FA Cup recall: A look at Man City’s road to final clash v Crystal Palace at Wembley

Manchester City have been dethroned as kings of England by Premier League champions Liverpool - but they are still up for the FA Cup this season.

Pep Guardiola’s Man City troops have had an inconsistent season since losing the services of injured talisman Rodri - but they have a chance to win some silverware when they face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 17.

Previously we have looked at the Eagles’ road to the final - and now Sports News Blitz Academy writer Max Snigorski looks back at the results Man City racked up to reach the showpiece final.

Manchester City 8-0 Salford City - January 11, 2025

Manchester City hosted League Two side Salford City for the third round of the FA Cup.

Man City rotated their starting XI dramatically, giving overlooked prospects a chance to shine.

City’s James McAtee grasped the chance with a hat-trick against a demotivated defence.

The dominant victory was City’s fourth largest victory ever.

Pep Guardiola used this game to expose youngsters to senior matches and to regain confidence after a horrendous patch of form.

Jérémy Doku and Jack Grealish piled up seven goal contributions between themselves, immensely assisting the demolition of Karl Robinson’s Salford.

Salford could argue they deserved more from this encounter.

The Ammies controlled 32% of possession, even managing to fire 10 shots at Ederson.

Overall, there was no miracle and Salford were knocked out by seven-time FA Cup winners.

Leyton Orient 1-2 Manchester City - February 8, 2025

Manchester City travelled to Brisbane Road to play League One Leyton Orient.

Guardiola strengthened his team for the fourth round, with Ruben Dias and Omar Marmoush starting.

Despite all this, Jamie Donley received the ball just past the halfway line and released a shot into Stefan Ortega’s empty net.

After a strong shot, the ball struck the crossbar and deflected off of a backpedaling Ortega, handing the O’s the lead in iconic fashion.

Leyton Orient somehow went into the break still holding a one-goal lead.

Man City had 76% possession, 13 shots, five big chances and still nothing beat Leyton Orient’s Josh Keeley in goal.

In the 56th minute, Rico Lewis fired a shot from the edge of the box which connected with team-mate Abdukodir Khusanov’s head.

Without the intention of hitting the ball, Khusanov tied the score up for Man City and pushed momentum towards the Sky Blues.

In the 72nd minute, Guardiola sent Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne to ensure an upset was not caused.

Just before the 80th minute, Grealish picked up the ball on the left-hand side before looping a pass behind Orient’s back line.

De Bruyne wasted no time catching up to the ball and neatly tucked it into the far corner to destroy the hope Leyton Orient were given in the 16th minute.

Despite relying on their star man De Bruyne, Man City controlled the game with 73% of possession alongside 514 passes.

However a poor display in front of goal, with six big chances missed, kept the scoreline much closer than needed.

READ MORE: FA Cup recall: A look at Crystal Palace’s road to Wembley final clash v Man City

Manchester City 3-1 Plymouth Argyle, March 1, 2025

Plymouth travelled to the Etihad only 20 days after their shock victory against Liverpool.

A familiar story repeated itself with underdogs Plymouth taking the lead in the first half.

A great corner from Matthew Sorinola flew to 195 cm threat Maksym Talovierov, who nestled the ball into the side netting of the goal, setting Plymouth on course for another historic upset.

With seconds to go before the half-time whistle, Manchester City were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position.

De Bruyne curled a pinpoint cross in the direction of the then teenage Nico O’Reilly, who powerfully headered it through Conor Hazard’s gloves.

In the 76th minute, Foden delivered the ball to the back post where O'Reilly headered it in from point blank range, handing City the lead and denying any chance of an upset.

After a missed chance with Plymouth’s Hazard, Erling Haaland retrieved the loose ball, before threading a great pass for De Bruyne to simply tap in.

The scoreline flattered Plymouth, with the side’s only shot putting them ahead.

Throughout the game, City showed their usual dominance and ability to create chances through retaining the ball.

Racking up 73% possession, 29 shots and 610 passes was a great performance from City, who booked a place with Bournemouth in the quarter-finals of the competition.

Bournemouth 1-2 Manchester City 30th March 2025

Manchester City travelled to Bournemouth’s 11,300 capacity Vitality Stadium to earn a spot in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Man City’s day started extremely well, with the gift of a penalty from a Tyler Adams handball.

Despite the dream start, Haaland was denied from the spot for the third time this season, on this occasion by a great Kepa Arrizabalaga save.

A quick passage of play from Bournemouth after a Matheus Nunes misplaced pass, led to David Brooks picking up the ball.

He moved into the box from the right flank and a rapid cross found a darting Justin Kluivert at the back post.

Kluivert just about made connection with the ball, teeing it up perfectly for Evanilson who hammered it into the net to give Bournemouth the first goal.

Two minutes after his entry to the pitch, Nico O'Reilly was found unmarked by De Bruyne.

O’Reilly marched forward before sliding a low cross into Haaland, who this time made no mistake in finishing.

In the 63rd minute, O'Reilly once again found himself on the ball after a poor clearance from Bournemouth’s Semenyo.

O’Reilly quickly played the ball to newly-substituted Omar Marmoush, who lasered the ball under Kepa’s arms to give City the lead.

Guardiola's genius once again showed with three goal contributions between two of his substitutes.

City had a great second half, not allowing Bournemouth to have a single shot,

allowing Marmoush to eventually grab the winner for City and book a place at Wembley.

Manchester City 2-0 Nottingham Forest, April 27, 2025

City were back at Wembley for the 30th time since 2011, and faced a Forest team that recently edged a 1-0 victory against them.

After a patient build-up Mateo Kovacic broke into space before laying off to 20-year-old Rico Lewis, who fired a shot into the bottom left corner to establish City’s lead in the second minute.

Man City were dominant in the first half, controlling the ball and restricting Forest to 25% possession and zero shots.

In the second half, Forest were much more threatening with the arrival of Anthony Elanga, who missed arguably Nottingham Forest’s biggest chance of the game in the 46th minute.

Minutes after City were let off by Elanga’s miss, City earned a corner.

Omar Marmoush stepped over the ball and sent in a beautiful cross towards the back post.

Josko Gvardiol was weakly contested by Forest’s Murillo, and headed the ball past Matz Sels in goal to give City a much-needed two-goal cushion.

Forest were much more threatening, hitting the woodwork three times in the second half alone.

Overall, it was too little, too late for Forest, and Man City were able to brush past the Reds to book their third successive FA Cup final.

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