Crystal Palace are in pursuit of their first major domestic trophy as they take on Premier League behemoths, Manchester City, as we preview this weekend's FA Cup Final predictions.
The Eagles will run out at Wembley for the first time since 2016 and have been on rampant form in their route to the final.
Defence has been the backbone of Oliver Glasner’s side during the campaign, conceding just one goal from their five games, in a 3-1 win over Championship stalwarts Millwall.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City has been a little less consistent.
They survived a fourth-round scare at the hands of League One Leyton Orient and also fell behind to Plymouth Argyle and Bournemouth before limping over the line in both matches.
With the league now out of reach and relatively early exits from the League Cup and Champions League, the Cityzens have the FA Cup as their last chance to save what has ultimately been a dire season at the Etihad.
FA Cup Final Odds
The FA Cup betting markets are live, and here's a look at the latest odds for who will lift the trophy.
FA Cup Final Predictions: 20/1 Bet Builder at bet365
• Kevin De Bruyne to Score or Assist
• Erling Haaland 2+ Shots on Target
• Will Hughes to Commit 1+ Foul
• Both Teams to Score – Yes
• Man City to Win from Behind
Bet 1: Kevin de Bruyne to Score or Assist
With the announcement that Kevin de Bruyne is set to leave Manchester City in the summer, this will be one of his last games in a City shirt.
The Dutchman has amassed an incredible 16 trophies since joining from Wolfsburg and will undoubtedly go down as one of City’s all-time greats.
His record against Palace has been exemplary, with six goals and 10 assists in 19 games. Five of those goal contributions have come in the last three meetings.
He will be desperate to close his chapter at City on a high, and we’re backing him to do what he does best, with an anytime goal or assist.
Bet 2: Erling Haaland 2+ Shots on Target
It’s the measure of the man to suggest that Haaland’s 21 goals in 29 games this season have been subpar, but for the barnstorming Norwegian, that’s where we stand.
Regardless of form or numbers, Haaland will be a threat. He, like de Bruyne, enjoys playing against Palace, with six goals in four games, averaging two shots on target in the process.
It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see him score this weekend, and he looks great value to test Dean Henderson’s resolve in the Palace net with 2+ shots on target.
Bet 3: Will Hughes to Commit 1+ Fouls
Will Hughes is turning into somewhat of a Palace folk hero. The blond-bomber has locked in the central midfield role for Oliver Glasper, who clearly loves his technical proficiency and willingness to stick a boot in when needed.
He averages 2.8 fouls per 90 minutes, the highest of any player on the Palace team, and will be kept busy tracking the likes of de Bruyne, Marmoush, and Silva.
If Palace are to end their long-awaited trophy drought, there will be long periods of Saturday’s game without the ball, and Hughes will be called upon multiple times to break up play.
We’re backing him to commit 1+ fouls in the game as part of our FA Cup predictions bet builder.
Bet 4: Both Teams to Score – Yes
Man City head into the game as short 4/11 favourites to lift the cup, and given they’ve only lost once to Palace in their last 13 meetings, that seems about right.
We don’t see a lot of value in adding that to our FA Cup final predictions, so instead, we’re opting for goals, and more specifically, both teams to score.
It’s been BTTS Yes in five of the last six meetings between the two teams, averaging a whopping 4.75 goals per game in the process.
Given how City’s season has played out, they won’t make easy work of a potential cup final win. With 43 goal involvements from Eze, Mateta and Sarr, we’re expecting Palace to play their part in a potentially high-scoring encounter.
Bet 5: Man City to Win from Behind
A fairytale ending to this season's FA Cup predictions would be for Crystal Palace to win their first ever major trophy.
However, the reality is that City are still very much firm favourites to finish their bedraggled season on a high, and we think that’ll likely be the case come Saturday evening.
They still have the firepower to get over the line, but their dominance in games has notably dropped off.
They’ve had to come from behind to beat Leyton Orient, Plymouth Argyle and Bournemouth en route to the final and have gone behind in each of their last three victories over Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Manchester City to win from behind offers us value-packed FA Cup odds of 20/1, with all the hallmarks of a classic in the nation's capital this weekend.