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The 2025 FA Cup has reached the final, where underdogs Crystal Palace take on the mighty Manchester City at Wembley. Both teams will feel like they can win this game, and both teams could.
If Palace were to win, this would be the first-ever FA Cup victory for the team from South London, having lost in two previous finals. Both those losses - in 1990 and 2016 - came against City’s rivals in red, Manchester United.
City, on the other hand, would lift the trophy for an eighth time if they were to win on Saturday, a fourth time since the 2010/11 season. After a dysmal season by their lofty standards, a victory in the FA Cup would lift some of the gloom over the team as they look ahead to next season.
Crystal Palace v Manchester City key information
• Date: Saturday, May 17
• Kick-off time: 4.30pm BST
• Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
• Referee: Stuart Attwell
• VAR: Jarred Gillett
• TV channels: BBC One | ITV1
• Odds: CRY (10/3) - DRAW (29/10) - MCI (3/4)
Crystal Palace team news
The big team news for Palace is whether Adam Wharton will be fit enough to play against Manchester City. The midfielder was out of the Eagles' squad that won at Tottenham last week with an ankle injury. In a recent press conference, Palace manager Oliver Glasner said he was ‘hopeful’ that Wharton could be reintegrated into training when they start FA Cup preparation on Wednesday. He said: “For me, it is 90 per cent that he can play, but always things can happen.”
Longer-term absentees Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad are still unavailable, otherwise, Glasner has the rest of his team to choose from for the big game.
Crystal Palace predicted lineup v Manchester City, (3-4-2-1)
Coach: Oliver Glasner
Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Muñoz, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell; Eze, Sarr; Mateta.
Manchester City team news
Manchester City will be without Oscar Bobb, John Stones and Nathan Ake for not just the final but the rest of the season. Bobb was last seen the last time City met Palace in the league in April, but a thigh injury has stopped him from featuring again. Stones also has a thigh injury that has seen him out since February. Ake last played in March in the FA Cup tie against Plymouth. An ankle injury has seen his season prematurely ended.
The other big absentee for City is Rodri. The Ballon d’Or holder has been out for the majority of the season, yet Guardiola has said that the world’s best player could make a return before the season is out. It is an outside bet that he makes the bench for the FA Cup final.
Manchester City predicted lineup v Crystal Palace
Coach: Pep Guardiola
Ederson; Gvardiol, Dias, Akanji, Lewis; Kovacic, Silva; Marmoush, De Bruyne, Savinho; Haaland.
Where to watch on TV or live stream?
The 2025 FA Cup final will be shown on two TV channels in the United Kingdom. You can choose to watch live on either BBC One or ITV1. The final will also be live-streamed on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and ITVX, which you can watch online or through the respective apps.
Head-to-head record
Manchester City have the edge in the head-to-head battle between the two finalists, having not lost in their last seven meetings against Palace. This season, City won the most recent fixture 5-2 after Palace went 2-0 up. Earlier in the season at Selhurst Park, the points were shared in a 2-2 draw that Palace led twice.
This fixture has provided goals in recent times, with 11 goals in the two meetings this season and 10 over the two they had last season. However, none of those games have resulted in a win for Palace, with the last victory coming back in 2021 when they won 2-0 at The Etihad.
Palace are going into the final in form, though having not lost in their last five game (W2, D3) and were comfortable winners in their last game against Tottenham Hotspur. Yet, City come into the game in even better form, last losing 11 games ago against Nottingham Forest. In the 10 games since that they have seven wins and three draws.
Odds for Crystal Palace v Manchester City
It will be no surprise that Palace are rank outsiders with the bookmakers to beat City and lift the FA Cup. They are 10/3 to win the game at bet365, whereas City are 3/4 to lift the famous trophy. A draw in 90 minutes is at 29/10.
Odds correct at time of writing. Subject to change.