Crystal Palace meet Aston Villa in the opening semi-final of the 2024-25 FA Cup.
Victory would see Palace secure a third appearance in the FA Cup Final, whilst seven-time winners – Villa look to clinch a 12th appearance in the showpiece event.
Team News
Chris Richards and Ben Chilwell are available for Palace after the pair missed the Eagles’ 2-2 draw at Arsenal in the Premier League in midweek due to suspension and illness respectively.
Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad (both knee) remain sidelined.
Villa have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 2-1 defeat at Manchester City in midweek.
When is Kick-Off?
Palace meet Villa at Wembley Stadium, London, on Saturday 26 April at 5:15pm BST, live on BBC One in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Palace are winless against Villa in the FA Cup (D1, L3), although this is their first such tie to be played on neutral territory at Wembley Stadium.
- Villa drew 2-2 in their only previous ‘away’ meeting against Palace in the FA Cup, albeit at Selhurst Park in February 2010 but won the replay 3-1 at home.
- Under Oliver Glasner’s reign, Palace are yet to lose to Villa across four meetings in all competitions (W3, D1).
- Palace have scored nine goals and conceded just one goal in their FA Cup run this season, of which their single conceded goal came in a 3-1 Fifth Round victory over Millwall.
- Eight of Villa’s nine FA Cup goals this season came from Marco Asensio, Jacob Ramsey, Marcus Rashford and Morgan Rogers – who have all netted two goals each.
Prediction
Although their form has been inconsistent since they won their Quarter-Final tie at Fulham, Palace are still a strong team as saw by twice fighting back for a point at Arsenal whilst the fact that they are the only non-winners left will only motivate them further coming into this tie.
Villa meanwhile will be disappointed to had lost so late on at Man City but the decision to put substitute, Axel Disasi at right-back cost them, which is a mistake that Unai Emery can’t repeat if his Villains are to reach the final because they did well to contain City otherwise until that late sucker-punch goal.
Emery’s Villa also will view this as the perfect chance to end their rut in this fixture since Glasner took charge of Palace, who seem to have had the measure of Villa following his arrival, so I expect quite a competitive game as this is the best hope of both teams at achieving a trophy this season.
Although my instinct feels that this will go to penalties, I do think that Villa has enough depth to get the job done beforehand.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-2 (AET) Aston Villa
Result: Crystal Palace 3-0 Aston Villa
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