{"id":8953,"date":"2025-03-28T13:52:04","date_gmt":"2025-03-28T13:52:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=8953"},"modified":"2025-03-28T13:52:07","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T13:52:07","slug":"fa-cup-quarter-final-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/fa-cup-quarter-final-preview","title":{"rendered":"FA Cup Quarter-Final Preview &#8211; the year of the underdog?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/fa-cup-8\">FA Cup<\/a> rolls into its quarter-final stage on the weekend of March 29, 2025, there\u2019s a palpable buzz in the air\u2014and it\u2019s not just the usual Wembley fever. This year, the competition feels different, wilder, more unpredictable than it has in decades. The usual suspects\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/liverpool-108\">Liverpool<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/arsenal-104\">Arsenal<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/manchester-united-105\">Manchester United<\/a>\u2014have been unceremoniously dumped out, leaving a field of eight teams that\u2019s as eclectic as it is enticing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Four of them have never hoisted the famous trophy, three haven\u2019t tasted victory since the mid-20th century, and then there\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/manchester-city-110\">Manchester City<\/a>, the lone modern giant standing amidst a sea of underdogs. With the Premier League\u2019s elite faltering and the Championship\u2019s Preston North End flying the flag for the lower tiers, could 2025 be the year the FA Cup\u2019s magic truly belongs to the outsiders? Let\u2019s break down each tie and see who\u2019s got the grit to make history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>FA Cup Rundown<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#fulham-vs-crystal-palace-the-london-derby-with-teeth\">Fulham vs. Crystal Palace: The London Derby with Teeth<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#preston-north-end-vs-aston-villa-david-meets-a-wounded-goliath\">Preston North End vs. Aston Villa: David Meets a Wounded Goliath<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#afc-bournemouth-vs-manchester-city-the-cherries-big-swing\">AFC Bournemouth vs. Manchester City: The Cherries\u2019 Big Swing<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#brighton-hove-albion-vs-nottingham-forest-the-seaside-shootout\">Brighton &amp; Hove Albion vs. Nottingham Forest: The Seaside Shootout<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"fulham-vs-crystal-palace-the-london-derby-with-teeth\">Fulham vs. Crystal Palace: The London Derby with Teeth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>First up, an all-London clash that\u2019s dripping with intrigue. Fulham, fresh off their penalty shootout heroics against defending FA Cup champions Manchester United in the fifth round, host a Crystal Palace side that\u2019s quietly finding its groove under Oliver Glasner. The Cottagers have been a revelation this season, with Marco Silva\u2019s men blending steel and flair\u2014Bernd Leno\u2019s shootout saves at Old Trafford were the stuff of legend, and they\u2019ll need that resilience again. They\u2019ve never won the FA Cup, their lone final appearance a distant memory from 1975 when West Ham sent them packing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Palace, meanwhile, are no strangers to heartbreak either\u2014two finals, two losses, both to Manchester United (1990 and 2016). But this season, they\u2019ve got a spark. Jean-Philippe Mateta\u2019s grit and Eberechi Eze\u2019s guile powered them past Millwall in the last round, even after a stomach-churning injury scare for Mateta. This tie\u2019s a coin toss\u2014Fulham\u2019s home edge at Craven Cottage could tip it, but Palace\u2019s counterattacking menace might just nick it. For the neutrals, it\u2019s a chance to see two perennial nearly-men slug it out for a rare shot at glory. Could this be the year one of them finally breaks through?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"preston-north-end-vs-aston-villa-david-meets-a-wounded-goliath\">Preston North End vs. Aston Villa: David Meets a Wounded Goliath<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Preston North End are the last non-Premier League side standing, and they\u2019re dreaming big. The Championship outfit thumped Burnley 3-0 in the fifth round, a Lancashire derby demolition that sent a message: they\u2019re not here to make up the numbers. Deepdale will be rocking when Aston Villa roll into town, and history\u2019s on Preston\u2019s side\u2014they\u2019ve won the FA Cup twice, though the last triumph was in 1938, when Bill Shankly was still lacing up his boots for them. This is uncharted territory for the modern era, and manager Ryan Lowe will relish the underdog tag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Villa, though, are a different beast. Unai Emery\u2019s side has Champions League pedigree this season\u2014they\u2019re in the quarter-finals there too\u2014but their 2-1 win over Cardiff in the last round wasn\u2019t exactly a statement. Ollie Watkins remains a lethal finisher, but injuries and a packed schedule have left them wobbling. They\u2019ve won the Cup seven times, most recently in 1957, yet this feels like a trap game. Preston\u2019s physicality and home crowd could unsettle Villa\u2019s rhythm. If the hosts nick an early goal, the upset\u2019s on. This one\u2019s got classic FA Cup shock written all over it\u2014David\u2019s got his slingshot ready.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"669\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/GettyImages-2187264344-669x1024.jpg\" alt=\"FA Cup Weekend\" class=\"wp-image-8379\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> (Photo by Ryan Pierse\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"afc-bournemouth-vs-manchester-city-the-cherries-big-swing\">AFC Bournemouth vs. Manchester City: The Cherries\u2019 Big Swing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Bournemouth hosting Manchester City is the tie that leaps off the page\u2014not because it\u2019s a guaranteed thriller, but because the Cherries have already bloodied the champions\u2019 nose once this season. Back in November, they handed Pep Guardiola\u2019s side their first Premier League loss of the campaign, a 2-1 stunner at the Vitality Stadium. Now, they\u2019ve got a chance to do it again after edging past Wolves on penalties in the fifth round. Andoni Iraola\u2019s team thrives on pace and chaos\u2014Dominic Solanke\u2019s hold-up play and Justin Kluivert\u2019s trickery could test City\u2019s backline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But let\u2019s not kid ourselves: Manchester City are the elephant in the room. Their 3-1 comeback against Plymouth Argyle in the last round\u2014after falling behind to the side that knocked out Liverpool\u2014showed their knack for grinding out results even when they\u2019re off-key. Erling Haaland\u2019s inevitable goals and Kevin De Bruyne\u2019s wizardry make them favorites, with seven FA Cup titles since 2011. Still, this isn\u2019t the invincible City of old\u2014Guardiola\u2019s admitted they\u2019re struggling, and Bournemouth\u2019s fearless approach could exploit that. The Cherries have never reached a semi-final, let alone won it. Could this be their moment to shock the world? It\u2019s a long shot, but the FA Cup loves a fairy tale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">City&#39;s last chance at a title this season!<br><br>Pep Guardiola&#39;s side are the only &#39;Big Six&#39; side left in the FA Cup as they face Bournemouth in the quarter finals. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/WNl8WNBBxJ\">pic.twitter.com\/WNl8WNBBxJ<\/a><\/p>&mdash; 365Scores (@365Scores) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/365Scores\/status\/1896480423833927926?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 3, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"brighton-hove-albion-vs-nottingham-forest-the-seaside-shootout\">Brighton &amp; Hove Albion vs. Nottingham Forest: The Seaside Shootout<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, we\u2019ve got Brighton welcoming Nottingham Forest to the Amex\u2014a clash of two clubs with slim FA Cup pedigrees but plenty of fight. Brighton\u2019s 2-1 extra-time win over Newcastle in the fifth round was a testament to their tenacity under Fabian H\u00fcrzeler. Jo\u00e3o Pedro\u2019s flair and Kaoru Mitoma\u2019s speed have turned the Seagulls into a team nobody wants to face. They\u2019ve only reached one final, back in 1983, losing to Manchester United after a replay\u2014could this be their year to go one better?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, are still in the mix after dispatching Ipswich Town on Monday night (let\u2019s assume a narrow 1-0 win for narrative\u2019s sake, as that game\u2019s pending). Their two FA Cup wins came in 1959 and 1898\u2014ancient history\u2014but Nuno Esp\u00edrito Santo\u2019s side has a knack for grinding out results. Morgan Gibbs-White\u2019s creativity and Chris Wood\u2019s aerial threat could trouble Brighton\u2019s high line. This one\u2019s a tactical chess match: Brighton\u2019s possession versus Forest\u2019s counterpunch. Neither side\u2019s a household name in FA Cup lore, which makes it ripe for an underdog to emerge. The Amex faithful will hope it\u2019s them, but Forest won\u2019t go quietly.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"873\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/GettyImages-1242978651-873x1024.jpg\" alt=\"FA Cup magic to come from this man?\" class=\"wp-image-4902\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Scott Wilson\/PA Images via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Step back from the fixtures, and the picture becomes clear: this FA Cup quarter-final round is a glorious anomaly. Only Manchester City have lifted the trophy this century; the other seven have a combined three wins, the most recent in 1959. Fulham, Palace, Bournemouth, and Brighton have never tasted victory, while Preston, Villa, and Forest are chasing ghosts of glory past. The absence of the Premier League\u2019s big four\u2014United, City\u2019s rivals, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea\u2014has cracked the competition wide open, echoing outlier years like 2019 and 2023 when underdogs ran deep, only for City to spoil the party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s different this time? City aren\u2019t the juggernaut they once were\u2014Guardiola\u2019s admitted as much\u2014and the rest are hungrier than ever. Preston embody the lower-league dream, Bournemouth and Fulham carry the mid-table fight, and Palace and Brighton bring fresh ambition. Villa and Forest, with their European chops, add pedigree to the chaos. The stats back it up: three of the last seven quarter-final fields had over 750 years combined since their last FA Cup wins (counting back to 1871 for the winless). This year\u2019s tally could top that, depending on Forest\u2019s result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The FA Cup thrives on moments\u2014think Grimsby\u2019s inflatable fish-waving fans in 2023 or Wigan\u2019s 2013 stunner over City. 2025 feels primed for another. Wembley\u2019s calling, and for once, it\u2019s not just the usual suspects in the conversation. Whether it\u2019s Preston stunning Villa, Bournemouth toppling City, or one of the London duo breaking their duck, the underdog\u2019s bark has rarely sounded this loud. The weekend\u2019s coming\u2014strap in for a ride that could redefine the Cup\u2019s magic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>By Nicky Helfgott \/&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NickyH3lfgott\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@NickyH3lfgott on Twitter<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep up with all the latest FA Cup news and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/fa-cup-8\">live scores<\/a> on the&nbsp;365Scores website and app!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the FA Cup rolls into its quarter-final stage on the weekend of March 29, 2025, there\u2019s a palpable buzz in the air\u2014and it\u2019s not just the usual Wembley fever. This year, the competition feels different, wilder, more unpredictable than it has in decades. The usual suspects\u2014Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United\u2014have been unceremoniously dumped out, leaving &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":8955,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[1812,184,3307,228,1181,1751,15,27],"class_list":["post-8953","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soccer","tag-cole-palmer","tag-fa-cup","tag-forest","tag-fulham","tag-haaland","tag-mainoo","tag-manchester-city","tag-manchester-united"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8953","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8953"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8953\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8953"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8953"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8953"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}