Get Ready for the FA Cup Final with Key Facts
The stage is set for one of football’s most iconic events the FA Cup final airing live and exclusively on Optus Sport this weekend. It’s a clash between Manchester City and Crystal Palace, and it promises fireworks. City, desperate to salvage a tough season, go up against a Palace side dreaming of making history. With global attention fixed on Wembley, this final is too close to call.
ICYMT: Amorim Unsure of Lineup for Upcoming Europa League Final
Their Journey to Wembley
Both teams began their FA Cup campaigns in the third round, taking on lower-league opposition. Palace’s run has been impressive and dominant. They breezed past Fulham in the quarter-finals and then delivered a stunning performance at Wembley, defeating Aston Villa 3-0 in the semi-final.
City, meanwhile, had a much trickier path. After an 8-0 thrashing of Salford, they had tighter wins over Leyton Orient and Plymouth. They had to come from behind to beat Bournemouth 2-1, and their semi-final win against Forest was solid but unspectacular.
Crystal Palace’s Road to the Final:
- 1-0 vs Stockport County
- 2-0 vs Doncaster Rovers
- 3-1 vs Millwall
- 3-0 vs Fulham
- 3-0 vs Aston Villa
Manchester City’s Road to the Final:
- 8-0 vs Salford City
- 2-1 vs Leyton Orient
- 3-1 vs Plymouth Argyle
- 2-1 vs Bournemouth
- 2-0 vs Nottingham Forest
Head-to-Head Battles
Out of 73 past meetings, City lead with 39 wins, while Palace have managed 17. But under Guardiola, Palace have proven tricky, grabbing two wins and five draws. This season’s Premier League match at Selhurst Park ended 2-2, while City had to rally in the return leg for a 5-2 win, led by a masterclass from Kevin De Bruyne.
Form This Season
City haven’t looked like their usual selves, suffering one of their worst runs under Pep. A rough patch mid-season saw them fall out of several competitions, though they’ve bounced back to sit fourth with 65 points. Palace started slow, hit by injuries and departures, but 2025 has been kind to them—they’re 12th with 49 points and climbing.
FA Cup Final History
This is City’s third straight FA Cup final and their 14th overall. They’ve won seven times but were shocked by Manchester United last year. For Palace, this marks just their third ever final. They lost to United both in 1990 and 2016, so they’ll be hoping third time’s the charm his time against City.
How to Watch the Final
Don’t miss a moment! The 2025 FA Cup final airs live on Optus Sport in Australia. Coverage starts at 12:30am AEST on Sunday, May 18, with kick-off at 1:30am. Set your alarm this one’s going to be huge!
