Chelsea vs Man City Showdown: Your Guide to Betting Tips, Odds, and Free Bets for the FA Cup Final!

CHELSEA and Manchester City clash in today’s FA Cup final at Wembley as City look to complete a domestic cup double for only the second time in their history.

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Chelsea vs Man City (FA Cup final) preview

The spotlight turns to the capital where Chelsea and Manchester City collide in the 145th FA Cup final.

There is a familiar feel to this showdown, not least because the two Premier League giants have won the competition 15 times between them.

It also feels fitting. Since the 2016-17 season, no sides have enjoyed more success in the FA Cup than City and Chelsea. Pep Guardiola’s side have won 45 matches in the competition during that time compared to Chelsea’s 37, while the pair also rank first and second for goals scored and clean sheets kept.

But it is City who arrive at Wembley as clear favourites to lift the trophy, and it is easy to see why after beating Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final just 55 days ago.

Manchester City are the first side to reach four consecutive FA Cup finals. They have won 21 of their last 23 matches in the competition, with their only defeats during that run coming in the 2024 and 2025 finals.

They will be desperate to put those disappointments behind them this afternoon and head into the clash in excellent form.

The Citizens have won eight of their last nine matches in all competitions, scoring 23 goals and keeping six clean sheets during that spell. Pep was also afforded the luxury of making six changes for the midweek win against Crystal Palace, with the likes of Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki rested.

More importantly, City have dominated this fixture in recent years. Since losing the 2020-21 Champions League final to Chelsea, Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in 13 meetings with the Blues in all competitions, winning 10 and drawing three, including a 3-0 victory back in April.

As for Chelsea, they arrive at Wembley as clear underdogs with interim boss Calum McFarlane still in temporary charge following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior.

His only victory so far was the 1-0 FA Cup semi-final win over Leeds, but that has been followed by defeat to Nottingham Forest and a 1-1 draw with Liverpool last time out.

Chelsea have now won just two of their last 11 matches in all competitions, and one of those victories came against relegated Port Vale.

The Blues have at least found some joy in the FA Cup, scoring 21 goals in the competition this season. However, four of their five wins on the road to Wembley came against teams from outside the Premier League.

Chelsea vs Man City odds

• Chelsea 7/2 with Betfair

• Draw 27/10 with Paddy Power

• Man City 2/3 with Betfred

Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Tip 1: Manchester City to win and over 2.5 goals

We’re backing Manchester City to get the job done at Wembley, with City to win and over 2.5 goals in the match available at 8/5 with Betfair.

Pep Guardiola’s side have won eight of their last nine matches in all competitions, scoring 23 goals along the way, while seven of those games have also featured at least three goals.

They have also completely dominated this fixture in recent years, going unbeaten in their last 13 meetings with Chelsea since that Champions League final defeat back in 2021.

Chelsea’s recent record in major domestic finals is hardly encouraging either. The Blues have lost their last six domestic cup finals, including three straight FA Cup final defeats between 2020 and 2022.

Bet: Manchester City to win and over 2.5 goals at 8/5 with Betfair

Tip 2: Jeremy Doku to score or assist

We’re also backing Manchester City livewire Jeremy Doku to score or assist today at 7/5 with bet365.

The Belgian winger, 23, has added real end product to his game lately, scoring five goals in his last seven appearances for City.

Doku now has seven goal involvements in his last seven matches, with five goals and two assists – as many as he managed across his previous 24 combined.

The numbers back it up too. Only Rayan Cherki has posted a higher expected assists tally across the last six league matches, while Doku has created 15 chances and fired off 14 shots, nine of them from inside the box.

Bet: Jeremy Doku to score or assist at 7/5 with Sky Bet

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