Crystal Palace vs Manchester City

Crystal Palace vs Manchester City – FA Cup Final Preview

Will it be third time lucky for Crystal Palace, or another heartbreak at the hands of Manchester United’s city rivals? The Eagles return to the FA Cup final for a third time, having suffered defeat in both previous appearances—losing to Manchester United in 1990 and again in 2016. They’re among just four clubs to have reached two or more finals without ever lifting the trophy, alongside Queen’s Park, Birmingham City, and Watford.

Oliver Glasner’s men have impressed on their path to Wembley, dispatching Stockport County, Doncaster Rovers, Millwall, Fulham, and Aston Villa with minimal fuss. Remarkably, they’ve conceded just once in the tournament, scoring exactly three goals in each of their last three ties—most notably a commanding 3-0 win over Villa in the semi-final.

Since that triumph, Palace have extended their unbeaten streak to five matches across all competitions. A 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest was followed by a convincing 2-0 win away at Tottenham Hotspur, powered by a dazzling brace from Eberechi Eze.

Now sitting 12th in the Premier League on 49 points—matching their tally from last season with two games to go—the Eagles shift their focus from a potential top-10 finish to the chance of achieving club immortality. A first-ever FA Cup title would also secure European qualification for the first time since their 1998 Intertoto Cup campaign.

Glasner has played down the pressure of the occasion, stating that it’s “business as usual” in training and warning against overhyping the moment, which he says would “just make them dizzy.”

However, Palace must overcome a difficult recent record against Manchester City. The Eagles are winless in their last seven encounters with the reigning cup holders (D3 L4), including a 5-2 loss at the Etihad in April—despite taking a surprise 2-0 lead inside 21 minutes.

They’ve also lost three of four previous FA Cup meetings with City, with their only win coming way back in 1921. Still, Palace have shown resilience on big occasions, winning three of their last five finals in all competitions, including two Championship play-off finals and the now-defunct Full Members’ Cup in 1991.

City Seeking Redemption and Silverware

For Manchester City, this final offers a shot at redemption after a rare trophy-less domestic season. Guardiola’s side have already made history by becoming the first English team to reach both major domestic cup finals in three consecutive seasons. Their love affair with Wembley continues—they’ve now played there 30 times since 2011, more than any other club in that span.

Their route to the final has been dominant, brushing past Salford, Plymouth, Leyton Orient, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest—all without conceding. Their 2-0 semi-final win over Forest marked a record seventh straight appearance at that stage.

However, their Premier League campaign has stuttered. The Citizens currently cling to fifth place, and with Champions League qualification still uncertain, they were recently held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by relegated Southampton.

With upcoming league fixtures still pivotal—especially Tuesday’s clash with Bournemouth—some may wonder if Guardiola will rotate. But given that this is their only chance at silverware, focus will be razor-sharp on adding an eighth FA Cup to the club’s trophy cabinet. A win would draw them level with Liverpool, Chelsea, and Spurs on the all-time winners list, trailing only Arsenal (14) and Manchester United (13).

City come into the final unbeaten in 10 matches (W7 D3) and will be determined to avoid consecutive domestic final defeats for the first time since the 1920s, having lost to Man United in last year’s FA Cup showpiece.

History favours them against Palace—City have won their last three FA Cup meetings with the Eagles by an aggregate of 18-4, including the extraordinary 11-4 victory in 1926, still the highest-scoring match in their history.