It's a big weekend of cup finals across Europe. Vote in our match polls for the winner of the FA Cup, Copa del Rey, DFB Pokal and Coppa Italia.

CRYSTAL PALACE: If Palace do actually win the FA Cup and end up in the group stages of the Europa League, they will need to go on a serious spending spree to make sure there is enough quality in the squad to deal with two games a week for a big chunk of the season.

And yes, that does feel ridiculous to be typing in a serious capacity. Eagles fans have never had to contemplate the prospect of European football. But being FA Cup winners will certainly make it easier to attract some quality and will mean owners Steve Parish and new American investors Josh Harris and David Blitzer will need to open their wallets.

It was close in 1990 when United won 1-0 in an FA Cup final replay after the first match ended 3-3. It will be close again. Why can't Eagles fans dream of revenge this time?

Crystal Palace 2-1 Manchester United -- Jim Daly

MANCHESTER UNITED: You can make arguments for both clubs, and I can obviously see why it would be huge for Crystal Palace, but United need to do something to prove this is just a transitional period, and not just the early stages of long-lasting decline. Three years without silverware is too long for a club like United, with so much money spent. There will be no doubt how much it means to United fans if their team wins it, particularly given how long they've waited to win the FA Cup again.

Many fans are desperate for Louis van Gaal to go in the summer, and the thought of a third season playing football like the team have done over the past year is horrible, but they'd still rather win the FA Cup than lose it and see him sacked. Having been spoilt with success for decades, it's easy to forget how difficult it can be to win silverware, and how good it feels to win it. Thankfully, I don't think it has to be one or the other, now that United have missed out on top four.

Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United -- Scott Patterson

BARCELONA: If it's anything like this season's European Super Cup, we're in for a treat. Lionel Messi scored two free kicks in the opening 15 minutes, Sevilla came from 4-1 down to force extra time and Pedro won the game for Barcelona in the 115th minute. Since then, the two teams have exchanged 2-1 wins in La Liga -- Unai Emery ending a 20-game wait for a win over Barca as a coach -- and both sides have won trophies.

Luis Enrique's men clinched top spot in La Liga last weekend, with Sevilla wrapping up their third consecutive Europa League trophy, against Liverpool, in midweek. So while the MSN-powered Barcelona will begin the game as the favourites, they will be more than aware of the dangers posed to them by the Nervionenses. Anything but a seventh trophy of the Luis Enrique era will not go down too well in the Catalan capital, not when the next week will be spent building up to an all-Madrid Champions League final. It's made the domestic double a necessity.

Barcelona 3-1 Sevilla -- Sam Marsden

SEVILLA: A lot depends on how Sevilla react and recover following their stirring comeback 3-1 Europa League final win over Liverpool on Wednesday night. Immediately after that game, captain and double goalscorer Coke, coach Emery and even the Andalusian city's mayor Juan Espadas all spoke about postponing celebrations until after Sunday. Emotional and physical fatigue looks a factor ahead of their 63rd match of the season.

Sevilla will not fear Barcelona, having worried them in the European Super Cup last August, and then beaten them in the league at the Sanchez Pizjuan last October. Matching Messi and co. again in the Copa final is a huge ask, but big players Ever Banega, Grzegorz Krychowiak and Kevin Gameiro will want to mark what could be their final games for the club.

Barcelona 2-1 Sevilla -- Dermot Corrigan

BAYERN MUNICH: The Bavarians cruised to their fourth league title in a row and will be confident of success against a Dortmund side who are clearly struggling to come to terms with Mats Hummels' imminent departure to their big rivals. BVB failed to win their final two league games against average sides (Eintracht Frankfurt, a 1-0 loss; FC Koln, a 2-2 draw), while Bayern took the opportunity to stretch the chasm at the top to 10 points, despite falling once again in the Champions League semifinals.

Victory in the cup final would provide a happy end for Pep Guardiola's reign in his final game in charge, sending the departing Catalan off into the Manchester sunset with his second domestic double in three seasons and the 11th in the club's illustrious history.

Bayern Munich 3-1 Borussia Dortmund -- Mark Lovell

BORUSSIA DORTMUND: Dortmund will arrive in Berlin full of energy after taking it slow in their last two matches. But, in all seriousness, going by the last two matchdays, there isn't much to suggest that Dortmund will be at their best on Saturday.

Thomas Tuchel was angry about his team's performance on the final Bundesliga matchday -- "it's much easier to keep your form than to regain it," -- but the good news is that apart from Ilkay Gundogan (whose pressing and precise passing will be dearly missed), no key player will be out for the match. Perhaps the emotional Pep farewell could throw Bayern off, but that's probably clutching at straws a bit.

Bayern Munich 3-1 Borussia Dortmund -- Stefan Buczko

JUVENTUS: While Milan suffers, Juventus are concerned with progression. Last year they came close to a Treble, this year they at least need to win the double. One trophy just isn't enough for a power hungry club desperate to keep moving forward. Juventus have defeated Milan in the last eight matches between the two teams. Possessing a disciplined defence and a skilled attack, Juve are without three great players which could prove problematic. Leonardo Bonucci's suspension means Allegri could change formations and play with a back four while injuries to Sami Khedira and Claudio Marchisio could allow a Milan side, focused on a combative style of play to win possession quickly by imposing their physicality.

Juventus 3-1 AC Milan -- Mina Rzouki

AC MILAN: Both teams will naturally be eager to win silverware to end the season, but in terms of the impact that it would have, Milan need this more. The Rossoneri go into the encounter as heavy underdogs after another miserable season, and so defeating Juventus in the Coppa Italia final would be a significant morale-boost and impressive feat in itself. However, this will now be seen as a means for Milan to salvage something from the campaign, while they also know that a win would secure their place in the Europa League. Another year without European football is simply unacceptable for the club. Milan aren't going to overwhelm Juve this weekend, so a stubborn defensive display coupled with a poacher's effort from Carlos Bacca will seal the win.

Juventus 1-0 AC Milan -- Sumeet Paul

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by ESPN staff

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