This season`s FA Cup semifinals are shaping up to be quite unusual. While Manchester City, a team accustomed to silverware, remains in contention, they are joined by Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest. These are clubs typically battling in the Premier League mid-table, for whom a Wembley appearance often means the pressure of a playoff final, rather than the FA Cup dream.
Crystal Palace secured their semifinal spot first, delivering a dominant away victory against Fulham, setting the tone for a weekend where away teams celebrated cup success. 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, 3-0 at Deepdale. The most dramatic match involved Manchester City, who were trailing Bournemouth at halftime after Evanilson`s goal. However, Pep Guardiola`s team rallied, fueled by a substitute appearance from Nico O`Reilly. He assisted Erling Haaland`s goal with a precise cross and then scored the winning goal himself for Omar Marmoush.
Semifinal Draw
- Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa
- Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City
Crystal Palace
Best FA Cup Finish: Runners-up (1990, 2016). A positive for Palace is that Manchester United is not among the semifinalists, as they defeated the Eagles in their two previous FA Cup final appearances. Palace is still seeking a major cup title.
Road to the Semifinals: Eberechi Eze starred in Palace`s 3-0 away win against Fulham. Eze scored the opening goal and set up Ismaila Sarr for another shortly after, turning the game after an initial Fulham attack. Eddie Nketiah added a third goal later in the match, ending a run of five 2-0 away wins in style.
Fulham was the first Premier League team Palace has defeated in this FA Cup campaign, following earlier victories over Stockport, Doncaster, and Millwall.
Chances of Winning: Crystal Palace might be the most in-form team remaining in the competition, having won their last five matches across all competitions and boasting a record of 10 wins, one draw, and two losses in 2025. They recently defeated Aston Villa convincingly at Selhurst Park, in a game where they generated high expected goals.
Aston Villa
Best FA Cup Finish: Winners (1887, 1895, 1897, 1905, 1913, 1920, 1957). Aston Villa is a historic 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: Despite a demanding season, Villa has reached the semifinals impressively. They defeated both West Ham and Tottenham 2-1 at home, with Morgan Rogers scoring in both matches. Cardiff was then defeated in the round of 16. Marcus Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, scored twice against Preston North End, along with a goal from Jacob Ramsey.
Chances of Winning: Aston Villa possesses significant squad depth, particularly in attack. This depth is crucial as they compete in both the Champions League quarterfinals and aim for a top-five Premier League finish. The question is whether they can maintain their energy levels given their busy schedule.
Nottingham Forest
Best FA Cup Finish: Winners (1898, 1959). Similar to Villa, Forest`s FA Cup history is not recently decorated. For many, their FA Cup story is defined by their 1991 final defeat to Tottenham under Brian Clough. This season marks their deepest FA Cup run since then, regardless of the semifinal outcome.
Road to the Semifinals: Nottingham Forest`s journey has been dramatic. Starting with a straightforward 2-0 win over Luton, every subsequent match has been closely contested. League One side Exeter City pushed them to penalties, where goalkeeper Matz Sels was the hero. The following rounds against Ipswich and Brighton also ended in penalty shootout victories.
Chances of Winning: It would be unwise to underestimate Nottingham Forest, especially considering their history of upsets. Their defensive and counter-attacking style is well-suited for cup competitions. In this FA Cup run, they have been defensively solid, limiting every opponent except Exeter to low expected goals. However, their underlying performance metrics suggest they might be overperforming, and it remains to be seen if they can continue to defy expectations.
Manchester City
Best FA Cup Finish: Winners (1904, 1934, 1956, 1969, 2011, 2019, 2023). A victory for Pep Guardiola`s team would tie them with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham as the third-most successful FA Cup clubs. City has consistently reached the semifinals in the past seven years, reaching three finals and winning one, while losing to Manchester United last year.
Road to the Semifinals: Manchester City has had a relatively smooth path to the semifinals, starting with an 8-0 win over Salford City. They faced a tougher challenge against Leyton Orient, where they recovered from a first-half deficit thanks to Kevin De Bruyne. They then defeated Plymouth Argyle before a comeback win against Bournemouth.
Chances of Winning: Manchester City is the clear favorite. At their best, they are unmatched in the competition. However, they have shown vulnerability this season, particularly against counter-attacking teams like Forest, Palace, and Villa. Despite this, they are still considered the most likely team to reach the FA Cup final and potentially win the title. If another team were to win, it would be a significant FA Cup upset.
