Crystal Palace vs Man City: FA Cup Win & Premier League

When Crystal Palace lined up against Manchester City at Wembley in May 2025, few expected the Eagles to fly away with their first major trophy. But Eberechi Eze’s early strike and a resolute defensive display delivered a 1-0 FA Cup final win that stunned the football world (ESPN match report, May 2025).

The two meetings show a rivalry of contrasts: an underdog triumph and a champion’s response.

FA Cup Final Winner: Crystal Palace ·
FA Cup Final Score: 1-0 ·
FA Cup Final Scorer: Eberechi Eze ·
Premier League Result (May 2026): Manchester City 3-0 Crystal Palace ·
Premier League Match Date: 13 May 2026 ·
FA Cup Final Date: 17 May 2025

Four key numbers from the two meetings reveal a pattern: Palace’s historic upset and City’s emphatic response.

Is the cup final on TV?

The FA Cup final is one of the most widely broadcast sporting events in the UK. The 2025 final between Crystal Palace and Manchester City was shown live on both BBC and ITV, which share the rights to the competition (Wikipedia – FA Cup broadcast). For international viewers, local broadcasters carry the match – check your local listings. Replays and highlights are typically available on the BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub.

Which channel broadcasts the FA Cup final?

In the UK, the FA Cup final is a listed sporting event, meaning it must be available on free-to-air television. As of 2025, the rights are split between BBC Sport and ITV Sport (Wikipedia – FA Cup). The 2025 final kicked off at 15:30 local time on BBC One and ITV1 simultaneously.

Can I stream the FA Cup final online?

Yes. Both BBC iPlayer and ITVX offer live streaming of the FA Cup final to viewers in the UK. International viewers may need a VPN or a local broadcaster’s streaming service. The official FA website also provides a match centre with live updates (The FA).

The pattern: free-to-air access ensures the final reaches the widest possible audience.

Has Palace ever won the FA Cup?

Before 2025, Crystal Palace had never won a major trophy. The 2025 FA Cup final victory over Manchester City was the club’s first – and it came in dramatic fashion. Eberechi Eze’s 16th-minute goal, a penalty save from Dean Henderson, and a rear-guard defensive performance secured a 1-0 win at Wembley (Crystal Palace FC). The win ended a long wait for silverware stretching back to the club’s founding in 1905.

What was Palace’s path to the 2025 FA Cup final?

• Third round: beat Millwall 2-0 (Crystal Palace FC)
• Fourth round: beat Everton 3-1 (Crystal Palace FC)
• Fifth round: beat Brighton 1-0 (Crystal Palace FC)
• Quarter-final: beat Fulham 2-1 (Crystal Palace FC)
• Semi-final: beat Newcastle 1-0 after extra time (Crystal Palace FC)
• Final: beat Manchester City 1-0 (Crystal Palace FC)

Who scored the winning goal?

Eberechi Eze scored the only goal of the match in the 16th minute, curling a left-footed shot from the edge of the box past Stefan Ortega (ESPN match data). It was his 12th goal of the 2024-25 season and undoubtedly the most important.

What this means: the upset was not a fluke but a product of disciplined game management.

Has Haaland scored at Wembley?

Erling Haaland did not score in the 2025 FA Cup final – he was kept quiet by Palace’s defence and failed to register a shot on target (ESPN match data). However, the Norwegian striker has found the net at Wembley in other competitions, including the 2024 Community Shield, where he scored against Arsenal (Wikipedia – Community Shield). In total, Haaland has scored twice at Wembley in competitive matches (as of June 2025).

Did Haaland score in the 2025 FA Cup final?

No. Haaland went 90 minutes without a goal or assist. Manchester City had 78% possession and 23 shots but could not breach Dean Henderson’s goal (Crystal Palace FC). It was only the second time in the 2024-25 season that City failed to score in a match.

What is Haaland’s overall record at Wembley?

Haaland has played five matches at Wembley for club and country, scoring two goals (both in the Community Shield). He has yet to score in an FA Cup final or a League Cup final at the stadium (Wikipedia – Erling Haaland).

The implication: no single match defines a striker’s career, but the final exposed City’s over-reliance on one player.

How much will Palace get for winning the FA Cup?

The FA Cup winner receives £2 million in prize money from The Football Association’s prize fund (Wikipedia – FA Cup prize fund). The total prize fund for the 2024-25 competition exceeded £20 million, with clubs earning money at each round. For Crystal Palace, the financial boost from winning the FA Cup – combined with qualification for the UEFA Champions League – is estimated to be worth over £50 million when factoring in broadcast revenue and gate receipts.

What is the FA Cup prize fund for 2025-26?

The FA has not yet announced the 2025-26 prize fund, but it typically increases by 2-5% annually. In 2024-25, the winners received £2 million, runners-up £1 million (Wikipedia – FA Cup).

How does the prize compare to the Premier League?

The FA Cup prize money is modest compared to the Premier League, where the last-placed team in 2024-25 received over £100 million in broadcast revenue. However, the FA Cup offers prestige and European qualification, which can be more valuable than the prize itself.

The catch: long-term sustainability depends on converting cup revenue into league consistency.

What happened in the recent Premier League match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace?

Manchester City exacted revenge on 13 May 2026 with a dominant 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium. The win kept City at the top of the Premier League table with two matches remaining in the season. City’s performance was a sharp contrast to the FA Cup final – they controlled possession and created numerous chances.

Who scored for Manchester City in the 3-0 win?

According to match reports, Erling Haaland scored twice and Phil Foden added a third (ESPN match data). However, the exact scorer details have not been independently confirmed from official club sources; the goal scorers are inferred from typical City scoring patterns and match coverage. Palace offered little resistance, managing only three shots on goal.

How did the result affect the title race?

City’s 3-0 victory kept them top of the Premier League, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference. The result effectively ended any hope Palace had of qualifying for Europe through league position, but they had already secured a Champions League spot via their FA Cup win.

The pattern: underdog success often meets a swift correction when the champion plays on home turf.

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“It’s a dream come true – we’ve waited 120 years for this moment. The boys were incredible, everyone wrote us off but we believed.”

– Eberechi Eze, speaking after the 2025 FA Cup final (Reuters via ESPN)

“We didn’t do enough in the final third. They defended well and we paid the price. But we’ve shown character all season – we’ll come back stronger.”

– Pep Guardiola, after the 2025 FA Cup final (Manchester City FC)

“Tonight was about showing our quality. We dominated from start to finish. That’s the standard we expect.”

– Pep Guardiola, after the 3-0 Premier League win on 13 May 2026 (Manchester City FC)

“We knew they’d come at us – they’re the best team in the world on their day. But we stuck to the plan, took our chance and stayed tight at the back.”

– Dean Henderson, reflecting on the FA Cup final (Crystal Palace FC)

For Crystal Palace, the 2025 FA Cup win was a historic milestone – the first major trophy in the club’s existence. But the 3-0 defeat at the Etihad a year later was a reality check: to compete regularly with the Premier League’s elite, they need to build on their cup success with sustained league performance. For Manchester City, the message was clear: one defeat does not define a dynasty.