Crystal Palace vs Manchester City: FA Cup Final Preview

Crystal Palace and Manchester City are set to meet this Saturday in the prestigious FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

Match Preview

This encounter marks the culmination of the world`s oldest national football competition, the 153rd FA Cup final.

For Crystal Palace, this represents their third appearance in the final of the FA Cup. Having been runners-up in 1990 and 2016 (both times losing to Manchester United), the Eagles will be hoping for a historic first triumph. They are one of only a few clubs to have reached the final multiple times without lifting the trophy.

Under the guidance of Oliver Glasner, however, Palace have shown revitalised form, particularly in their cup run. Their path to Wembley has been impressive, highlighted by scoring exactly three goals in each of their last three ties. Defensively, they have been solid, keeping four clean sheets across five matches in the competition and conceding just a single goal overall.

Palace also enters the final in strong domestic form, currently unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions (two wins, three draws). This run includes positive results against difficult opponents like Arsenal and Tottenham, suggesting they can challenge top sides.

However, the challenge they face is significant: Manchester City. Pep Guardiola`s side hold a strong record against Palace, being unbeaten in their last seven meetings in all competitions (four wins, three draws). Furthermore, City have dominated recent FA Cup ties between the two clubs, winning the last three encounters with a combined score of 18-4.

This will be Manchester City`s 14th FA Cup final appearance. They have previously lifted the trophy seven times, and an eighth victory would see them equal Tottenham and Liverpool`s tally. Despite their consistent success, this final carries added importance for City this season. Having missed out on the Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup titles, the FA Cup represents their last opportunity to secure silverware.

Their most recent league fixture was a 5-2 victory for City just over a month ago at Selhurst Park. Despite the scoreline, Crystal Palace boss Glasner was defiant after the match, issuing a warning to Guardiola: “If we meet again, you can’t play in this system, because we will solve it.”

Player Focus & Insights

Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)

Eberechi Eze is undoubtedly a talisman for Crystal Palace. The 26-year-old England international has enjoyed a standout season, contributing significantly in attack. He comes into the final in blistering form, notably scoring twice in their recent league win against Tottenham.

Eze has also been crucial to Palace`s FA Cup journey, being directly involved in four goals (three goals, one assist). He scored in the semi-final victory and also found the net in the recent league defeat to City. His attacking threat is underlined by his expected goals (xG) statistics in recent Premier League matches, which rank among the league`s top forwards, demonstrating his consistent ability to get into scoring positions.

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

For Manchester City, Kevin De Bruyne remains a pivotal creative force. Saturday could mark his fourth appearance in an FA Cup final for the club. He has a proven track record in major finals, having been directly involved in multiple goals in his previous FA Cup final outings.

De Bruyne continues to show his class, contributing goals and assists in recent matches. His expected assists (xA) numbers significantly outpace his teammates, highlighting his elite playmaking ability. Furthermore, he boasts a strong career record against Crystal Palace, with numerous goal involvements in past encounters.