The 2024/25 FA Cup title is at stake as Crystal Palace faces Manchester City in the final at Wembley this Saturday. Uniquely, this final occurs before the conclusion of the Premier League season. The match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City marks the end of this prestigious competition.
Crystal Palace advanced to the FA Cup final after a commanding 3-0 victory over Aston Villa in the semi-finals. Under the guidance of Oliver Glasner, the Eagles have been standout performers in this tournament, conceding just one goal in five matches. They maintained clean sheets against Fulham, Doncaster Rovers, and Stockport County, and they defeated Millwall 3-1 in the fifth round.
Crystal Palace’s recent defeats to Manchester City and Newcastle United were unusual in league play. Even though finishing in the top half of the Premier League appears improbable, winning the FA Cup would guarantee their spot in the UEFA Europa League, therefore it’s an important objective.
Manchester City, on the other hand, has recovered from a difficult period and is presently enjoying a ten-game winning streak, excluding a surprise goalless draw with Southampton. They have already allayed concerns about missing out on the UEFA Champions League the following season, given their most recent loss was in March.However, their journey in the FA Cup has been less straightforward, achieving narrow victories over Leyton Orient, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest, with their only emphatic win against Salford City.
The two teams have already met twice this season in the Premier League. The first encounter at Selhurst Park finished in a 2-2 draw, but Manchester City dominated the second meeting, winning 5-2 at the Etihad. The Hard Tackle explores the differences between them in advance of their most recent encounter.
Team News & Tactics
Crystal Palace
Manager Oliver Glasner has received positive news regarding player availability ahead of this crucial fixture. He will be missing just two first-team players on Saturday. Adam Wharton has returned from an ankle injury and is fit to play against Manchester City. Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure are the only players unavailable due to long-term knee injuries.
Dean Henderson is expected to start in goal. The Eagles will likely adopt a 3-4-2-1 formation against Manchester City. The defensive trio will comprise Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, and Marc Guehi. Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell will act as the wing-backs, offering both width in attack and support to the defense. In midfield, Will Hughes is set to partner with the returning Adam Wharton. Up front, Jean-Philippe Mateta will lead the attack, supported by Ismaila Sarr and Eberechi Eze in creative roles.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1) : Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell; Eze, Sarr; Mateta
Manchester City
Similarly, Pep Guardiola has reported no new injury issues affecting his team’s preparations. However, he will be without four first-team players on Saturday. Notably, Rodri continues to recover from a long-term knee injury, joining Nathan Ake (foot), John Stones (knee), and Oscar Bobb (thigh) on the sidelines.
Ederson Moraes is set to start in goal for Manchester City, who will likely utilize a 4-2-3-1 formation. The defensive lineup will include Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and Nico O’Reilly. In the heart of the midfield, Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva are expected to pair up in the double pivot, with Ilkay Gundogan and Nico Gonzalez providing options from the bench. Kevin De Bruyne will play in the central attacking role, supported by wide players Jeremy Doku and Omar Marmoush. Erling Haaland is anticipated to lead the Manchester City frontline in this crucial FA Cup final.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1) : Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Kovacic, Bernardo Silva; Doku, De Bruyne, Marmoush; Haaland
Key Stats
Manchester City has triumphed in their last three FA Cup encounters against Crystal Palace with an aggregate score of 18-4. Their most recent clash was in the fourth round of the 2016/17 season, where the Citizens secured a 3-0 win at Selhurst Park. Since suffering a 2-0 defeat in October 2021, Pep Guardiola’s side remains unbeaten in seven matches against Crystal Palace across all competitions (W4 D3). Both teams have consistently scored at least two goals in these encounters.
