As the Premier League pauses after the international break, the FA Cup takes center stage in England. Eight teams are still in the competition, all hoping to reach the semifinals at Wembley Stadium in London.
This round of quarterfinal matches is particularly interesting because Manchester City, the reigning champions from last season, are the only team remaining from the traditional “top six” Premier League clubs. This makes Manchester City the favorite to win the FA Cup, especially as it might be their best chance to win a major trophy this season. However, given some of their struggles this year, other teams might feel they have a good opportunity.
Several other Premier League teams are still in contention for the FA Cup title: Fulham, Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, and Bournemouth. Each of these teams hopes to become the next unexpected FA Cup winner, similar to Newcastle United in past years. Preston North End, a Championship team currently in 14th place, is also in the quarterfinals, representing a Cinderella story as the only non-Premier League team left.
Here’s a look at what you should know before watching this weekend`s FA Cup games.
FA Cup Quarterfinal Schedule
All times U.S. Eastern
Saturday
- Crystal Palace 3, Fulham 0
- Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Nottingham Forest, 1:15 PM
Sunday
- 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 team goes far in a cup competition. Preston North End`s game against Aston Villa on Sunday is a match to watch. Aston Villa are expected to win and have had a good season, even reaching the Champions League quarterfinals. However, they haven`t been perfect, currently sitting ninth in the Premier League with only two wins in their last eight games. This might give Preston North End a chance for an upset, if things go their way. If Aston Villa wins as expected, they will become a strong contender for the FA Cup title, especially with their improvement under manager Unai Emery.
Upset Alert
Manchester City is the obvious favorite to win the FA Cup, but their season hasn`t been completely smooth. Their quarterfinal match is against Bournemouth, who are having a strong season themselves. Bournemouth defeated Manchester City 2-1 in November, during a period when City wasn`t performing well. Bournemouth will be motivated to repeat that victory. A good performance from Bournemouth could also be seen as an audition for their manager, Andoni Iraola, who is reportedly being considered for the Tottenham Hotspur job. Tottenham`s current manager, Ange Postecoglou, is under pressure after a disappointing domestic season that sees them in 14th place in the Premier League.
Dominic Ashworth