Underdogs Chase History, City Aim to Salvage Their Season
Crystal Palace will take the Wembley stage on Saturday with dreams of rewriting club history, while Manchester City seek to rescue a rare underwhelming season under Pep Guardiola in the 2025 FA Cup Final.
Palace, a club with a 119-year history but no major trophies, have reached the final just twice before. This time, however, they arrive with momentum and belief, having stunned Aston Villa 3-0 in the semifinals and defeated Tottenham 2-0 last weekend to match their Premier League points record of 49.
Palace’s Moment of Truth
Under the guidance of Oliver Glasner, Palace have made steady progress. Their FA Cup run has been their standout achievement this season. Leading the charge is Eberechi Eze, who has scored five goals in his last four games. He is one of four England internationals expected to start, alongside Dean Henderson, Marc Guehi, and Adam Wharton.
“It means everything,” said Eze about the final. “We know what it means to the fans, to the club. We’re confident and ready to be the best version of ourselves.”
A win on Saturday would not only deliver Palace their first major silverware but also a historic qualification for the Europa League, marking their debut in a major European club competition.
City’s Last Stand of the Season
Meanwhile, City arrive with immense pressure. After dominating English football with four consecutive Premier League titles, they currently trail champions Liverpool by 18 points. Last weekend’s goalless draw against bottom-placed Southampton epitomized their struggles.
Yet, Pep Guardiola’s squad remains unbeaten in 10 games and showed resilience in their 5-2 comeback win against Palace last month, sparked by a vintage performance from Kevin De Bruyne.
Farewell Glory for De Bruyne?
De Bruyne is expected to make one of his last appearances for City on Saturday. With 14 major titles to his name, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League win, he will be looking to add a third FA Cup before leaving the Etihad.
“He’s had an incredible time at Manchester City, and hopefully he gets one more trophy,” said Erling Haaland, City’s top scorer.
Haaland Returns from Injury
The Norwegian striker made his return from a six-week injury layoff against Southampton and is expected to lead the line at Wembley. Haaland has openly criticized City’s performance this season, calling it “horrendous” by their high standards.
“It’s always important to win trophies. Even in a horrific season, we managed to reach the FA Cup final, and that shows our mentality,” Haaland added.
What’s at Stake
- For Crystal Palace: First major trophy and Europa League qualification
- For Manchester City: Avoiding a trophyless season, salvaging pride
- For De Bruyne: A last medal to end a legendary decade
Match Details
- Match: Crystal Palace vs Manchester City
- Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
- Venue: Wembley Stadium
- Kickoff: 15:00 BST
Conclusion: All Eyes on Wembley
It’s David vs Goliath in the truest sense. Can Crystal Palace defy the odds and seize glory, or will Manchester City’s experience and star power prevail one last time this season?
Regardless of the outcome, the 2025 FA Cup Final promises to be a dramatic and emotional showdown — one that could define legacies, reshape futures, and crown new heroes on English football’s biggest domestic stage.
Follow our FA Cup 2025 coverage for real-time updates, player ratings, and tactical analysis post-match.
