The FA Cup semifinals are set, promising a slightly different spectacle this season. While Manchester City, a frequent winner, remains in contention, they are joined by three Premier League mid-tier teams. For these clubs, a trip to Wembley often signifies the tension of a playoff final rather than the dream of FA Cup glory.
Crystal Palace was the first to secure a semifinal spot, decisively defeating Fulham away. Nottingham Forest endured a dramatic penalty shootout to overcome Brighton & Hove Albion.
Aston Villa enjoyed a more comfortable victory on Sunday, defeating Preston North End, the last Championship team in the competition, 3-0. The most thrilling match involved Manchester City, who seemed on the verge of defeat at halftime against Bournemouth after Evanilson`s goal. However, a revitalized Manchester City, spurred by substitute Nico O`Reilly, turned the game around. O`Reilly provided precise crosses for Erling Haaland`s equalizer and then for Omar Marmoush`s winning goal.
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) — Fortunately for Palace, Manchester United is not in the semifinals, as they have been Palace`s nemesis in their previous two final appearances. Palace is still seeking its first major cup victory, depending on how one defines the Full Members` Cup.
Path to the Semifinals: Eberechi Eze shone in the Saturday morning match, leading Palace to a 3-0 victory over Fulham. Eze scored the opening goal and assisted Ismaila Sarr four minutes later. Eddie Nketiah sealed the win with a third goal. Fulham was the first Premier League team Palace defeated in this FA Cup run, following wins against Stockport, Doncaster, and Millwall.
Chances of winning: Palace might be the most in-form team remaining, with five consecutive wins and a strong record in 2025. They recently dominated Aston Villa, with Eze playing exceptionally in a match where Palace`s expected goals reached 4.31.
Aston Villa
Best result: Winners (1887, 1895, 1897, 1905, 1913, 1920, 1957) — Aston Villa is a historic English club, but few modern fans have witnessed them lift the FA Cup. Final appearances have been rare for a club of Villa`s stature since their last win, with losses to Chelsea in 2000 and Arsenal in 2015.
Path to the Semifinals: Villa has navigated a demanding season to reach the semifinals impressively. They defeated West Ham and Tottenham 2-1 at home, with Morgan Rogers scoring in both matches. Cardiff was then overcome in the round of 16. Marcus Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, scored twice against Preston North End, securing Villa`s place in the semifinals.
Chances of winning: Villa possesses impressive squad depth, crucial for competing on multiple fronts, including their Champions League quarterfinal campaign. The question is whether they will be fatigued by the time they reach Wembley, considering their Champions League and Premier League commitments.
Nottingham Forest
Best result: Winners (1898, 1959) — Similar to Aston Villa, FA Cup glory is distant history for Nottingham Forest. For many, their FA Cup story is defined by Brian Clough`s defeat in the 1991 final against Tottenham. Regardless of the semifinal outcome, this season marks Forest`s deepest FA Cup run since that time.
Path to the Semifinals: Forest`s journey has been filled with drama, starting with a straightforward 2-0 win over Luton. Every subsequent match has been closely contested, with League One Exeter City pushing them to penalties, where goalkeeper Matz Sels became the hero. The following rounds saw similar penalty shootout victories against Ipswich and Brighton.
Chances of winning: It would be risky to underestimate Nottingham Forest, especially after their previous overachievements. Their cautious, defensive style is well-suited for cup competitions. In this FA Cup, they have been defensively solid, restricting opponents to minimal expected goals, except for Exeter City.
However, their underlying performance metrics throughout the cup run are similar to their Premier League season, indicating they are slightly above average but not necessarily FA Cup winners. Can they continue to defy expectations?
Manchester City
Best result: Winners (1904, 1934, 1956, 1969, 2011, 2019, 2023) — A victory in May would elevate Pep Guardiola`s Manchester City to the third most successful FA Cup team, alongside Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham. City has consistently reached the semifinals in the past seven years, reaching three finals and winning one, with a loss to Manchester United last year.
Path to the Semifinals: Manchester City has had a relatively smooth path, starting with an 8-0 victory over Salford City. A more challenging match against Leyton Orient saw them fall behind before Kevin De Bruyne turned the tie around. Plymouth Argyle was then defeated, followed by a comeback win against Bournemouth.
Chances of winning: Manchester City is the clear favorite. At their peak, they are arguably unbeatable in this competition. However, they have shown vulnerability this season, particularly against counter-attacking teams, which their semifinal opponents are capable of exploiting. Despite this, they remain the most likely team to reach the FA Cup final and potentially win the title, though an upset would create a memorable FA Cup story.
