It still feels a bit wrong there being Premier League games the same day as the FA Cup final. It takes away from the importance of the match. That’s what is happening this weekend though, let’s look at the cup final and the battle to get into the Champions League. Oh, and let’s throw in some betting odds for good measure.
Saturday 15 May: FA Cup Final – Chelsea v Leicester City (5.15pm KO)
What’s more important, this game or their match in the Premier League just three days after this Wembley final? A big question and not an easy one to answer as these two clubs battle to not just win this trophy but qualify for the Champions League next season. Fans probably want to win the FA Cup, especially those supporting Leicester City. Club accountants will prefer the riches of the Champions League.
Chelsea are in their third FA Cup final in four years. Only one win though and defeat here will see them become the first side since Newcastle to lose two successive finals. They lost in midweek, but all those players left out for the game against Arsenal will be back for this match.
Leicester are in their first FA Cup final since 1969 and have never lifted the trophy. Four defeats in finals are the most for any side without ever having won the FA Cup. They had a good win in midweek boosting their Champions League qualification hopes.
City will hope that in-form striker Kelechi Iheanacho who has six goals in his last eight matches and four in the FA Cup. He’s 21/10 at 888sport to score in this match.
This is a tough one to predict, it’d be great to see a new name on the trophy though. A bet on both teams to score looks a winning one. Paddy Power have odds of 10/11 on that happening. Leicester lifting the trophy is 9/5 at Betfair.
The Race for the Champions League
Both Chelsea and Leicester would love some of their rivals to drop points this weekend. They’ll probably be applying for temporary membership of the West Brom and Brighton fan clubs. Liverpool are only four points behind fourth placed Chelsea and with a game in hand. They play at West Brom on Sunday (4.30pm KO) and won’t just be looking for three points.
Their goal difference is just two less than that of Chelsea’s and one behind Leicester’s. An away win and a few goals put past the relegated side is their top target this weekend. A win for Liverpool and over 2.5 goals in the game has odds of 4/7 at Betfred.
West Ham are down to sixth after a poor run of form. Three defeats in the last four (two at home) have left them six points off fourth and eight adrift of Leicester in third. They have three matches left and all are against sides in the bottom seven. Three wins has to be achieved to keep alive hopes of Champions League football for the first time.
They travel to Brighton on Saturday (8pm KO) and desperately need a win. A loss this weekend could see them drop down to eighth and out of the European competition qualifying places. That could happen as Tottenham beat Wolves and Everton defeat Sheffield United.
Brighton have survived for another season but still only won eight league games. They are in decent form at home with seven points from the last three and no goals conceded. A draw looks likely here unless Jesse Lingard can find those scoring boots of his. Unibet will give you 27/10 on a stalemate but that’s really not going to help the Hammers.
