It's semi final weekend in the FA Cup and we take a look at both match ups, Saturday's clash between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa and Sunday's game between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City
Prices from Betway are correct at the time of publication but subject to change based on regulation time. Remember both games are played at Wembley Stadium, neutral ground.
Saturday, Aston Villa 24/10 Draw 2.45/1 Crystal Palace 23/20
Villa haven't won a major trophy since 1996 and they coasted into the semi finals with a 3-0 win away to Championship side Preston. Earlier they made home advantage count, starting with a 2-1 win over West Hambefore seeing off Spurs by the same scoreline and then they beat Cardiff 2-0.
Palace have never won the FA Cup and this will be their third semi final in a decade. They came away from Fulham with a 3-0 win in the quarter finals. They had faced lower league opposition in the earlier rounds, edging past Stockport 1-0 at Selhurst Park and following up with a 2-0 win away to Doncaster and a 3-1 home win over Championship side Millwall.
Palace are currently 12th in the EPL standings and in midweek they played out a 2-2 draw at Arsenal. Villa came unstuck at the death of their midweek visit to Manchester City, a game they lost 2-1. They are in 7th spot but only 2 points off a top 5 finish and UCL football next season. The first league meeting this season finished 2-2 at Villa Park and Palace ran out 4-1 winners in the return in London. Ismaila Sarr scored 3 goals for Palace across those 2 games.
The Verdict
I don't see either side surrendering easily in what should be a decent semi final and I'm with both teams finding the net in a game of 3 goals or more in total.
Bet: Total & Both Teams To Score, over 2.5 and yes at 23/20 with Betway
Sunday, Notts Forest 37/10 Draw 28/10 Man City 0.73/1
Forest haven't appeared in an FA Cup Final since 1991, their quarter final visit to Brighton finished without a goal and they held their nerve to win the penalty shoot out. Their Round of 16 home tie against Ipswich also went the full distance with Forest winning the penalty shoot out (1-1 90 mins). In the earlier rounds Forest were 2-0 winners at home to Luton but they also needed spot kicks to see off Exeter away from home (2-2 90 mins).
City were runners up to Man United in the FA Cup last season and they won it in 2023 after beating United. City booked their semi final berth with a 2-1 win away at Bournemouth. They were 8-0 winners at home to Salford in Round 3 before they were made to work hard for a 2-1 win at Leyton Orient. City also completed a 3-1 home win over Plymouth.
Their is just 1 point between these sides in the EPL standings with City third and Forest 4th and both are very much in the mix to make it to the UCL next season. City won the first league meeting this season 3-0 in Manchester but Forest were 1-0 victors in the return in Nottingham.
The Verdict
Forest have been cutting in fine in this cup run but will now be fully focused on the task in hand and making life difficult for City and playing on the counter will be the name of the game. I'm thinking under 2.5 goals in regulation time.
Bet: Under 2.5 goals at 19/20 with Sportingbet
Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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