Football Accumulator Tips: 8/1 fourfold from Saturday’s cup finals

It's the last weekend of May and that, invariably, brings about several cup finals taking place across Europe. The FA Cup final arrives at Wembley on Saturday, with an enticing Manchester derby to look forward to, while Germany and Greece are also staging their showpiece events on the same day.

There's a Grand Final taking place in Australia as well, and these four finals feature in my football accumulator tips for Saturday, May 25, as I piece together an 8.28/1 fourfold.

Manchester City to win & over 2.5 goals in Manchester City vs Manchester United @ 7/10

Manchester City head into this year’s FA Cup final the same way they did last year - as Premier League champions. There is even more familiarity for them at Wembley as, just like in 2023, cross-city rivals Manchester United will be their opponents.

Pep Guardiola’s side were huge favourites going into last year’s final, which they won 2-1 thanks to a brace from Ilkay Gundogan, sandwiched either side of a strike from Bruno Fernandes. The gap between the two clubs has widened further this season, as eighth-placed Man United finished 31 points behind their nearest neighbours.

A couple of wins over Newcastle and Brighton ensured a positive final week of the league campaign for the Red Devils, but there’s no getting away from just how poor they have been this season, particularly in the last few months.

City, meanwhile, have won their last seven games across all competitions, starting with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in last month’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. Four of those wins saw at least three goals scored, while their last six meetings with Man United - five of which they have triumphed in - have had over 2.5 goals.

Erik ten Hag’s team have been involved in plenty of high-scoring encounters themselves recently, with four of their last five - including April’s 3-3 semi-final draw with Coventry City at Wembley, where the Red Devils won on penalties - away from Old Trafford seeing at least three goals struck.

An entertaining Manchester derby is expected this weekend, and Man United will believe they can score at least once after finding the net in five of the last six head-to-heads.

However, it’s difficult to see past a City win as Guardiola looks to add to his bulging trophy cabinet.

-1 Bayer Leverkusen handicap in Kaiserslautern vs Bayer Leverkusen @ 4/9

Bayer Leverkusen also played the final game of their league campaign last weekend, but Xabi Alonso’s side had the title wrapped up much earlier than Man City. Their 2-1 victory over Augsburg was significant, however, as it ensured they went the entire Bundesliga season undefeated, but their bid to become invincible in every competition was ended by Atalanta on Wednesday, as the Italians romped to a 3-0 victory in the Europa League final in Dublin.

Second-tier Kaiserslautern now stand between Leverkusen and the DFB Pokal, and unsurprisingly, Alonso’s charges are overwhelming favourites.

Leverkusen have left things late in several games recently but I don’t envisage any difficulties for them on Saturday at the Olympiastadion.

Kaiserslautern finished 13th in the 2. Bundesliga, 30 points behind champions St. Pauli and just seven points clear of the relegation play-off spot.

It may be a final, but Leverkusen’s class should shine through, and I expect them to win by at least two goals in Berlin.

Panathinaikos to beat Aris Thessaloniki @ 4/5

There’s a cup final in Greece, too, as Panathinaikos and Aris clash in Volos. Panathinaikos are winless in their last four games, three of which they lost, and suffered a 1-0 defeat to Aris in the last meeting between these sides in April.

However, Panathinaikos still finished fourth in the Greek Super League, 17 points ahead of fifth-placed Aris, and their recent poor form can, in part, be attributed to some rotation in the starting XI.

Aris, meanwhile, have beaten Panathinaikos and Lamia (4-2) in their last three games, but they lost 2-1 to PAOK last time out and those two wins are their only ones in their last eight games, five of which they have lost, so they are not in great form themselves.

Ultimately, I expect Panathinaikos' superior quality to shine through on Saturday.

Central Coast Mariners to beat Melbourne Victory at 11/10

The Australian A-League Men's final will be contested between Premier's Plate holders Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory, at the home of the former.

The Mariners will line up at Central Coast Stadium as favourites after finishing 13 points clear of Victory during the regular season and beating them 1-0 in their most recent meeting on February 25.

Victory held them to a 2-2 and 1-1 draw earlier in the season, but CCM's confidence has only grown since, and after winning the AFC Cup earlier this month, Mark Jackson's side have a treble in their sights.

Their opponents have shown great resolve in recent weeks, fighting back from 1-0 down with 10 men against Melbourne City to win their Elimination Final on penalties, before edging out Wellington Phoenix after extra time in the second leg of their semi-final tie in New Zealand.

But the worry will be that their efforts have taken their toll and that, combined with the Mariners' home advantage, could leave them with a lot to do.

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