FA CUP FINAL TIPS: DOKU TO PROVE DECISIVE IN MAN CITY DOUBLE
It’s the FA Cup final at Wembley and Chelsea take on Manchester City – and the Citizens are chasing at least the Double.
A 10-1 win over Exeter got City’s run to the final off to a flyer while Chelsea have been in the goals too – hitting five at Charlton and seven at home to Port Vale.
Bernardo Silva leaves the Citizens at the end of the season alongside John Stones, and both would love to add one more FA Cup medal to their tally.
For the Blues, an FA Cup trophy would be special for interim boss Calum McFarlane.
Here, we pick out three of the best bets as they battle it out under the arch...
Tip 1 – Jeremy Doku to score in 90 minutes @ 18/5
Jeremy Doku is having an excellent few weeks, doing everything he can to keep City in the title race.
A brace at Everton and the vital opener against Brentford have just about kept the race for the league going, while the Belgian also grabbed the equaliser in the FA Cup semi-final against Southampton.
Doku has become one of the most important names on the teamsheet lately and Chelsea will not be relishing the prospect of facing the winger, who scored against them in the Premier League last month.
He has eight goals overall this season with the bulk of those coming in recent weeks and he is hitting form at a crucial time for City.
Odds of 18/5 for Doku to score in 90 minutes stands out as good value here.
He has proven of late he is a player for the big occasion and there are few bigger than the FA Cup final.
Doku could set City well on the way to securing at least a domestic double.
Tip 2 – Moises Caicedo & Bernardo Silva to be carded @ 9/1
Discipline has haunted Chelsea this season and they must keep a lid on it at Wembley.
Four Premier League red cards have been costly and only two teams have had more than their 83 yellows.
Moises Caceido has 11 of those and 15 in all competitions.
The combative midfielder is a key player for the Blues but regularly works his way into the referee’s notebook – he did so in the semi-final against Leeds.
In Darren England, we have a referee who has the fourth-highest average amount of yellow cards in the Premier League, brandishing 92 in his 22 games as well as three red cards.
City’s Bernardo Silva will have to be careful, too. The Portuguese is soon to depart the Etihad and could end his spell with a memorable treble if they win here and things go their way in the league.
The captain has picked up 14 bookings this season and was carded in last season’s FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace.
We like the look of the 9/1 for both Caceido and Silva to be carded in 90 minutes here – substantial odds given their penchant for a caution.
Tip 3 – Manchester City to win in 90 minutes @ 8/13
Having been runners-up in the past two years, City will be desperate to make it third time lucky here.
The seven-time winners lost to Palace last season and city rivals Manchester United the season before, having beaten the Red Devils in 2023.
Chelsea meanwhile, won their eighth FA Cup way back in 2018 meaning City would draw level with them with victory here.
Their 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge recently was comprehensive and, while the final may not be as comfortable as that, we can’t see Calum McFarlane’s Blues coming away with the trophy here.
With Silva and John Stones departing in the summer, plus lingering question marks over Pep Guardiola’s future, City will be keen to ensure those long-serving players leave on a high.
Only one final since 2016 has gone to extra time and it feels like this one will be done in 90 minutes too.
City to win is a generous (8/13](/sports#event/1027456562) given the contrasting form of the two sides.
Those in sky blue, rather than royal blue, will be smiling on Wembley way.
Fancy all three of our tips to land? You can combine them into a 45/1 Bet Builder here.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
