Though they face a formidable opponent in Manchester City, Crystal Palace is confident it can win its first major title ever. Man City, the seven-time champions of England's most illustrious football competition, are making their third consecutive appearance in the final. This time, a London-based team will face them instead of their rivals, Man United. Continue reading to get an expert Crystal Palace vs Man City prediction and explore stats and tips to bet the FA Cup.
- Crystal Palace FC vs Manchester City FC
- FA Cup final
- May 17, 2025
- 11:30 AM EST
- Wembley Stadium
- ESPN+
Crystal Palace vs Man City Prediction: Bet FA Cup
It is likely that Man City will win the FA Cup within the allotted 90 minutes. The runners-up from the previous year are (-149) to finish this year, which is good for an estimated likelihood of 59.8%. The odds for Crystal Palace to win the FA Cup for the first time are (+385). For those who believe there is a good chance of more time, a draw pays out at (+306).
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Crystal Palace on the Cusp of Making History
With just one goal given up, Crystal Palace advances to the FA Cup final after a dominant run. In the previous rounds, easy victories over weaker opposition were not surprising. Before defeating Championship-level Millwall in the fifth round, Crystal Palace easily defeated third-tier teams Stockport and Doncaster Rovers. Crystal Palace truly made an impression throughout the quarterfinals and semifinals.
To secure their spot at Wembley, Crystal Palace defeated Fulham 3-0 at Craven Cottage. Many people predicted that the Londoners' good fortunes would stop once they faced Aston Villa. However, a repeat Eagles victory followed, advancing Crystal Palace to their first FA Cup final since 2016.
Oliver Glasner's team is now in 12th place and is vying for their first major championship. He would become the club's most successful manager right away with an FA Cup victory. However, his league performance alone is noteworthy. Despite being a possible relegation contender, Crystal Palace's campaign went smoothly and safely.
Under the Glasner era, Crystal Palace supporters are extremely optimistic about the team's prospects of competing in Europe soon. Indeed, the FA Cup winner secures a spot in the Europa League, a competition that English clubs can easily win. After defeating Man City in the FA Cup final last year, Man United was able to qualify for Europe. With a return to the Champions League at stake, the Red Devils now face Tottenham, another English team, in the championship match of Europa League.
Man City Flying Under the Radar?
Despite their dominance this season, Man City has suffered from a lack of "hunger," as star forward Erling Haaland put it. As six-time league champions in the last seven years and 2023 treble winners, Man City has regularly touched gold. However, Man City's reputation has been damaged over the last 12 months due to a decline in results amid a difficult legal struggle.
It is important to remember how high the Citizens' expectations are: Man City is the clear favorite to win the FA Cup and is only one point from second place in the standings. For many clubs, including Crystal Palace, that season is historic. Heck, a term like that would have thrilled Man City supporters twenty years ago. Therefore, it should not be shocking that Haaland and manager Pep Guardiola have made a long-term commitment to the team while remaining hopeful for the upcoming years.
Compared to their opponents, City's path to the final was more difficult. A slight scare at the Etihad against second-tier Plymouth Argyle was sandwiched by narrow victories over third-tier Leyton Orient and Bournemouth. Nottingham Forest presented a serious defensive threat, making City's 2-0 triumph over them at Wembley worthy of great recognition.
Crystal Palace vs Man City Prediction
Considering the two teams' recent performance, Manchester City should win. A 7-game unbeaten streak over the Eagles was bookended by a 5-2 triumph just one month earlier. However, Crystal Palace has drawn in each of the three previous years, including when Man City was at its best. Since his initial end-to-end performances in early 2024, Oliver Glasner's Crystal Palace has developed into a formidable defensive stronghold.
I believe in Crystal Palace in the betting market because of their defense and the neutral Wembley Stadium's supportive London crowd. According to my predictions, Crystal Palace should be (-107) to win or draw. However, the leading online bookmakers are showing odds as far as (+130).
I'm going to support the underdogs to keep this FA Cup final within a goal and possibly create history. They have everything they need to cause problems for Man City, and they are hungry to make the most of it. Take Crystal Palace +0.75 at (-101), which is now offered by BetOnline.
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