The final of the world’s oldest domestic knockout competition takes place at Wembley on Saturday (4.30pm; TV: Live on ITV & BBC). Manchester City are no strangers to the FA Cup Final, but they will take on an unlikely opponent in Crystal Palace, who will be looking to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.
For MCFC, this has been a disappointing season, and a win here will go some way to lifting the subdued atmosphere around the Etihad Stadium. Crystal Palace have endured a mixed campaign, but they’ve been consistent in this competition, delivering some impressive performances on their way to the final. Read on for our full CPFC vs MCFC FA Cup Final preview and betting tips.
While they’ve had their struggles this season, it’s no surprise that Manchester City start as odds-on favourites with the trusted UK bookies to win this game in 90 minutes. There are currently best odds of 3/4 available on victory for Pep’s men. The draw at the end of normal time is the next available option at a top price of 3/1, while a win for Palace completes the result betting at a best of 18/5.
In the Premier League, Man City sit in fourth place with 65 points, while Crystal Palace are in twelfth with 49. The teams have already played each other twice in the EPL. In April, City won 5-2 at the Etihad but not before CPFC had taken a two-goal lead. At Selhurst Park in December, the match finished in a 2-2 draw.
The indicators are that MCFC should win inside 90 minutes, but we know that they have been vulnerable across the season. At the very least, the game could be closer than those match odds suggest.
Erling Haaland was back in the Manchester City starting line-up at Southampton last weekend following injury and he is the obvious favourite to open the scoring this Saturday. Haaland has scored 30 goals in a difficult season, including one in two FA Cup matches.
Strike partner Omar Marmoush is next at 11/2 with Phil Foden slotting in at 7/1. Crystal Palace’s shortest-priced option in the First Goalscorer market is Jean-Philippe Mateta, who can also be found at a best of 7/1. Other options for Manchester City backers include Kevin De Bruyne at 11/1, and Jeremy Doku at 12/1.
Over in the Crystal Palace camp, Eberechi Eze could be the man to watch at 12/1. He is the club’s designated penalty taker and has three goals in four FA Cup matches this season. Eze has found the target five times in his last five matches and he also opened the scoring in Palace’s 2-5 loss at City in April.
In other side bets, Both Teams to Score can be claimed here at best odds of 8/11. If you’re edging towards the ‘no’ option on BTTS, the numbers jump to a top price of 6/5.
We’ll head across to the Total Goals market next, where a stake Over the 2.5 line is currently available at a general 8/11. The two league games between these sides have been full of goals, so you may want to consider pushing that Above the 3.5 line at 19/10. For those who expect a more cagey 90 minutes at Wembley, Under 2.5 Goals is quoted at 11/10.
Last up in this section are some Correct Score options. If you think the favourites will breeze through this game, a final scoreline of Manchester City 3 Crystal Palace 1 could be the way to go at 12/1. A 2-1 victory for Palace is on offer at 14/1, while the 1-1 draw is available at 13/2.
Our FA Cup Final Betting Tips Verdict For This Preview
When Crystal Palace took a point off Manchester City at Selhurst Park in December, Pep’s men were in the middle of an extended slump that ultimately saw them drop out of the title race. Since then, they have recovered slightly, and are one of the form teams with 14 points from their last six Premier League games. Only Aston Villa have a better record over the same period, while Crystal Palace have just six points from their last six.
Palace have been impressive in the FA Cup and their last two games in the competition produced 3-0 wins over Villa and Fulham. The Eagles are capable of raising their game, but it’s hard to see past a Manchester City win on Saturday.
If we don’t want to take the 3/4 price on the favourites, where are the better odds? Eze to score at any time in 90 minutes is a tempter at 15/4. His overall scoring record this season is modest, but he’s finding form at just the right time.
This preview will settle, instead, for Over 3.5 goals at that 19/10 price, bearing in mind that the two league games between these teams produced a total of eleven goals. The final could, of course, be a more cagey affair, but Palace play a bright, attacking style under Oliver Glasner, and it could be a more open game.
Remember that the selection, along with all the odds quoted above, is for the result in 90 minutes, excluding any extra time. So for the betting tips for this FA Cup Final, this preview suggests this one:
Matt Harris is a football & golf writer for Just Bookies. Other sports in his portfolio of specialities include cricket. Matt has contributed to innumerable large organisations and media brands. These include: Betfair, BetVictor, USA Betting & Unibet. 