Crystal Palace vs Manchester City predictions: Eagles could give favourites an early Cup Final shock
- Crystal Palace are targeting their first FA Cup triumph
- City beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 in the semis but Forest hit the woodwork three times
- Recommended bet: Crystal Palace to be leading at half-time
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is hoping to land his 13th major domestic trophy in England when the Citizens face Crystal Palace in Saturday's FA Cup final.
It is a big game for City, who flopped as ante-post favourites for this season's Premier League, EFL Cup and Champions League, but the stakes are even higher for Palace.
The Eagles have never won the FA Cup but they arrive at Wembley full of confidence after beating Fulham 3-0 in the quarter-finals and thumping Aston Villa by the same scoreline in the semis.
Team news
Crystal Palace hope that England midfielder Adam Wharton will be fit to start after rolling his ankle in last week's draw against Nottingham Forest.
Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure are the Eagles' only confirmed injury absentees.
Manchester City top scorer Erling Haaland made his first start since March 30 at Southampton last weekend and should lead the line.
Pep Guardiola is missing the injured Rodri, Oscar Bobb, John Stones and Nathan Ake while cup goalkeeper Stefan Ortega is expected to start instead of Ederson.
The stats
Crystal Palace have lost only four of their last 24 games in all competitions.
The Eagles have won four of this season's five FA Cup ties to nil.
Palace opened the scoring in the fourth, fourth and eighth minutes of their last three clashes with Manchester City.
Both teams have scored in only two of Manchester City's last eight games.
Three of the Citizens' last six wins were by a 2-0 scoreline.
There have been under 2.5 goals in six of City's last eight matches.
Prediction
Crystal Palace are understandably underdogs going into the FA Cup final but they are capable of giving Manchester City an early scare at Wembley.
Palace have taken the lead inside the first eight minutes in each of their last three Premier League clashes with the Citizens.
Oliver Glasner's men made a blistering start to last month's game at the Etihad Stadium, scoring twice in the first 21 minutes before an Eberechi Eze effort was ruled out for a very tight offside call.
City responded superbly to that early storm, coming back to win 5-2, but Guardiola's men have not been anywhere near as convincing since that victory.
They left it late to edge past Everton and Villa in the league, before a fortunate 1-0 home win over Wolves and a frustrating 0-0 draw at bottom club Southampton last weekend.
The Citizens made the perfect start to their semi-final against Nottingham Forest when Rico Lewis put them ahead inside two minutes.
However, they still had some nervy moments as Forest hit the frame of the goal three times and they were trailing at half-time in the 2-1 quarter-final win at Bournemouth.
City, upset by rivals Manchester United in last season's cup final, also conceded first against Leyton Orient in the fourth round and Plymouth in the last 16 and Palace are an appealing bet to be leading at half-time.
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