Crystal Palace Return to the FA Cup Final After Nine Years
After nearly a decade, Crystal Palace are back in the FA Cup final. It’s a big moment for a club that doesn’t often make it to these kinds of stages—and interestingly, Manchester opposition seems to be part of the tradition. Back in 1990, Palace forced a replay against Manchester United but lost in controversial fashion. In 2016, they faced United again, even took the lead with just 12 minutes left, but heartbreak followed once more as they conceded quickly and lost in extra time.
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Facing a New Manchester Challenge
This time around, they’ll be going up against Manchester City—the other team in town, and arguably the tougher one. Under Pep Guardiola, City have been dominant, winning two of the last three FA Cup finals since Palace’s last appearance. That said, they did lose last year in a shocking upset to United. And Palace, with their unpredictable style, could cause similar problems.
A Season That Turned Around
At the start of the season, Palace looked like they were heading for a relegation battle. But under coach Oliver Glasner, things changed dramatically. Speaking on The Optus Sport Football Podcast, European football expert Julien Laurens highlighted how once the team got healthy and settled, they started performing like the strong finishers they were last season. Glasner’s coaching has gone under the radar in England, but Laurens believes he’s built a solid unit—with a dependable back three and a dynamic front line featuring Ismaila Sarr, Eberechi Eze, and cult favorite Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The Power of the Fans and the Moment
Palace fans also play a massive role. Their energy during the 3-0 semi-final win over Aston Villa was electric, and Laurens expects them to bring that same passion to Wembley. He noted that if Palace win, it would mark their first major trophy ever, making this final a potential historic moment.
City Struggles and Palace’s Tactical Edge
Historically, Palace have been a thorn in City’s side. Since Guardiola took over, Palace have beaten them twice and drawn five times. In a recent match at the Etihad, Palace stormed to a 2-0 lead before City turned it around. Football pundit Phil Kitromilides believes this fixture always delivers excitement and that City’s usual control gets disrupted when facing Palace. With City under pressure to secure a Champions League spot and Palace playing with freedom, it creates a tactical scenario that suits Palace’s counter-attacking style.
Expect Fireworks at Wembley
With different approaches, contrasting tactics, and history on the line, this FA Cup final is shaping up to be an exciting one. It kicks off at 1:30am AEST on Sunday, May 18, and will be streamed live on Optus Sport. Whether you’re watching for the drama, the underdog story, or just a great football match, this one’s worth staying up for.
