Will Glasner outsmart Pep in the FA Cup final?
Pep Guardiola has been Manchester City’s coach since summer 2016. His very first season in England in 2016/17 is also the only season in which the Spanish world-class coach has failed to win a title. Almost ten years later, this fate threatens to repeat itself. The Cityzens only have the FA Cup left to win silverware in 2024/25. In the final, the long-standing industry leader will face a club from the capital. In front of 90,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium, the odds are naturally in favor of London when it comes to Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City.
However, coach Oliver Glasner’s team definitely feels comfortable in the role of underdog. The Eagles don’t have much to lose against the overwhelming favorites. But they have a lot to gain. In addition to the first national title in the club’s history, qualification for the Europa League is also at stake. So if the prediction of an FA Cup victory for the underdog between Crystal Palace and Manchester City proves true, the latter would be able to make its debut in international competition next season.
Although the bookmakers’ odds between Crystal Palace and Manchester City also lean quite clearly towards the Sky Blues, it has probably never been “easier” in the last five years to bring the star ensemble from the north-west of England to its knees. Especially in 90 minutes plus extra time and a possible penalty shootout, Crystal Palace has justified hopes of pulling off a major upset.
Crystal Palace – Statistics & current form
For the third time after 1990 and 2016, Crystal Palace has reached the FA Cup final. Having lost the first two finals, the Eagles are aiming for the big prize on Saturday afternoon. It would not only be their first title in the world’s oldest cup competition, but also the first significant trophy the Londoners could put in their club trophy cabinet. The anticipation for the highlight match at Wembley Stadium is unbroken and confidence is sky high.
Crystal Palace getting better and better under Glasner
The fact is that coach Oliver Glasner’s team is going into the title match with a lot of confidence. On the one hand, this can be explained by the impressive dominance with which they reached the FA Cup final. Four of the five matches they played were won by at least two goals. In the quarter-finals and semi-finals, they recorded clear 3-0 victories against Fulham and Aston Villa respectively.
On the other hand, Crystal Palace has also recently emerged as a very difficult opponent in the Premier League. The Eagles have lost only two of their last eleven league games. They won their dress rehearsal last week with a 2-0 away win at Europa League finalists Tottenham. With a record of eight wins, five draws, and four losses, Palace is in seventh place in the second half of the season. However, in twelfth place overall, the train to Europe via the league is long gone.
However, if the high odds on a title win for the capital club prove correct on Saturday, it would automatically mean the club’s first European Cup appearance in its history. Bet365 is currently offering odds of 3.20 for Palace to win the FA Cup. Given the risk, it is definitely worth taking advantage of the Bet365 bonus for new customers to place a bet.
The cohesion that has always characterized Glasner’s teams gives cause for hope for a positive result. Added to this is a high-quality offense led by Mateta, Eze, and Sarr. It cannot be ruled out that the trio will take advantage of the space available and score the first goal of the game. With the €11 Interwetten freebet, you could play the top odds of 2.65 without risking your own money and pocket a nice profit.
Predicted line-up:
Henderson – Richards, Lacroix, Guehi – Munoz, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell – Eze, Sarr – Mateta
Manchester City – Statistics & current form
The bottom line is that Manchester City has had a disappointing season. Given the huge expectations, even victory in the FA Cup would not change this assessment much. Because they were knocked out of the Champions League in the playoffs against Real Madrid and never really had a realistic chance of defending their league title, a potential cup win would be merely a drop in the ocean. Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola is naturally hoping to win at least one trophy in his eighth consecutive year at City.
Will Haaland bring offensive power back to City’s game?
Compared to the worst phase imaginable in winter, when the Sky Blues were even knocked out of the Champions League places at one point, the actual industry leader from the island has recently stabilized noticeably. Not a single competitive game has been lost since the beginning of March. Ten consecutive unbeaten competitive games are one of the reasons why the betting odds on İlkay Gündoğan, Kevin de Bruyne and Co. are significantly lower between Manchester City and Crystal Palace.
However, in my opinion, the 1.78 odds for a City win after regular time in the Betano app should be treated with caution, as the star-studded ensemble from the industrial city did not exactly cover itself in glory last weekend, with an embarrassing 0-0 draw at bottom-of-the-table Southampton and a lackluster 1-0 home win against Wolverhampton.
Given that the high-caliber offense has struggled time and again to break down crowded defensive lines, it is also conceivable to predict fewer goals in the FA Cup final between Crystal Palace and Manchester City. Winamax is offering maximum odds of 1.60 for under 3 goals, which guarantees cashback if exactly three goals are scored in regular time. In recent years, goal-festivals have been few and far between in cup finals on the island. Only one of the last nine finals of the world’s oldest cup competition has seen more than three goals scored.
There is also cause for optimism in terms of personnel, as Erling Haaland could be fit again in time for the FA Cup final. The Norwegian has been out with injury in recent weeks, leaving a huge gap that has not been filled by an equivalent player. But even with Haaland, the Cityzens have been more vulnerable this season than they have been in years. The rest of the defense is and remains a core weakness, which the Eagles from London have certainly recognized in their analysis and come up with solutions for.
Predicted line-up:
Ederson – Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly – Kovacic, Bernardo – Doku, De Bruyne, Marmoush – Haaland
Crystal Palace – Manchester City Head-to-head record / H2H record
The teams last faced each other in the Premier League in mid-April. Crystal Palace got off to a flying start and were 2-0 up after just 20 minutes. However, the favourites then flexed their muscles, equalised before half-time and ultimately won 5-2. In the first leg in London at the beginning of December, the Sky Blues had to settle for a 2-2 draw. Although the head-to-head record clearly favors the Cityzens, it should be noted that the Eagles have now scored at least twice in four consecutive competitive games against Manchester City. If they can do that again on Saturday afternoon, there could be an upset in store at Wembley.
Crystal Palace – Manchester City prediction
Who will win the 2024/25 FA Cup? That question will be answered on Saturday evening when Crystal Palace take on Manchester City. On paper, the Cityzens are clear favorites. No wonder, as Pep Guardiola’s team are in the final for the third year in a row and have won at least one title every season since 2018. After disappointing performances in the league and the Champions League, the Sky Blues’ only chance to continue this streak is in the world’s oldest cup competition. However, Oliver Glasner’s Palace will fight with all their might.
The Eagles have had a strong 2025 so far, have developed remarkably since the summer and could now celebrate a national title for the first time in the club’s history. The underdog role suits the Londoners well, as they will be looking to make the difference at the weekend with quick transitions from a stable base.
I think a surprise coup is very possible and therefore see value in placing a bet on DNB 1 between Crystal Palace and Manchester City. If the score is tied after 90 minutes, the stake is returned. Vbet is offering an impressive 3.20 for the two-way bet, which I am playing with three units as my stake.