Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made a total of five changes to his starting lineup for this afternoon’s FA Cup final against Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium.
Ederson, Phil Foden, Rico Lewis and James McAtee all revert to the substitutes’ bench after beginning the 0-0 draw with Southampton in the Premier League last weekend, while Mateo Kovacic misses out altogether due to injury.
Stefan Ortega comes in to start his third successive FA Cup final between the sticks, while Nico O’Reilly – City’s breakout star in this season’s competition with three goals and two assists in five appearances – is recalled to start at left-back, joining Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol in a four-man defence.
Kevin De Bruyne retains his starting spot and the legendary playmaker will make his final Wembley appearance for Man City ahead of departing in the summer, captaining the side alongside Bernardo Silva in centre-midfield.
Guardiola’s attack-minded XI sees Savinho, Omar Marmoush and Jeremy Doku all recalled to start in the final third behind central striker Erling Haaland, who has failed to score in any of his five appearances for Man City at Wembley.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old attacking midfielder Claudio Echeverri is named amongst the substitutes for the first time since joining Man City in January from River Plate.
© Imago
Wharton, Kamada return to Crystal Palace XI
As for Crystal Palace, Oliver Glasner has made two changes to the side that beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the Premier League six days ago.
Adam Wharton has overcome an ankle injury that forced him to miss the win at Spurs and is handed a start in centre-midfield alongside Daichi Kamada, with Jefferson Lerma and Will Hughes dropping down to the substitutes’ bench.
A back three of captain Marc Guehi, Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards will protect Dean Henderson in goal, while Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell retain their places as wing-backs.
Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr were both on the scoresheet in Palace’s comprehensive 3-0 semi-final win over Aston Villa and they will both start in advanced role behind central striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who will make his 150th appearance for the Eagles and is seeking to score his first goal in this season’s FA Cup at the fifth time of asking.
Crystal Palace starting lineup: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze, Mateta
Subs: Turner, Ward, Chilwell, Clyne, Hughes, Devenny, Lerma, Esse, Nketiah.
Manchester City starting lineup: Ortega; Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Bernardo, De Bruyne; Savinho, Marmoush, Doku; Haaland
Subs: Ederson, Grealish, Nico, Gundogan, Reis, Nunes, Echeverri, Khusanov, Foden
No Data Analysis info
