While Premier League action pauses this weekend following the international break, the FA Cup takes center stage in England. Eight teams remain, all vying for a coveted spot in the semifinals at Wembley Stadium in London.

This quarterfinal round is particularly intriguing because Manchester City, last season`s champions (2022-23), are the sole representative from the Premier League`s established “top six.” This makes Pep Guardiola`s squad the clear favorite to lift the trophy, especially as the FA Cup may represent their best chance for silverware this season. However, given Manchester City`s inconsistent form throughout the current campaign, other teams might fancy their chances. Six other Premier League clubs – Fulham, Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, and Bournemouth – are still in contention for the FA Cup title. Each aims to emulate Newcastle United`s success as a less-expected but deserving winner of a major English cup competition. Completing the quarterfinal lineup is Preston North End, currently 14th in the Championship, who are enjoying their own Cinderella story as the only non-Premier League team left.

Here’s a preview of what to expect as the FA Cup quarterfinals unfold this weekend.

FA Cup Quarterfinal Match Schedule

All times Eastern Time (US)

Saturday, March 29

  • Crystal Palace 3, Fulham 0
  • Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Nottingham Forest, 1:15 PM

Sunday, March 30

  • Preston North End vs. Aston Villa, 8:30 AM
  • Bournemouth vs. Manchester City, 11:30 AM

Featured Match

It`s always exciting when an underdog makes a deep cup run. Preston North End`s match against Aston Villa on Sunday is definitely one to watch. Villa are the clear favorites and have had some strong performances this season, including reaching the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. However, they haven`t been consistently dominant. Currently ninth in the Premier League with only two wins in their last eight games, Villa might show vulnerabilities that Preston can exploit for an upset, however unlikely. If Aston Villa secures the expected win, they will become a strong contender for the overall title, especially considering their consistent improvement under manager Unai Emery.

Upset Potential

Manchester City might be the predicted winners, but their season has been far from smooth. Their quarterfinal match against Bournemouth could be tricky, as Bournemouth are having a surprisingly good season themselves. Bournemouth defeated City 2-1 in November, during City`s fall winless streak, and will be motivated to repeat that result. A strong performance from Bournemouth could even be seen as an audition for their manager, Andoni Iraola, who is reportedly being considered for the Tottenham Hotspur job. Tottenham`s manager, Ange Postecoglou, is under pressure after a disappointing domestic season that sees them currently in 14th place in the Premier League.