Can City Conquer Palace in FA Cup Final?

Who will lift the FA Cup trophy? Manchester City and Crystal Palace clash in the final. Read for expert insights and match preview.

A potential FA Cup final between Manchester City and Crystal Palace would indeed be a notable matchup. Manchester City, under Pep Guardiola, has consistently demonstrated their prowess in the competition, having won the title six times, with their most recent victory in 2019. They'll be looking to add to their collection as they step out at Wembley for their third successive final.

Will @CPFC win their first #EmiratesFACup tomorrow? 🦅 pic.twitter.com/P4ifY0o23z

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 16, 2025

The FA Cup may not hold the same prestige as it once did, but it remains a cherished event in the English football calendar. Manchester City's streak mirrors that of other successful teams, including Chelsea, who appeared in three consecutive finals from 2020 to 2022, and Arsenal, who achieved this feat twice. Other notable teams, such as Manchester United and Everton, have also had impressive runs in the competition.

Some notable FA Cup final appearances:

Manchester City's FA Cup wins:

• 1904: City defeated Bolton Wanderers 1-0
• 1934: City beat Portsmouth 2-1
• 1956: City won against Birmingham City 3-1
• 1969: City defeated Leicester City 1-0
• 2011: City beat Stoke City 1-0
• 2019: City won against Watford 6-0

Other memorable finals:

• 1953: Blackpool's “Matthews Final” win against Bolton
• 1988: Wimbledon's surprise victory over Liverpool
• 1979: Arsenal's dramatic comeback win against Manchester United

This potential final promises to be an exciting encounter between two teams with distinct styles, making for a compelling watch on the big stage.

FA Cup Final Showdown: Manchester City vs. Crystal Palace

Manchester City is set to compete in their 14th FA Cup final, having previously won the trophy seven times. They'll be facing Crystal Palace, who are looking to win their first FA Cup title in their third final appearance. Palace has lost their previous two finals, joining a small group of clubs to lose both of their first two FA Cup finals, including Queen's Park Rangers, Birmingham City, and Watford.

FA Cup Wins by Top Teams:

• Arsenal: 14 wins
• Manchester United: 13 wins
• Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham: 8 wins each
• Manchester City: 7 wins

Manchester City's history against Crystal Palace heavily favors them in this potential final. They remain unbeaten in their last seven meetings across all competitions (W4 D3) since a 2-0 loss in the Premier League in October 2021.

In FA Cup matches, City have dominated Palace, winning their last three encounters with an aggregate score of 18-4. Their most recent meeting came in the 2016/17 fourth round, where City won 3-0 at Selhurst Park. Despite this season being City's worst in terms of performance and points, their historical record gives them a significant advantage.

Manchester City's Quest for Redemption

Manchester City will be keen to avoid a repeat of their loss in the 2024 FA Cup final. A win would bring significant success for Pep Guardiola, who would then have won the FA Cup three times (2019, 2023, and 2025) and the League Cup four times (2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021). This achievement would place him alongside Alex Ferguson as one of the most successful managers in English domestic cup competitions.

Despite City's strong FA Cup record, having lost just six of their last 44 games (38 wins, no draws), they have struggled at Wembley, with five of those losses coming in the stadium. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace have been remarkably solid defensively, conceding only one goal en route to the final, and have scored crucial goals in their fifth-round, quarter-final, and semi-final ties this season.

Historic Milestone for Glasner

Oliver Glasner will make history as the first Austrian manager to lead a team in an FA Cup final. However, he could also join a list of debutant managers who lost the final, including Thomas Tuchel (Germany) in 2021 and Avram Grant (Israel) in 2010.

Searching for silverware 🔍

Will it be @ManCity's year for glory in the #EmiratesFACup? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/KiGCoAtYo6

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 16, 2025

The potential final promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams having produced high-scoring matches in their recent meetings. Each of the last four encounters has seen both teams score two or more goals, including two 2-2 draws, as well as City's 4-2 and 5-2 wins. This suggests that the FA Cup final could be a thrilling and goal-filled affair.

If individual skill decides the FA Cup final, Crystal Palace might rely on star player Eberechi Eze. Eze has been impressive in the competition, contributing to four goals in his last four FA Cup games (three goals, one assist), including opening the scoring in Palace's semi-final win over Aston Villa.

Eze's recent form is notable, especially given his lack of involvement in Palace's earlier FA Cup matches. Prior to his current streak, he hadn't scored or assisted in any of his first 14 appearances in the competition. Meanwhile, Kevin De Bruyne is expected to play a key role for Manchester City, providing creativity and control throughout the match.

Key Players to Watch

Kevin De Bruyne is expected to play a crucial role for Manchester City in the FA Cup final, which could be his last game with the team. This will be his fourth FA Cup final appearance with City, and in his previous three, he scored one goal and assisted three more. Crystal Palace will need to be cautious of De Bruyne's influence, as his ability to control the game's tempo could pose a significant threat.

When De Bruyne gets into his rhythm, he tends to dictate the flow of the game, which could spell trouble for Palace. However, De Bruyne and Eberechi Eze won't be the only key players to watch – other stars on both teams will also be looking to make an impact.

Nico O'Reilly has been impressive for Manchester City in the 2024/25 season, contributing to five goals in the FA Cup (three goals, two assists). He's one of the top performers in the competition, with only Josh Magennis involved in more goals this season.

If Crystal Palace needs a goal late in the game, Eddie Nketiah's introduction could prove crucial. The former Arsenal player has a strong record in the FA Cup, contributing to a goal in each of his last three appearances (two goals, one assist), all as a substitute. Nketiah has also experienced FA Cup success, playing a cameo role in Arsenal's 2020 win over Chelsea.

Pressure on Manchester City

All the pressure is on Manchester City, who are expected to deliver after a relatively poor season. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace's journey to the final is a testament to Oliver Glasner's impact, as the team overcame a tough start to the season with only one win in their first 13 Premier League games.

Despite Palace's inexperience in FA Cup finals, which could be a disadvantage, the pressure on City might just level the playing field. With City desperate to end the season on a high note, Palace could capitalize on this and make it third time lucky for the Eagles.