The FA Cup semifinals are set, promising a different kind of spectacle this season. While Manchester City, a regular contender, remains in the competition, they are joined by three Premier League teams more accustomed to playoff final tension at Wembley than FA Cup dreams.
Crystal Palace secured their semifinal spot first, dominating Fulham away. Nottingham Forest endured a penalty shootout to overcome Brighton. Aston Villa enjoyed a comfortable victory over Preston North End. Manchester City, after trailing Bournemouth, rallied with a strong second half performance, thanks to substitute Nico O`Reilly, who set up Erling Haaland and then scored the winner.
Semifinal Draw
- Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa
- Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City
Matches are scheduled for the weekend of April 26th and 27th.
Crystal Palace
Best Finish: Runners-up (1990, 2016). For Palace, the absence of Manchester United in the semifinals is a positive, as United defeated them in their previous two final appearances. Palace is still seeking a major cup victory.
Journey to Semifinals: Eberechi Eze starred in Palace`s 3-0 win at Fulham, scoring and assisting. After early pressure from Fulham, Palace took control, with further goals from Ismaila Sarr and Eddie Nketiah. This victory marked Palace`s first Premier League win in this FA Cup run, following wins over lower league teams.
Winning Chances: Crystal Palace is arguably the most in-form team left, with a strong record in recent games. They recently defeated Aston Villa convincingly, highlighting their attacking threat.
Aston Villa
Best Finish: Winners (1887, 1895, 1897, 1905, 1913, 1920, 1957). Aston Villa, a historic club, has rarely reached the FA Cup final in recent times. Since their last win, they`ve only reached two finals, losing to Chelsea in 2000 and Arsenal in 2015.
Journey to Semifinals: Villa has navigated a demanding season to reach this stage impressively. They defeated West Ham and Tottenham at home, with Morgan Rogers scoring in both matches, and then comfortably beat Cardiff. Marcus Rashford, on loan, scored twice against Preston to secure their semifinal spot.
Winning Chances: Aston Villa boasts significant squad depth, crucial for competing on multiple fronts, including the Champions League quarterfinals. Their progress in both competitions might test their squad`s fitness despite rotation.
Nottingham Forest
Best Finish: Winners (1898, 1959). Like Villa, Forest`s FA Cup history is distant. Their most notable FA Cup moment is perhaps their 1991 final loss to Tottenham under Brian Clough. This semifinal appearance is their deepest run in the competition since then.
Journey to Semifinals: Forest`s journey has been dramatic, starting with a straightforward win against Luton, but followed by penalty shootout victories against Exeter City, Ipswich, and Brighton.
Winning Chances: Underestimating Nottingham Forest is risky, given their past cup upsets. Their defensive style is well-suited for cup competitions. They have been defensively solid in the FA Cup, limiting opponents` scoring opportunities. However, their underlying performance metrics suggest they might be overperforming and relying on upsetting the odds.
Manchester City
Best Finish: Winners (1904, 1934, 1956, 1969, 2011, 2019, 2023). A win would put Manchester City level with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham in FA Cup titles. City has consistently reached the semifinals, but lost to Manchester United in last year`s final.
Journey to Semifinals: City enjoyed a relatively smooth path, with a big win over Salford City and a comeback victory against Leyton Orient. They then defeated Plymouth Argyle and Bournemouth to reach the semifinals.
Winning Chances: Manchester City is the clear favorite. However, they haven`t consistently been at their peak this season and could be vulnerable to counter-attacking teams like Forest, Palace, and Villa. Despite this, they remain the most likely team to win the FA Cup, but an upset would be a significant story.
