"?Crystal Palace and Manchester United meet in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday evening a full 26 years since the two clubs last met at this stage of the world's oldest club competition. Alan Pardew was in that Palace side in 1990, with United eventually capturing the trophy - the first of Sir Alex Ferguon's reign - after a replay.
It's all to play for under the famous arch. Palace can make history with their first ever major piece of silverware, while the cup may be enough to keep Louis van Gaal in a job.
Form
Both sides go into the game with a win and a loss to show their final two Premier League games of the season. Palace recorded just their second league win of 2016 with victory over Stoke on 7th May, while United saw their Champions League ambitions disappear with defeat against West Ham.
Louis van Gaal's team have also had two days less preparation after a security alert, which later turned out to be the result of an unfortunate oversight, forced their last game against Bournemouth to be postponed.
Team News
A cruelly timed broken leg will force Joe Ledley to miss out for Palace. He is joined on the sidelines by Marouane Chamakh, although Zaha is expected to make his return to the side after nursing a hamstring injury in recent weeks. No other Eagles players are considered doubts.
For United, this game came just too soon for Luke Shaw, even though he has now returned to training. Matteo Darmian and Marcos Rojo are no longer at risk of missing out through injury, while Morgan Schneiderlin is back from illness and Marouane Fellaini back from suspension.
Key Battles
Anthony Martial vs Joel Ward: At just 20 years of age, Martial has been United's main man this season. He won the semi-final at the death to get his team this far and will be constantly looking to beat Ward, either on the outside or the inside.
Yannick Bolasie vs Antonio Valencia: Fully converted into a full-back these days, Valencia will need to play intelligently if he is to keep Palace danger man Bolasie under control. The winger has found form again in recent weeks and offers the most obvious threat for the underdogs.
Michael Carrick vs Yohan Cabaye: The two passing linchpins won't come into too much physical contact, but their ability starting attacks for their respective team and feed pacey attacking players will go a long way to deciding the game.
What the Managers Say
Alan Pardew: "We are going to be the side that needs to fight that bit harder to win. We have got areas of the pitch where I think we're slightly superior and we've got to make those areas count. I think the pressure is on them all the time because it's Manchester United." (CPFC)
Louis van Gaal: "For players it is important as they can hold the cup and that is an exciting moment. The FA Cup is a big title here in England and we are playing in the most prestigious temple of England [Wembley], so everything confirms how important this cup is." (ManUtd)
What the Players Say:
Mile Jedinak: "This is going to be a huge game for myself, the football club, the fans. We've just got to stay focused, you take all the atmosphere in absolutely, but we're going to have a game plan and we've got try and stay as cool as possible." (CPFC)
Daley Blind: "If you play for a club like United, you want to play at the highest level, challenge for trophies and win trophies. It's something we can win and we will fight for it. It's close to our hands and now we have to grab it." (MUTV)
Yohan Cabaye: "It's not enough to just play in the final, you have to play with a winning mentality and do everything you can to get that trophy. I've played in the French final and I won some trophies but the FA Cup Final will be very special because it will be my first time here in England." (CPFC)
Ander Herrera: "It's one of the most important trophies in the world, the first competition ever, and that means this club has something special. We have to fight for it. If we want to be the best Manchester United again, the best way to do it is winning this trophy." (MUTV)
Prediction
If Manchester United play to their potential, as they have done on occasion this season, they should win the game an take a record-tying 12th FA Cup back to Old Trafford. But, as Alan Pardew says, Palace have strengths of their own and have the benefit of being the underdog.
That being said, it's still hard to look beyond a 2-1 United win.
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