Aston Villa host Cardiff City in the opening tie of the fifth round in 2024-25 FA Cup.
Victory will see Villa reach the Quarter-Finals for the first time in ten years, whilst Cardiff seek a first appearance in the last eight since they finished as runners-up in 2007-08 season.
Team News
Emiliano Martinez is a doubt for Villa after he suffered a knock in their 4-1 midweek league loss at Crystal Palace.
Donyell Malen (illness) and Tyrone Mings (unspecified) could also be unavailable, whilst Ross Barkley (knee), Boubacar Kamara (muscle), Amadou Onana (thigh) and Pau Torres (metatarsal) remain sidelined,
Cardiff will be without goalkeeper, Jak Alnwick after he suffered a hamstring injury in their 1-1 draw at Plymouth last weekend, which forced him to miss the Bluebirds’ midweek win over Hull.
Joe Ralls (groin), Will Alves, Ollie Tanner (both knee), David Turnbull (hamstring) and Jesper Daland (leg) are ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Villa host Cardiff at Villa Park on Friday 28 February at 8pm GMT, live on ITV1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Aston Villa have lost two of their three previous FA Cup ties against Cardiff (W1, L2).
- Cardiff have won one of two previous FA Cup visits to Villa (W1, L1), in which neither team kept clean sheets as Villa won 6-1 in January 1929 then the Bluebirds won 2-1 in January 1949.
- Both of Cardiff’s two FA Cup wins against Villa were by 2-1 results.
- Villa have won each of their two FA Cup matches this season by 2-1 results at home, with Morgan Rogers scoring their second goal in both matches.
- Two of Cardiff’s four goals in this season’s competition were scored in the 19th minute, courtesy of Cian Ashford and Yousef Salech against Sheffield United and Stoke respectively
Prediction
Although they lost heavily at Palace, Selhurst Park hadn’t exactly been kind to Villa in recent years but this is an immediate chance to bounce back if can find their usual energetic flair and avoid the defensive errors which cost them in South London.
Cardiff meanwhile have nothing to lose against such superior opposition but having shown plenty of grit and resilience to draw three of their last five games in all competitions, this is a tough ask for the Bluebirds whose defence hasn’t exactly been strong this season with just three clean sheets since November.
Nevertheless there will certainly be changes for both teams but if Villa go strong, I can see this being a routine home win.
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-0 Cardiff
Result: Aston Villa 2-0 Cardiff