Crystal Palace vs Manchester City: Betting odds, Lineups, Predictions, Preview

Explore our detailed preview for Crystal Palace vs Manchester City in the FA Cup final. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 16:30 BST match.

Fixture: Crystal Palace vs Manchester City
Date: Saturday 17 May 2025
Kick-off: 16:30 BST
Venue: Wembley Stadium

Manchester City have reached their third consecutive FA Cup final, and will be confident of winning the trophy for the second time in three years. They're certainly the favourites heading into this final, but Crystal Palace's unity, belief and tactical structure give them a rea chance of upsetting the odds.

Oliver Glasner's Eagles will be very tough to break down at Wembley, and have the attacking quality to hurt Man City's defence when they launch their counter attacks, with Eze, Sarr and Mateta performing so well in their semi-final victory.

This one should be a cracker, but while Palace are dream of their first ever major trophy, Ladbrokes is backing City to break their hearts and lift the FA Cup for an eighth time.

Match Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-2 Man City

While Manchester City enter the final as favourites, Crystal Palace's recent form and tactical discipline suggest they are well equipped to challenge Pep Guardiola’s team. The match promises to be a compelling contest between Palace's resilience and City's attacking prowess.

FA Cup glory for Palace would be historic - a first major trophy for the club and a seismic moment for their supporters. For City, victory would mark another step toward domestic immortality and add another piece of silverware to their ever-growing trophy cabinet.

Crystal Palace’s route to the final has been defined by resilience and tactical maturity. Glasner’s side, built around a balanced blend of youth and experience, have displayed newfound belief, particularly in tight knockout fixtures. Creative sparks like Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr will be crucial in unlocking City's formidable back line, while Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma provide steel in midfield.

Their semi-final triumph over Aston Villa showcased their ability to manage pressure and capitalise on key moments - traits they’ll need in abundance at Wembley.

Last 6 matches (all competitions):

• Win: 2-0 vs Tottenham (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Nott'm Forest (H)
• Win: 3-0 vs Aston Villa (Neutral) - FA Cup
• Draw: 2-2 vs Arsenal (A)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Bournemouth (H)
• Loss: 0-5 vs Newcastle (A)
  

City enter this final as overwhelming favourites. Despite recent inconsistencies in the Premier League, Guardiola’s side remain ruthless in knockout competitions. Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Phil Foden provide a cutting edge few can match, while Rodri’s season-ending injury has tested their midfield depth - something Palace will look to exploit.

Their semi-final against Forest was a professional display of control and clinical finishing, highlighting their capacity to rise to the big occasion.

Last 6 matches (all competitions):

• Draw: 0-0 vs Southampton (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs Wolves (H)
• Win: 2-0 vs Nott'm Forest (Neutral) - FA Cup
• Win: 2-1 vs Aston Villa (H)
• Win: 2-0 vs Everton (A)
• Win: 5-2 vs Crystal Palace (H)
  

Crystal Palace have enjoyed a remarkable FA Cup run, highlighted by a dominant 3–0 semi-final victory over Aston Villa. Earlier in the competition, they secured a 3–0 win against Fulham in the quarter-finals, with standout performances from Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr.

• Win: 1-0 vs Stockport (H) (Third Round)
• Win: 2-0 vs Doncaster (A) (Fourth Round)
• Win: 3-1 vs Millwall (H) (Fifth Round)
• Win: 3-0 vs Fulham (A) (Quarter-Final)
• Win: 3-0 vs Aston Villa (Neutral) (Semi-Final)
  

Manchester City reached the final with a professional display, defeating Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals. Their journey included a 2–1 win over Bournemouth in the quarter-finals, showcasing their depth and resilience.

• Win: 8-0 vs Salford (H) (Third Round)
• Win: 2-1 vs Leyton Orient (A) (Fourth Round)
• Win: 3-1 vs Plymouth (H) (Fifth Round)
• Win: 2-1 vs Bournemouth (A) (Quarter-Final)
• Win: 2-0 vs Nott'm Forest (Neutral) (Semi-Final)
  

• Cheick Doucouré (Knee) - Out
  
• Chadi Riad (Knee) - Out
• Adam Wharton (Ankle) - Doubt
  

• Rodri (Knee) - Out
• John Stones (Thigh) - Out
• Nathan Ake (Fitness) - Doubt
  

Henderson; Lacroix, Guehi, Richards; Munoz, Lerma, Hughes, Mitchell; Eze, Sarr; Mateta

Crystal Palace are expected to adopt a compact, counter-attacking approach, leveraging the creativity of Eze and Sarr to exploit spaces behind City's defence. Set pieces could also be a crucial avenue for scoring opportunities.

Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Bernardo, Kovacic; Foden, De Bruyne, Doku; Haaland

Manchester City will likely dominate possession, utilising their intricate passing and movement to break down Palace's defensive structure. Although out of form, Haaland could still provide a significant attacking threat.

The last four meetings between Crystal Palace and Man City have seen both sides score at least two goals.

Ladbrokes brings you the most exciting betting promotions, as well as coupons and the latest betting offers to enhance your experience.

For the best FA Cup outright predictions, explore our Football Outright Betting guide.

Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.