The 2024-25 FA Cup has seen numerous giant killings, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur not even reaching the fifth round, while reigning champions Manchester United were knocked out by Fulham on penalties in the fifth round.
The 2023-24 FA Cup Champions, Manchester City, have qualified for the semi-finals, and are the only traditional ‘Big Six’ team to make it to this round alongside teams who haven’t won trophies in more than a century like Crystal Palace who will be aiming to end the drought at the Wembley Stadium in May.
Fulham vs Crystal Palace: Two sides aiming to end trophy droughts of 100+ years came head to head as Eberechi Eze proved to be the difference maker with his movement and slick passing, as Eze scored the first goal and laid the ball on the plate for Ismaila Sarr, who netted the second goal. Eddie Nketiah scored the third goal of the afternoon against a static Fulham side who would now be focusing on their Premier League ambitions.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Nottingham Forest: A 0-0 draw that went to penalties, and Nottingham Forest triumphed yet again on spot-kicks to ensure a smooth passageway to the semi-final.
Preston North End vs Aston Villa: Preston North End was the last Championship team to be knocked out of the FA Cup as they lost to Aston Villa in the quarter-final, with Marcus Rashford scoring a brace, while Jacob Ramsey hit the last nail in the coffin to seal a 3-0 win.
Bournemouth vs Manchester City: Manchester City went down 1-0 as Evanlison opened the scoring on Sunday evening, but goals from Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush completed the turnaround for a team desperate to win a trophy this season.
Nottingham Forest lost to Manchester City as the Cityzens brought out their best, and goals from Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol ended the journey for the Tricky Trees, who would be solely focusing on the Top 5 Race in the Premier League.
Crystal Palace defeated Aston Villa 3-0 as Eberechi Eze opened the scoring for his side and Ismaila Sarr scored a brace in the second half, which takes Palace within 90 minutes of a historic win and European qualification for the next season.
Pep Guardiola’s men look like shadows of themselves this season as they are currently fifth in the Premier League standings and out of the Champions League reckoning as well after a 6-3 defeat against Real Madrid in the intermediary playoffs. The Cityzens have still been marked as the favorites to lift the coveted FA Cup trophies by most, if not all bookmakers across the globe. Here is the full list of odds:
Manchester City: -250
Crystal Palace: +200
Unai Emery’s men have had the toughest road to the quarter-final, eliminating sides like West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur before trouncing Cardiff City in the fifth round, but Villa’s journey ended with the loss to Crystal Palace in the semi-final.
ALSO READ: Fulham vs Crystal Palace Odds & Predictions
