On Saturday, the cup lands at Wembley as Crystal Palace face Manchester City in the 2025 FA Cup final. And unlike most cup finals in the Guardiola era, this one doesn’t feel like the odds are completely stacked in their favour.
City may have the medals, the squad depth, and the track record, but Palace didn’t sneak in through penalties or chaos. They’ve earned their place with confidence, structure and identity, beating Premier League opposition 3-0 in both the quarter finals (Fulham) and semi finals (Aston Villa). And that makes this final all the more compelling.
Crystal Palace aren’t tourists here. This is a club that’s been steadily building towards something more meaningful for years, and under Oliver Glasner, things have progressed.
Their semi-final performance against Aston Villa wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. Palace were sharp, brave, and clinical. Players like Eberechi Eze have added craft and confidence to a squad that’s no longer satisfied with safety and survival. And they’ve built a defensive foundation that includes the likes of Marc Guéhi, who can absorb pressure and play out from the back.
Palace has a history of heartbreak in this competition. They took Manchester United to a replay in 1990. They pushed them again, to extra time in 2016. This time, it’s not about proving they belong. It’s about finishing the job.
And for the fans, the ones who’ve stood through relegation battles, financial chaos, and false dawns, this is a chance to see their club go from proud survivor to silverware winner. That matters.
Manchester City don’t lose many domestic finals, but they arrive at this one with a different energy.
For the first time in years, there’s no treble to chase or Champions League run, and that changes things. The aura’s still there, but the margin for glory has narrowed. This FA Cup final now stands as their last shot at a salvaging something from this season, and while that might not have been on our bingo cards back in August, it’s the reality for a club that measures success in silver.
Let’s not get it confused, though. City is still City. Erling Haaland remains unplayable when locked in. Phil Foden often delivers for the club in big moments. And they’ve got more quality on the bench than most clubs have in their starting lineups. But there’s a human element to this version of City. They’re still elite. Just not untouchable.
This final is about two Premier League clubs arriving at the same destination from very different directions.
Manchester City are the benchmark. They operate at scale, with elite infrastructure, world-class coaching, and a conveyor belt of talent. They haven’t just won trophies; they did it while redefining how the game is played in England.
Crystal Palace are something else entirely. A club built on smart decisions rather than bottomless resources. They’ve resisted the temptation to throw money at short-term fixes. Instead, they’ve backed players with personality and potential, and stuck with a philosophy that values growth over noise.
Both teams are here because of how they’ve built. One through dominance, the other through evolution. That’s what makes this final compelling. Not because it’s a fairytale. But because it’s football done two ways, and for 90 minutes, they meet on level ground.
Palace and City have never met in an FA Cup final before, but their stories with the competition tell us plenty.
City’s history is deep. Seven FA Cup titles, including recent victories in 2019 and 2023. The club’s first-ever major trophy came in this competition in 1904. It’s part of their DNA.
Palace’s FA Cup legacy is more emotional than tangible. Their 1990 final still lives in supporters’ minds as one of the all-time classics. Their 2016 run reminded everyone they could still swing at the top table. 2025 might just be the time they land something.
And while they’ve only faced each other sporadically in the tournament, most notably in the 1920s and ’80s, this final feels like a chance to write a new chapter.
It’s easy to be cynical. The Cup doesn’t have the blockbuster feel of the Champions League. But it does come with a legacy, and that’s important. It also comes with a spot in next seasons Europa League, which for Palace, is quite the prize.
The FA Cup holds a special place in the hearts and minds of the English football community and has delivered iconic moments over the years. These moments don’t fade. They define generations of fans, and Palace know this could be that kind of moment for them.
For City, it’s about reasserting domestic dominance in a season where things haven’t gone entirely their way. For Palace, it’s the biggest match in their modern history.
And for the rest of us? It’s a final that reminds us football still has room for days that aren’t about revenue charts or major derby’s. Just 90 minutes (or more) where history is written and clubs outside of the wealthy elite can get a chance at silverware.
(Images from IMAGO)
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