Number one or number eight will be celebrated under the iconic Wembley arch on Saturday, as Crystal Palace and Manchester City scrap it out in the 2024-25 FA Cup final.
For the Eagles, the third time may very well be the charm after two previous final defeats to City’s formerly noisy neighbours Manchester United, and Oliver Glasner‘s men made a serious statement of intent by taking down Aston Villa 3-0 in the semi-finals.
However, City will argue that glory in the prestigious competition is equally important to them, even if the Citizens already have seven successes to their name, as their 2024-25 campaign has otherwise been entirely forgettable.
Ahead of a fascinating final between Palace and Man City, the Sports Mole team has given their predictions for this year’s showpiece match at Wembley, and the vote is not unanimous.
Barney Corkhill, Editor – Crystal Palace
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Why not?
Man City will clearly be favourites heading into this match and, the Southampton stumble last weekend aside, had quietly begun to string together a set of results more befitting of their recent standing than their remarkable collapse earlier in the season. It is two-and-a-half months since they lost a game in any competition, and that run includes a 5-2 hammering of Palace themselves.
However, this has been a remarkable season in the FA Cup, and it would only be fitting that it ends with an unfamiliar name on the trophy – indeed, a brand new one.
Sure, Man City have all of the experience, and for all of their troubles this term, reaching a third successive FA Cup final is an impressive achievement. However, there is still a sense that this Man City side can be got at, and a Palace team that has the potential to produce the greatest day in the club’s history should be up for that challenge – and capable of achieving it.
Oliver Glasner’s side have already taken points off most of the big boys this season, including Man City, and they boast some genuine match-winning ability in the likes of Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
So often the underdogs can fall short on massive occasions like this as the more experienced and higher quality favourites professionally get the job done, but this has the ingredients of being a famous day for the Eagles, and I am backing them to write their names into history forever.
Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter – Man City
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This should be an entertaining, end-to-end battle between two teams who have scored two or more goals in each of their last four encounters against each other (two 2-2 draws as well as 4-2 and 5-2 victories for Man City).
If Crystal Palace can perform as well as they did in their comprehensive semi-final victory over Aston Villa, with the likes of Eberechi Eze, Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta firing on all cylinders, then they will cause problems to a Citizens outfit who still look susceptible on the counter-attack.
However, if Pep Guardiola‘s side can swiftly move on from their disappointing display at Southampton, and their star attackers including Kevin De Bruyne can deliver quality service to leading marksman Erling Haaland, then they should find a way to edge past the Eagles and come away from what has been a turbulent 2024-25 campaign with silverware.
Matt Law, Senior Reporter – Crystal Palace
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The obvious thing would be to pick Man City here and then move on quickly, but I do not see it like that, with Palace a very dangerous outfit with excellent players.
This is not the Man City of previous years, and Palace’s electric forwards should be able to cause the Citizens a lot of harm in the final of the competition.
Man City will enter the game as the favourites, but Palace are unbeaten in their last five, winning two of their last three, and I can see the Eagles causing an upset here.
Eberechi Eze deserves to secure a big move this summer considering his quality and influence, and I suspect that the England international will have a say for Palace in the final; I am going for a 2-1 victory for the Eagles.
Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter – Man City
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A classic case of head versus heart, and on this occasion, the head wins out.
Man City’s campaign may have been calamitous by their lofty standards, but if Guardiola’s Sky Blues reign has taught us anything, it is that the dethroned Premier League champions almost always turn up the heat when a domestic trophy is on the line.
Of course, that was not the case in last year’s showdown with bitter rivals Man United, but that heartbreak only ought to spur the Citizens on for Sunday’s battle, where the entire squad will also be desperate to send De Bruyne off with one last winners’ medal.
An attack-minded Palace will not pander to such sentimentality, and Glasner’s side will undoubtedly pose an incredibly stiff test, but City’s offensive options on the bench are far more fearsome.
Therefore, whether it be in normal time or extra time, Guardiola’s men should have enough firepower to collect FA Cup number eight, as Palace’s painful wait for an inaugural crown continues.
Joel Lefevre, Reporter – Man City
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Given their defensive record in the FA Cup, conceding only once, including consecutive 3-0 triumphs against good Premier League sides in Fulham and Aston Villa, Crystal Palace will have supreme confidence that they can upset the mighty Sky Blues.
Oliver Glasner has a massive attacking threat as in Mateta, who can make the difference and has been dependable all season.
On the other hand, City have plenty of dependable attackers to call upon despite being in danger of missing out on a trophy for the first time in the Guardiola era. While it has not been a great campaign for them given their high standards, the likes of Erling Haaland, De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva have been in countless big games and that is sure to come in handy.
For City, this is just another match, and that should allow them to ease into this encounter a lot easier than Palace, who I believe will be overwhelmed by the moment allowing City to cruise to a comfortable victory and send De Bruyne off on a high note.
Jonathan O’Shea, Reporter – Man City
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While they may be flawed, having reached the end of an incredibly successful cycle, City still have all the nous required to perform on the big stage – signing off in style, De Bruyne can play a big part.
They will lift their game to beat a brave Crystal Palace side who have impressed en route to the final, but it may take extra time to get over the line.
Andrew Delaney, Reporter – Man City
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On paper, City will be everyone’s choice, but it is clear to see why.
Palace have never won a major honour and City have a habit of collecting them, especially the FA Cup.
Pep Guardiola’s side are also in excellent form heading into the final and should have the quality and know-how to come out on top at Wembley, but the Eagles may well give them a slight scare along the way.
Marvellous Adepoju, Reporter – Man City
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Guardiola’s men have been underwhelming for a large chunk of the current campaign but have the opportunity to end the season with some silverware.
With Haaland back in action, I fully expect the erstwhile English champions to cruise to a routine and continue their trend of winning a major trophy every year since 2017.
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