Crystal Palace and Manchester City will face off today at 11:30 a.m. EDT at Wembley Stadium in London, England.
Man City is favored at -125, with the over/under set at 2.5 (-135 / +110) goals.
Let's get into my Crystal Palace vs. Man City prediction.
Crystal Palace vs. Man City Odds, Prediction
| Crystal Palace Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
Crystal Palace +0.5 +215 | 2.5 -135o / +110u | +320 |
| Man City Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
Man City -0.5 -135 | 2.5 -135o / +110u | -125 |
Crystal Palace vs. Man City spread: Crystal Palace +0.5 (+215), Man City -0.5 (-135)
Crystal Palace vs. Man City over/under: 2.5 (-135o / +110u)
Crystal Palace vs. Man City moneyline: Crystal Palace +320, Man City -125
Crystal Palace vs. Man City best bet: Both Teams To Score, Manchester City Moneyline
Crystal Palace Prediction
Crystal Palace arrive at Wembley with the chance to claim their first major silverware. The Eagles are one of four British sides to reach the FA Cup final without lifting the trophy, the others being Scotland's Queen's Park (1884 and 1885), Birmingham City (1931 and 1956), and Watford (1984 and 2019). A further loss will leave them with the unwanted record of being the only side to have done it thrice.
Head coach Oliver Glasner has breathed life into a team that, while one of the most interesting projects in English football, has often failed to live up to expectations. Their attacking trio of Ismaïla Sarr, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eberechi Eze is one of the best in the Premier League, combining for 40 goals across all competitions. Eze, in particular, has been on fire lately, with five goals in the last four games.
The Eagles arrive to the final on a five-game unbeaten run that included a 1-1 draw to team-of-the-season Nottingham Forest and a 2-0 win over UEFA Europa League finalists Tottenham Hotspur.
Glasner has plenty of choices for his starting 11. Midfielder Adam Wharton recovered from a twisted ankle against Spurs, meaning Chadi Riad (ACL) and Cheick Doucoure (knee surgery) are the only players unavailable.
Man City Prediction
A few years ago, I'm pretty sure many Manchester City fans — and perhaps even some players — would've scoffed at the importance of an FA Cup final. Not this season.
The Citizens are on a reasonably good pace to finish inside the Premier League top five and secure a UEFA Champions League spot, thus avoiding a complete disaster of a season. Still, failing to collect the title at Wembley will turn what could be seen as an unexpected setback into a proper debacle, with even head coach Pep Guardiola admitting the title would “avoid bigger damage.”
Walk empty-handed, and it'll be City's first trophyless season since 2016-17, Guardiola's first at the club and so far the only in his managerial career where he hasn't won a title. It would come at a dire time, too, with fan favorite midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, a key cog in City's treble-winning squad, set to depart the team at the season's end.
There could be doubts. City are on a ten-game unbeaten streak, but last Saturday's draw against an already relegated Southampton once again showed a team that can't always find a way through a deep defense.
Rodri (ACL), Nathan Ake (foot), Oscar Bobb (hamstring) and John Stones (thigh) are all out of contention for the final, but that's about it for Guardiola in terms of unavailable players, with the situation far better than it was at most points this season.
Crystal Palace vs. Man City Pick
Crystal Palace has undoubtedly been the greatest entertainer in this FA Cup, but the problem with teams like that is that we're entertained regardless of whether they win.
When Man City defender Ruben Dias accused Southampton of "not even trying to play" in their 0-0 draw against the Saints, he was complaining that they did not give City any room to attack, which exposed their lack of decisiveness. The Eagles, with their love for swift transitions, high pressing, and attacking intent, will most certainly give them that room.
With the incredible quality, pace, and flair of Eze and Sarr, and Mateta's physical presence, they're likely to score against City, but will be ultimately punished, giving a team with far greater quality more room to play.
Crystal Palace vs. Man City Pick: Both Teams To Score, Manchester City Moneyline
