester City rightfully enter the final as favorites, Crystal Palace’s recent form and tactical discipline under Oliver Glasner make them a compelling underdog pick. With momentum on their side and confidence running high after an excellent semi-final performance, the Eagles could turn this into a much closer contest than the odds suggest. For value seekers, backing Crystal Palace to win the FA Cup outright at +200 offers a worthwhile punt for 3/10 units, especially given City’s recent inconsistency and Palace’s ability to strike on the counter.

Another intriguing angle lies with Eberechi Eze, who has been the driving force behind Palace’s recent attacking surge. The England international has scored five times in his last four matches and has contributed to four goals in this season’s FA Cup. With his flair, set-piece threat, and license to roam in advanced areas, Eze to score anytime at +360 stands out as a high-upside play for 2/10 units, particularly if the game becomes stretched in the second half.

Spooky Express Free Play: English FA Cup – To Win Outright – Crystal Palace +200 at EveryGame for 3/10 Units

Spooky Express Free Play 2: Eberechi Eze Anytime Goalscorer +360 at EveryGame for 2/10 Units