The FA Cup semifinals are set to deliver an unusual spectacle this year. While Manchester City, a frequent contender, remains in the competition, they are joined by Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest. These teams, typically considered Premier League`s mid-tier, are more accustomed to playoff final tensions than FA Cup glory dreams.
Crystal Palace secured their semifinal spot early, dominating Fulham away. Nottingham Forest faced a tougher path, needing a penalty shootout to overcome Brighton & Hove Albion.
Aston Villa enjoyed a more straightforward victory on Sunday, defeating Championship side Preston North End 3-0. Manchester City, however, had to rally after trailing Bournemouth at halftime. A strong performance from substitute Nico O`Reilly turned the game around, assisting Erling Haaland and then scoring the winning goal himself against Bournemouth.
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 Result: Runners-up (1990, 2016). A positive for Palace is the absence of Manchester United, who defeated them in their previous two FA Cup final appearances. The club is still seeking its first major cup victory, depending on how one defines the Full Members` Cup.
Path to Semifinals: Eberechi Eze shone in their 3-0 away win against Fulham, scoring the opener and setting up another. Eddie Nketiah added the third, marking a stylish end to a series of 2-0 away wins.
Fulham was the first Premier League team Palace has defeated in this FA Cup run, following wins over Stockport, Doncaster, and Millwall.
Winning Chances: Palace might be the most in-form team left, with five consecutive wins and a strong record in 2025. They recently defeated Aston Villa convincingly, with Eze playing exceptionally in a game where they recorded high expected goals.
Aston Villa
Best Result: Winners (1887, 1895, 1897, 1905, 1913, 1920, 1957). Aston Villa, a historic English club, hasn`t seen FA Cup success recently. They`ve reached the final only twice since their last win, losing to Chelsea in 2000 and Arsenal in 2015.
Path to Semifinals: Villa has navigated a demanding season to reach this stage impressively. They defeated West Ham and Tottenham 2-1 at home, with Morgan Rogers scoring in both matches. Cardiff was then overcome, with Marco Asensio scoring twice.
Marcus Rashford, a January loan signing, was key in the sixth round, scoring his first and second goals for the club, along with a goal from Jacob Ramsey to secure a comfortable win.
Winning Chances: Villa boasts impressive squad depth, especially in attack, crucial for competing on multiple fronts, including their Champions League quarterfinal run. The question is whether they will be rested enough for Wembley, given their busy schedule.
Nottingham Forest
Best Result: Winners (1898, 1959). Like Villa, Forest`s FA Cup history is not recently decorated. Their most notable moment is perhaps their 1991 final loss to Tottenham under Brian Clough. Reaching the semifinal this year is their best run in the competition since then.
Path to Semifinals: Forest`s journey has been dramatic, starting with a straightforward win over Luton, but followed by penalty shootout victories against Exeter City, Ipswich, and Brighton, with goalkeeper Matz Sels playing a pivotal role.
Winning Chances: Underestimating Forest is risky, given their history of upsets. Their defensive, counter-attacking style suits cup competitions. In this FA Cup, they have been defensively strong, limiting opponents` expected goals. However, their underlying performance metrics suggest they might be overperforming, and sustaining their cup run might be challenging.
Manchester City
Best Result: Winners (1904, 1934, 1956, 1969, 2011, 2019, 2023). A victory would put them level with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham in FA Cup titles. City has consistently reached the semifinals in recent years, but lost to Manchester United in last year`s final.
Path to Semifinals: City had a relatively smooth path, with a big win over Salford City, a comeback against Leyton Orient, and victories over Plymouth Argyle and Bournemouth.
Winning Chances: City is the favorite and, at their best, unbeatable. However, they have shown vulnerabilities this season, particularly against counter-attacking teams like Forest, Palace, and Villa. Despite this, they remain the most likely team to reach the final and potentially win, but an upset could create a memorable FA Cup story.
Dominic Ashworth