The FA Cup semifinals are set, promising a slightly different spectacle this year. While Manchester City, a frequent winner, remains in contention, they are joined by Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, and Nottingham Forest – clubs typically considered Premier League mid-table teams. For these teams, a trip to Wembley often signifies the pressure of a playoff final rather than the excitement of competing for a major trophy at the season`s climax.
Crystal Palace secured their semifinal spot early, delivering a dominant away victory against Fulham. Nottingham Forest endured a tense penalty shootout to overcome Brighton & Hove Albion.
Aston Villa enjoyed a more comfortable Sunday, defeating Preston North End, the last Championship team in the competition, with a 3-0 scoreline at Deepdale. Manchester City faced a tougher challenge against Bournemouth. Despite falling behind at halftime, a strong performance, particularly from substitute Nico O`Reilly, turned the game around. O`Reilly provided assists for Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush, securing City`s victory.
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 FA Cup Finish: Runners-up (1990, 2016). For Palace, a positive aspect is the absence of Manchester United from the final four. Manchester United defeated Palace in both of their previous FA Cup final appearances. Palace are still seeking their first major cup title, depending on how one defines the Full Members` Cup.
Road to the Semifinals: Eberechi Eze was the star in Palace`s 3-0 away win against Fulham. Eze scored the opening goal and assisted Ismaila Sarr shortly after. Eddie Nketiah added a third goal later in the match. Prior to Fulham, Palace had defeated Stockport, Doncaster, and Millwall in this FA Cup campaign.
Winning Chances: Crystal Palace is arguably the most in-form team remaining in the competition, having won their last five matches and boasting an impressive record in 2025. They recently delivered a strong performance against Aston Villa, highlighting their attacking capabilities.
Aston Villa
Best FA Cup Finish: Winners (1887, 1895, 1897, 1905, 1913, 1920, 1957). Aston Villa is a historically significant English club, but recent FA Cup success has been limited. Since their last victory, they have reached the final only twice, losing to Chelsea in 2000 and Arsenal in 2015.
Road to the Semifinals: Aston Villa has navigated a demanding season to reach the semifinals impressively. They defeated both West Ham and Tottenham 2-1 at home, with Morgan Rogers scoring in both matches. They then overcame Cardiff before facing Preston North End.
Winning Chances: Aston Villa possesses considerable squad depth, crucial for competing in both the FA Cup and the Champions League quarterfinals. Their ability to manage fixture congestion and maintain freshness will be key to their FA Cup aspirations, especially considering their Champions League commitments and Premier League top-five ambitions.
Nottingham Forest
Best FA Cup Finish: Winners (1898, 1959). Similar to Aston Villa, FA Cup glory is distant history for Nottingham Forest. For many, their FA Cup history is defined by their 1991 final defeat to Tottenham under Brian Clough. Reaching the semifinal this season marks their deepest run in the competition since then.
Road to the Semifinals: Nottingham Forest`s journey has been filled with drama. After a straightforward win against Luton, every subsequent match has been closely contested. They went to penalties against Exeter City, Ipswich, and Brighton, showcasing their resilience.
Winning Chances: Underestimating Nottingham Forest is risky. Their defensive and counter-attacking style is well-suited for cup competitions. In this FA Cup run, they have been defensively solid, limiting opponents to low expected goals. However, their underlying performance metrics suggest they might be overperforming slightly, raising questions about their long-term ability to defy expectations.
Manchester City
Best FA Cup Finish: Winners (1904, 1934, 1956, 1969, 2011, 2019, 2023). Another FA Cup victory would place Manchester City alongside Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham as the third most successful clubs in the competition. City has consistently reached the semifinals in recent years, but lost to Manchester United in last year`s final.
Road to the Semifinals: Manchester City has had a relatively smooth path to the semifinals. They recorded a dominant win against Salford City and overcame a first-half deficit against Leyton Orient. They then defeated Plymouth Argyle before their comeback victory against Bournemouth.
Winning Chances: Manchester City are the clear favorites. At their best, they are arguably unbeatable in this competition. 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 lift the trophy, but an upset could create a memorable FA Cup story.
Adrian Whitmore