For more stories like this click here to follow The Athletic’s sports betting section and have them added to your feed.
Saturday’s FA Cup final between Manchester City and Crystal Palace is about more than just silverware. It’s a crossroads moment for two clubs on very different journeys.
For Man City, it’s a chance to salvage pride after a season that’s failed to meet their standards. Pep Guardiola admitted that winning at Wembley won’t erase the frustration of recent months, but it would “avoid bigger damage.” More importantly, for the beloved Kevin De Bruyne, it’s one last dance at Wembley in a City shirt.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, for Palace, it’s the opportunity to win a major trophy for the first time in their history. So, amid high-stakes drama, here are three key talking points and betting angles ahead of the final.
Manchester City seek salvation
After the historic treble two seasons ago, City have fallen short at home and in Europe, surrendering the Premier League title and crashing out of the Champions League early. Now, the only chance to salvage pride and end the season on a high note lies in winning this weekend’s FA Cup final.
Their dip is reflected by the numbers: more league losses than in any of their past three campaigns, a drop in pressing intensity and defensive instability due to injuries. That fragility gives Oliver Glasner’s side some hope, which the bookmakers have picked up on. Both teams to score (BTTS) and over 2.5 goals are priced at 13/20, hinting at a potentially open game.
City remain favourites overall, but margins matter. A one-goal City win is 13/5, two goals is 4/1, and City to win with BTTS is 23/10. Palace, priced at 13/2 in the same market, could make life uncomfortable due to the brilliance of Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The Frenchman has netted 14 goals this season and is 7/1 to score first and 23/10 anytime on Saturday. If the Citizens can keep the 27-year-old under wraps and do what’s needed on the other end of the pitch, it would spare them the sting of ending the year empty-handed.
Third time’s a charm for Crystal Palace?
Palace return to Wembley for their third FA Cup final, having lost both previous attempts to Manchester United. This time, they face a more vulnerable Man City. Could third time be the charm?
Palace arrive as underdogs. Glasner has revitalized the South London side since his February 2024 appointment, and his attacking trio is thriving at the right time. Eberechi Eze has five goals in his last four games in all competitions, and is an enticing 3/1 pick for the anytime scorer market. With Mateta leading the line and semi-final hero Ismaïla Sarr — who scored twice against Aston Villa — joining Eze in attack, Palace have enough firepower to seriously test a depleted City backline.
Advertisement
It’s worth mentioning that expectations are different for both teams. For Palace, this isn’t about defending reputation or avoiding “damage,” but about making history. The Eagles have never won a major trophy in their century-old existence. A win on Saturday would be a milestone moment for the club.
So, what’s the Eagles’ game plan? With pressure mounting on City, Glasner will hope to drag the game deep. A draw after 90 minutes is priced at 7/2, and if it goes the distance, Palace to win on penalties is 12/1 — long odds, but not impossible for a team playing with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Can KDB earmark his farewell party with a goal?
Saturday’s final marks De Bruyne’s last appearance in a Man City shirt at Wembley — a nostalgic send-off for one of the Premier League’s all-time greats. With his contract expiring and a summer move incoming, the stage is set for the Belgian maestro to deliver one more symphony on English soil.
It hasn’t been the farewell season De Bruyne imagined, from his injuries to City’s dip in performance. The 33-year-old’s recent form has shown flashes of his old brilliance, but he’s struggled for rhythm and fitness all campaign.
Tournament finals also haven’t been kind to City’s No 17. From injury-forced exits in back-to-back Champions League finals to a dismal showing in last year’s FA Cup loss to Man United, there’s a lingering myth that he fails to show up when it matters most. But the overall narrative tells a different story: De Bruyne has been the driving force behind City’s domestic dominance. Saturday’s showpiece offers one last chance to write his ending, by orchestrating play or getting on the scoresheet.
De Bruyne to score anytime is 16/5, with scoring first at 9/1 — not the most generous odds, but worth considering given the bigger picture. With emotions running high and the desire to leave his mark, he may come out firing. Is it a sentimental bet? Maybe. But football has a funny way of rewarding its greats with poetic endings.
Advertisement
More FA Cup stories
Betting/Odds links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
(Photo of Kevin De Bruyne: Carl Recine / Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Tyrique George has done enough to start up front against Nottingham Forest, says Enzo Maresca
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has said he has seen enough from Tyrique George to show that he can start as a striker in Chelsea’s pivotal final league game of the season.Typically deployed as a winger, George played up front in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Manchester United on Friday, with Nicolas Jackson suspended after being sent off against Newcastle United. It was his first Premier League start for the club.AdvertisementThe 19-year-old was forced to adapt to an unfamiliar role though Maresca was impressed with what he saw.“Very good, very good, brave,” he said when asked after the game about George’s performance. “He was a threat in behind. It was not easy for him because on the other side you had Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw, he was fighting against important defenders. But again we tried to find a solution with a player […]
Torcedores revelam qual o maior freguês e o maior carrasco do Corinthians hoje
Torcedores do Corinthians na Neo Química Arena (Jose Manoel Idalgo/Corinthians) O Corinthians não vive um de seus melhores momentos da sua história. Embora tenha vencido o Paulistão de 2025, esse foi o único título desde 2019. Neste ano, já foi eliminado na pré-Libertadores e corre sérios riscos de não avançar na fase de grupos da Sul-Americana. Para entender melhor o que pensa os torcedores, a ESPN entrevistou alguns corintianos e perguntou quem eles consideram o maior freguês e o maior carrasco do clube atualmente. Ou seja, o time que mais perde para o Corinthians e o que mais tem facilidade para ganhar. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Em relação ao freguês, a gande maioria apontou o São Paulo. Palmeiras, Santos e Internacional foram outros citados. Já quando o assunto são os carrascos, ou seja, os adversários mais difíceis de enfrentar, o torcedor do […]
Twins’ Carlos Correa goes on injured list, Byron Buxton in concussion protocol after head-to-head collision
Imagn Images Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa and outfielder Byron Buxton exited Thursday's game against the Baltimore Orioles (GameTracker) after colliding during the bottom of the third inning. On Friday, the Twins placed Correa on the concussion-specific injured list and activated infielder Ryan Fitzgerald. Buxton remains in the concussion protocol.The two Twins stars were each tracking a Cedric Mullins fly ball, with Correa keeping his back to the outfield and Buxton coming in from center. Buxton was able to snag the ball before making contact. Both went down after appearing to knock heads. Correa left immediately and Buxton initially stayed in the game before departing.Here's a look at the play in question: Correa, 30, came into play on Thursday in the midst of a disappointing season. Over his first 40 games, he hit .238/.276/.333 (70 OPS+) with two home runs and […]
Roger Machado diz que o Internacional vai para o jogo contra o Bahia na Libertadores ‘como se fosse o último da vida’
Treinador vê duelo com Bahia como 'jogo da vida' (Foto: Divulgação/Facebook Oficial Internacional) A vitória da última quinta-feira (15) contra o Nacional-URU manteve acesa a esperança do Internacional de se classificar para a próxima fase da Libertadores. Para ter a vaga. no entanto, terá de vencer o Bahia na última rodada da fase de grupos da competição. ‘Jogo da vida’ Diante do teor de ‘vida ou morte’ da partida diante do Tricolor de Aço, Roger Machado já tem mente o discurso que adotará para a busca da classificação. O treinador colorado vê uma partida na qual as duas equipes terão de dar muito de si pela vaga, vendo o duelo marcado para o dia 28 no Beira-Rio como o ‘jogo da vida’ da equipe na temporada. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Eu sempre costumo dar prestígio para aqueles que estão à disposição. Vou […]
2025 PGA Championship: Si Woo Kim erupts, launches club after hitting hole-in-one Friday at Quail Hollow
Another day, another ace at Quail Hollow.Si Woo Kim erupted on the tee box at the 250-yard par 3 6th on Friday afternoon after he rolled in a hole-in-one. Once Kim saw it fall, he launched his fairway wood into the air and took off sprinting toward the next tee box.The ace was Kim's sixth on the PGA Tour, and his second at a major championship.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat moved Kim to 6-under on the day and 5-under on the tournament. He's only three back of Jhonattan Vegas as he wraps up his second round, too. Vegas took the early lead at 8-under par.Kim has won four times on Tour, most recently at the 2023 Sony Open. He's got just one top-10 finish this season on Tour, and he's missed the cut at the last two PGA Championships.Kim's ace is the second of […]
From underdog to $265 million QB, Brock Purdy faces heightened expectations
Greg Auman NFL Reporter <!--> The biggest lingering question of the 49ers' offseason has been answered — in resounding, emphatic, quarter-billion-dollar fashion.Brock Purdy, who went from the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft to a Pro Bowl and Super Bowl quarterback, will now be paid like one, agreeing to a five-year, $265 million deal that ties him for the seventh-highest-paid player in the league at $53 million a year.Purdy, 25, quickly moves from one end of the quarterback expectations spectrum to the other. Instead of being a plucky underdog from Iowa State who went 5-0 as a rookie and helped the 49ers to the Super Bowl in his second season, he now has the burden of being paid like a franchise quarterback, and the high standard of consistent elite-level play that comes with that.For San Francisco, plagued by injuries […]
Related
Tyrique George has done enough to start up front against Nottingham Forest, says Enzo Maresca
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has said he has seen enough from Tyrique George to show that he can start as a striker in Chelsea’s pivotal final league game of the season.Typically deployed as a winger, George played up front in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Manchester United on Friday, with Nicolas Jackson suspended after being sent off against Newcastle United. It was his first Premier League start for the club.AdvertisementThe 19-year-old was forced to adapt to an unfamiliar role though Maresca was impressed with what he saw.“Very good, very good, brave,” he said when asked after the game about George’s performance. “He was a threat in behind. It was not easy for him because on the other side you had Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw, he was fighting against important defenders. But again we tried to find a solution with a player […]
Torcedores revelam qual o maior freguês e o maior carrasco do Corinthians hoje
Torcedores do Corinthians na Neo Química Arena (Jose Manoel Idalgo/Corinthians) O Corinthians não vive um de seus melhores momentos da sua história. Embora tenha vencido o Paulistão de 2025, esse foi o único título desde 2019. Neste ano, já foi eliminado na pré-Libertadores e corre sérios riscos de não avançar na fase de grupos da Sul-Americana. Para entender melhor o que pensa os torcedores, a ESPN entrevistou alguns corintianos e perguntou quem eles consideram o maior freguês e o maior carrasco do clube atualmente. Ou seja, o time que mais perde para o Corinthians e o que mais tem facilidade para ganhar. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Em relação ao freguês, a gande maioria apontou o São Paulo. Palmeiras, Santos e Internacional foram outros citados. Já quando o assunto são os carrascos, ou seja, os adversários mais difíceis de enfrentar, o torcedor do […]
Twins’ Carlos Correa goes on injured list, Byron Buxton in concussion protocol after head-to-head collision
Imagn Images Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa and outfielder Byron Buxton exited Thursday's game against the Baltimore Orioles (GameTracker) after colliding during the bottom of the third inning. On Friday, the Twins placed Correa on the concussion-specific injured list and activated infielder Ryan Fitzgerald. Buxton remains in the concussion protocol.The two Twins stars were each tracking a Cedric Mullins fly ball, with Correa keeping his back to the outfield and Buxton coming in from center. Buxton was able to snag the ball before making contact. Both went down after appearing to knock heads. Correa left immediately and Buxton initially stayed in the game before departing.Here's a look at the play in question: Correa, 30, came into play on Thursday in the midst of a disappointing season. Over his first 40 games, he hit .238/.276/.333 (70 OPS+) with two home runs and […]
Roger Machado diz que o Internacional vai para o jogo contra o Bahia na Libertadores ‘como se fosse o último da vida’
Treinador vê duelo com Bahia como 'jogo da vida' (Foto: Divulgação/Facebook Oficial Internacional) A vitória da última quinta-feira (15) contra o Nacional-URU manteve acesa a esperança do Internacional de se classificar para a próxima fase da Libertadores. Para ter a vaga. no entanto, terá de vencer o Bahia na última rodada da fase de grupos da competição. ‘Jogo da vida’ Diante do teor de ‘vida ou morte’ da partida diante do Tricolor de Aço, Roger Machado já tem mente o discurso que adotará para a busca da classificação. O treinador colorado vê uma partida na qual as duas equipes terão de dar muito de si pela vaga, vendo o duelo marcado para o dia 28 no Beira-Rio como o ‘jogo da vida’ da equipe na temporada. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Eu sempre costumo dar prestígio para aqueles que estão à disposição. Vou […]
2025 PGA Championship: Si Woo Kim erupts, launches club after hitting hole-in-one Friday at Quail Hollow
Another day, another ace at Quail Hollow.Si Woo Kim erupted on the tee box at the 250-yard par 3 6th on Friday afternoon after he rolled in a hole-in-one. Once Kim saw it fall, he launched his fairway wood into the air and took off sprinting toward the next tee box.The ace was Kim's sixth on the PGA Tour, and his second at a major championship.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat moved Kim to 6-under on the day and 5-under on the tournament. He's only three back of Jhonattan Vegas as he wraps up his second round, too. Vegas took the early lead at 8-under par.Kim has won four times on Tour, most recently at the 2023 Sony Open. He's got just one top-10 finish this season on Tour, and he's missed the cut at the last two PGA Championships.Kim's ace is the second of […]
From underdog to $265 million QB, Brock Purdy faces heightened expectations
Greg Auman NFL Reporter <!--> The biggest lingering question of the 49ers' offseason has been answered — in resounding, emphatic, quarter-billion-dollar fashion.Brock Purdy, who went from the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft to a Pro Bowl and Super Bowl quarterback, will now be paid like one, agreeing to a five-year, $265 million deal that ties him for the seventh-highest-paid player in the league at $53 million a year.Purdy, 25, quickly moves from one end of the quarterback expectations spectrum to the other. Instead of being a plucky underdog from Iowa State who went 5-0 as a rookie and helped the 49ers to the Super Bowl in his second season, he now has the burden of being paid like a franchise quarterback, and the high standard of consistent elite-level play that comes with that.For San Francisco, plagued by injuries […]
Be the first to leave a comment