FA Cup final preview: Crystal Palace vs Man City
Despite having a godawful season by their own standards, despite everyone getting excited about this FA Cup campaign acting as an unlikely showcase for teams that haven’t had much trophy success in recent years, and despite the fact almost no-one who isn’t a Man City fan wants to see Guardiola’s team lift the FA Cup – City are still big favourites to lift the FA Cup.
Odds-on to win at Wembley on Saturday, the Manchester side have established themselves as a Premier League behemoth over the last decade or more.
City are unbeaten since mid-March
This season, the team has been startlingly beatable at times. But they also seem to have shrugged off their troubles in recent months. Currently fourth in the league table, City are unbeaten since mid-March.
Are Palace – still awaiting their first ever major trophy, incidentally – poised for a thankless trip to Wembley, then? There is reason not to completely write off Oliver Glasner’s side. The Eagles beat Spurs 2-0 away from home in the Prem last time out, and held Arsenal to a 2-2 draw at the Emirates last month.
They fared less well against City last time these two sides met, losing 5-2 at the Etihad. But even that match wasn’t without bright spots for the visitors, who had taken a 2-0 lead after 21 minutes.
Falling victim to a five-goal swing in the remainder of the game is unfortunate but not unforgivable, with City rediscovering their imperious best as Kevin De Bruyne scored City’s first to inspire a thumping comeback win.
In any case, Palace have shown some fight in recent years when it comes to playing City, with a 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park last December, and another 2-2 tie at the Etihad in December 2023.
Eze does it?
What’s more, City failed to win last week against Southampton, the Saints eking out a goalless draw as Erling Haaland’s return failed to make much of an impression. Will the big Norwegian have a more fruitful time of it this weekend? Will he even start, or will Pep employ a more experimental, off-the-wall line-up as he plots Cup glory?
City are the likely lads. But Palace might just be able to pour cold water on Pep’s hopes of a trophy. Either way, backing Eberechi Eze to score for Palace looks a decent option. He’s done so five times in his last four appearances.
The 26-year-old is expected to leave Palace in the summer. And Eze could be set to go out on a high this weekend. Eze is 7/2 to find the net.
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