Crystal Palace vs Manchester City Predictions

Crystal Palace vs Manchester City predictions for Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley. Crystal Palace, unbeaten in five, face Manchester City, who are unbeaten in ten and reach their third straight FA Cup final, on Saturday. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.

FA Cup Final | May 17, 2025 at 4:30pm UK at Wembley Stadium

Crystal Palace vs Manchester City Predictions

Can Crystal Palace Shock City in the FA Cup Final, or Will the Powerhouse Prevail?

• Goals, Goals, Goals
  • The last four meetings between these two sides have produced a total of 18 goals, averaging 4.5 per game, suggesting another high-scoring affair could be on the cards.
• City’s Final Form
  • Manchester City have won two of their last three FA Cup finals, with each of those matches producing at least three goals, underlining their attacking mindset in big games.
• Palace’s Historic Quest
  • Crystal Palace are chasing their first ever major trophy, having previously fallen short in both the 1990 and 2016 FA Cup finals – can they finally make history this time?

Best Bet for Crystal Palace vs Manchester City

As the floodlights of Wembley prepare to cast their glow over one of the most iconic stages in football, the FA Cup final between Crystal Palace and Manchester City promises to be a fascinating encounter. On the one hand, you have Palace, a side seeking their first major trophy in club history, and on the other, City, a powerhouse with their sights set on salvaging a challenging season.

For Palace, this marks only their third appearance in an FA Cup final, with past heartbreaks in 1990 and 2016 still fresh in the memories of their fans. Under the guidance of Oliver Glasner, the Eagles have developed a resolute and resilient approach, having navigated a tricky route to the final, including convincing wins over Fulham and Aston Villa. Meanwhile, City are no strangers to this stage, aiming for their eighth FA Cup triumph. Though they sit in fourth place in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s men are desperate to avoid ending the season without a major trophy for the first time since 2017.

With the stakes this high, expect a blend of gritty defending and exhilarating attacking play, as both sides look to end their campaigns on a high.

Best Bet for the FA Cup Final

Manchester City to Win and Over 2.5 Goals

Here at BettingTips4You, we focus on providing a single, clear prediction for each game, rather than flooding you with endless betting options. After carefully weighing up the form, tactics and recent encounters, our best bet for this final is to back Manchester City to win with over 2.5 goals in the match. This choice balances City’s superior firepower with their occasional defensive frailties, making it the standout pick for punters looking for value.

While finals can often descend into tight, nervy affairs, recent history between these two sides suggests otherwise. The last four meetings have averaged over four goals per game, including a thrilling 5-2 win for City at the Etihad earlier this season. Even when they’ve struggled, Guardiola’s side have managed to find the net, boasting an average of 3.4 goals per game in this year’s FA Cup. They have also been involved in high-scoring affairs in their last three finals under Guardiola, all of which saw at least three goals.

Crystal Palace, for their part, have shown a tendency to find the net against City, having scored exactly twice in each of their last four encounters. Jean-Philippe Mateta, with 17 goals this season, will be pivotal for Palace if they are to breach the City backline. However, despite their admirable cup run, the Eagles’ recent 0-2 loss to Nottingham Forest highlights the gap in quality they’ll need to overcome.

Our expert, Tyler Morris, adds his voice to this analysis, stating:
“City’s experience and firepower make them clear favourites, and with both teams regularly finding the net in their head-to-head clashes, this one promises goals. Backing City to win and over 2.5 goals covers the most likely scenarios, including a late flurry or a Palace consolation strike.”

Given the attacking quality on both sides, a 3-1 City win seems a plausible correct score prediction. This would reflect their superior firepower while acknowledging Palace’s ability to cause problems, particularly through Eze and Mateta.

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