A collision of ambitions at Wembley sees Crystal Palace and Aston Villa face off for a place in the English FA Cup final. With Manchester City or Nottingham Forest awaiting the winner, both clubs have history to make as they step onto English football’s grandest stage.
Crystal Palace: Eagles eye a historic flight to glory
Crystal Palace have tasted FA Cup final heartbreak twice before, falling to Manchester United in 1990 and 2016. Oliver Glasner’s side now dream of writing a different ending. Their road to Wembley has seen them brush aside Stockport, Doncaster, Millwall, and Fulham with authority.
Despite a recent winless league run, Palace have found the net regularly, powered by the creativity of Eberechi Eze and the finishing prowess of Jean-Philippe Mateta.
History offers encouragement too, as the Eagles have alternated between wins and losses at the semi-final stage, suggesting fate could be on their side this time around.
Aston Villa: Lions hunting their long-awaited eighth crown
Aston Villa’s FA Cup story is steeped in tradition, but their last triumph dates all the way back to 1957. Under the guidance of Unai Emery, Villa are determined to end that drought. Their journey to this point has seen victories over Preston, Tottenham, West Ham, and Cardiff.
While a dramatic defeat to Manchester City dented their league momentum, Villa’s 17-match scoring streak across all competitions underlines their attacking potency.
Revenge is also on their minds after heavy defeats to Palace earlier this season, adding extra fuel to a semi-final showdown loaded with emotion.
Team News
Crystal Palace welcome Chris Richards back from suspension, strengthening their defensive options. Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure remain out with long-term knee injuries.
Richards is expected to return to the starting lineup, potentially shifting Jefferson Lerma into midfield alongside Adam Wharton.
Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr should also return in attack after being rested against Arsenal, joining Eze in a dynamic front three.
Aston Villa report a clean bill of health, with Axel Disasi the only absentee due to being cup-tied. Unai Emery is likely to recall Ollie Watkins after rotating him against Manchester City, while John McGinn should step back into midfield leadership.
The spine of the Villa team looks settled, as Emery seeks to blend experience and firepower in pursuit of silverware.
Predicted Lineups
Crystal Palace: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze, Mateta
Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; Rogers, McGinn, Rashford; Watkins
Match Info
Competition: FA Cup Semi Final
Venue: Wembley Stadium
Time: 5:15 PM (local time)
Referee: Anthony Taylor
What’s at Stake
Crystal Palace have never lifted the FA Cup, and a first-ever final victory would etch their name in history. For Aston Villa, a place in the final would represent a step toward reclaiming their place among England’s traditional powerhouses.
With legacy, pride, and silverware on the line, neither side can afford a misstep under the Wembley spotlight.
