Manchester City arrive at this FA Cup final in relentless form, stringing together a massive unbeaten run while scoring at will. Their attacking rhythm has overpowered nearly every domestic opponent over the last two months.

Chelsea's late-season trajectory paints a much bleaker picture, marked by heavy league defeats and a defensive shape that routinely collapses. They have consistently shipped three goals a game when tested by high-level opposition recently.

The historical matchup heavily favors Pep Guardiola's side, who have claimed seven victories in the last ten meetings between the clubs. That run includes a dominant 3-0 league victory over Chelsea just a month ago.

Fitness issues threaten to further derail Chelsea's plan, with several attacking outlets carrying knocks into the weekend. Lacking full sharpness in transition will severely limit their ability to relieve pressure and exploit space behind City's high line.

Cup finals often trigger conservative early approaches, but City's sheer quality makes them incredibly difficult to suppress for a full match. Chelsea's recent inability to control games defensively points toward sustained pressure on their penalty area.