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Crystal Palace are on the verge of winning their first-ever major trophy, but they have quite the challenge on their hands in Man City. Seven-time winners of England’s most historic soccer tournament, Man City are in the final for the third time running. This time, it won’t be their rivals Man United they meet, but a London-based side. Read on for an expert Crystal Palace vs Man City prediction and explore stats and tips to bet the FA Cup.
- FA Cup final
- Crystal Palace FC vs Manchester City FC
- Saturday, May 17, 2025
- 11:30 AM EST
- Wembley Stadium, London, England
- ESPN+
Crystal Palace vs Man City Prediction: Who do Sportsbooks Favor?
Man City are odds-on favorites to win the FA Cup and do so within the regulation 90 minutes. Last year’s runners-up are (-149) to get the job done this year, good for an implied probability of 59.8%. Crystal Palace are (+385) to win their first-ever FA Cup. A draw pays out at (+330) for those who see extra time as a strong possibility.
| FA Cup |  |  |  |
| Crystal Palace | +385 | +385 | +390 |
| Man City | -149 | -149 | -165 |
| Draw | +306 | +306 | +330 |
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Crystal Palace to Play in Europe in 2025?
A dominant run through the FA Cup sees Crystal Palace in the final with just one goal conceded. Easy triumphs over lesser competition did not come as surprises in the earlier rounds. Crystal Palace took care of business against third-tier sides Stockport and Doncaster Rovers before eliminating Championship-level Millwall in the 5th round. It was in the quarterfinals and semifinals when Crystal Palace really turned heads.
Crystal Palace knocked out Fulham at Craven Cottage by a score of 3-0 to book their place at Wembley. A meeting with Aston Villa loomed, with many predicting the good fortunes of the Londoners to come to an end. But a repeat scoreline in favor of the Eagles followed, pushing Crystal Palace to their first FA Cup final since 2016.
Oliver Glasner now sees his side 12th on the table and knocking on the door of their first major trophy. A win in the FA Cup would immediately make him the most successful manager in the history of the club. But his performance in the league alone is worth commending. A potential relegation candidate, Crystal Palace’s campaign was a safe, smooth trip throughout.
With dreams of European competition in the near future, Crystal Palace fans are very hopeful under the Glasner era. Indeed, the winner of the FA Cup books a place in the Europa League, a winnable tournament for English clubs. Man United managed to earn European qualification with their victory over Man City in the FA Cup final last year. Now the Red Devils are facing fellow English side Tottenham in the final, with a return to the Champions League on the line.
Man City Can Resurrect Season With FA Cup Victory
Suffering from a loss of “hunger,” as star forward Erling Haaland attributed it to, Man City has seen a decline from their dominance this season. 2023 treble winners and 6-time league champions in the past seven years, there isn’t much silverware Man City hasn’t hoisted. But a drop in results amidst a daunting legal battle has smeared Man City’s reputation in the past 12 months.
What should be put into perspective, however, is just how high expectations are of the Citizens. Man City is one point off from 2nd on the table and are big favorites to win the FA Cup. That’s a historic season for many clubs, including Crystal Palace. Heck, Man City fans of 20 years ago would be ecstatic with such a term. So maybe it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that Haaland and manager Pep Guardiola have committed to the club on a long-term basis, still optimistic of the coming years.
Man City’s route to the final was more rocky than their opponents. Slim margins against third-tier Leyton Orient and Bournemouth sandwiched a minor scare at the Etihad against second-tier Plymouth Argyle. City’s 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Wembley is worthy of high praise, as the Tricky Trees posed a significant defensive threat.
Crystal Palace vs Man City Prediction: Bet FA Cup Final to Remain Close
Looking back at recent results between these two sides would favor Manchester City. A 5-2 victory just a month ago bookends a 7-match unbeaten streak against the Eagles. But Crystal Palace has managed draws in each of the last three years, including during Man City’s peak. Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace has become quite the defensive fortress since his first end-to-end performances back in early 2024.
That defense, combined with a friendly London backing at the neutral Wembley Stadium, lead me to favor Crystal Palace in the betting market. My projections indicate Crystal Palace should be (-107) to win or draw, yet we are seeing numbers as long as (+130) across top online sportsbooks. And Bovada is offering a great line on Crystal Palace at +1 at (-125), nearly twenty cents better than industry standard Pinnacle.
I’m going to back the underdogs to keep this FA Cup final within a goal and potentially make history. They have all the tools to trouble Man City and the hunger to use them to the fullest. Go with Crystal Palace +1 at (-125), currently available at Bovada.
Odds are accurate at time of writing but subject to change.
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