Two very different paths, one shared destination. The Emirates FA Cup semi-final draw has handed Wembley dates to Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City on the weekend of 26-27 April, pairing Palace with Villa and Forest with City. It’s a mix of long droughts, rising form and heavyweight expectation that should light up the last step before the final.
The draw and how the four got here
The draw dropped minutes after the quarter-finals wrapped, with Manchester City the last side through thanks to a 2-1 comeback at Bournemouth. Erling Haaland hauled City level before an ankle injury forced him off following a challenge from Lewis Cook. His replacement, Omar Marmoush, needed barely a touch to settle it, sliding a low finish under goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to flip the tie. City haven’t breezed through every round this season, but they’ve been relentless when it matters, and this is their seventh straight FA Cup semi-final since 2018.
Crystal Palace’s ticket to Wembley came with authority: a 3-0 win at Fulham, their second victory at Craven Cottage in a month. Oliver Glasner’s approach is starting to stick—front-foot pressing, quick vertical attacks, and clean edges at both ends. The result extends an impressive run of five wins on the spin in all competitions and marks Palace’s first semi-final since 2022. They’ve never lifted the cup, but they’ve been at the door before, including that memorable 2016 run.
Aston Villa swept into the last four by beating Preston North End 3-0, a scoreline that felt comfortable from early on. The headline belonged to Marcus Rashford—on loan from Manchester United—who scored his first two goals for Villa with a second-half brace. This semi-final return fits a club with serious FA Cup heritage: seven-time winners, last crowned in 1957. The wait has been long, but the current squad has a sharper edge and a bit of star wattage up front that wasn’t there a few weeks ago.
Nottingham Forest took the scenic route—again. A goalless 120 minutes at Brighton led to a 4-3 penalty shootout win at the Amex, making it three consecutive shootout victories this season after Exeter City and Ipswich Town earlier in the competition. It’s Forest’s first FA Cup semi-final since 1991 and another reminder of how tight they’ve kept matches while holding their nerve in the biggest moments. The club’s last FA Cup triumph came in 1959, and the mood among their fans suggests they’re happy to suffer if it keeps moving them forward.
Round it up and the semi-final card looks clean and compelling: Palace vs Aston Villa on one side, Forest vs Manchester City on the other. Manchester City are chasing another domestic trophy in a season still alive on multiple fronts; Villa are back at Wembley with a sharper attacking look; Palace are riding their hottest form of the season; and Forest have turned pressure moments into a habit.
Storylines, matchups and what to watch
Let’s start with Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City. These two have already traded punches in the league: Forest won 1-0 at the City Ground in March, a tight game decided by a single moment, while City took a 3-0 win at the Etihad in December. That split tells you plenty about the range of possible outcomes—and why neither side can take this for granted at Wembley.
For City, the main question is Haaland’s ankle. The striker timed his run and finish perfectly at Bournemouth before hobbling off, and while City’s squad depth is as strong as anyone’s, his availability changes the way opponents defend and how City punish space. Marmoush’s impact off the bench at the Vitality suggests Pep Guardiola has another direct runner who can dart between lines if needed, but the tactical balance—whether City hit early into channels or tilt the game with long spells of possession—hinges on who leads the line.
Forest’s edge has come from organization and nerve. They’re not afraid to sit in a compact mid-block and punt games into late moments where set pieces or transitions can decide things. And if it gets to penalties, recent evidence speaks loudly: three shootout wins in one cup run is no accident. Expect Forest to keep the game narrow, slow City’s rhythm with smart fouls and touchline traps, and bank on a few premium chances from restarts.
Key battles there? City’s wide overloads against Forest’s full-backs, second balls around the box, and how Forest track the late-arriving midfielders who love to shoot from the edge. If Haaland starts, the center-backs’ positioning on crosses becomes the game inside the game. If he doesn’t, watch for City to invert a full-back and stack the half spaces, trying to pry open shooting lanes for midfielders.
On the other side: Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa. Palace completed a league double over Villa this season, which is not nothing. Glasner’s side has leaned into quick transitions and aggressive pressing triggers, jumping on passes into midfield and springing runners behind. When they’re on it, they can turn a sleepy spell into a goal in a breath. The form guide says they’re humming; the data from the head-to-head says their style troubles Villa.
Villa, though, bring a different look with Rashford in the XI. His movement off the shoulder asks for deeper defensive lines, and his ability to carry through contact can pin full-backs and center-backs at once. That stretches a defense and frees the second forward or the advanced midfielder to arrive with space. Villa also look comfortable pinning teams back with sustained pressure, and they’re a threat on set pieces—an area Palace usually defend well but can’t switch off for a second at Wembley.
The middle third will be fierce. Can Villa build through Palace’s first press without coughing up cheap turnovers? Can Palace make Villa’s high line pay with diagonal balls over the top? Watch Palace’s wingers isolating Villa’s full-backs and the timing of underlaps—those tiny windows are where a semi-final can flip.
Form check across the board looks like this: Palace have five wins on the bounce in all competitions. Villa have just put up a commanding quarter-final display and finally have a new scoring dimension. Forest have kept things tight and proved they can hold their nerve from twelve yards. City, meanwhile, have been here so often that the routine of semi-final week might be an advantage by itself, even if they’ve had to pull results out of awkward spots.
Then there’s Wembley. The pitch is big, and the space between lines matters more than it does on cramped grounds. Teams that press badly get sliced; teams that sit too deep invite 20 shots. With VAR in play and no replays at this stage, ties will be decided on the day after extra time if needed, and perhaps on penalties—territory both Forest and Palace won’t fear based on their recent experience.
Scheduling adds another layer. Both semi-finals land across the weekend of Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April, right in the middle of Premier League Matchweek 34. That means some league fixtures will shuffle, and squads will be managed with one eye on recovery windows. Kickoff times and day allocations will be confirmed in due course, but expect one slot on each day to suit broadcast windows and travel patterns.
Ticketing and logistics will follow shortly from the FA and the clubs. Wembley semi-finals typically come with split allocations, fan-zone plans around the ground, and staggered travel guidance to spread the load across rail and road. Referees and VAR appointments will be announced closer to the date. Clubs will release their own travel info and, given the weekend crowds, away supporters will likely be guided toward designated routes and entry times.
There’s also the weight of history hanging over all four. Palace have twice reached the final in modern memory—1990 and 2016—and felt both glory and sting. Villa’s last FA Cup crown sits in a different era altogether, which is precisely why these semi-finals hold so much meaning for their support. Forest’s 1959 win belongs to the club’s deep roots, a reminder that they were lifting major trophies long before their modern resurgence. City, beaten finalists last season, have turned making semi-finals into a habit and want another crack at the cup in May.
What do these matchups boil down to? For Forest vs City: control versus disruption, shot volume against big-moment poise. For Palace vs Villa: a test of pressing structure against ball progression, and whether a new forward dynamic can tilt a tie that went Palace’s way in the league. The margins will live in set plays, transition defense, and how well each side deals with the nerves of a neutral venue.
Here are a few quick notes to keep in mind as the semi-final weekend approaches:
- Dates: Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April at Wembley Stadium connected by EE; exact day and kickoff times to be confirmed.
- Format: Single-leg ties, decided on the day—extra time and, if required, penalties.
- Form guide: Palace (five straight wins); Villa (quarter-final cruise with Rashford brace); Forest (three shootout wins in this cup run); City (seventh consecutive semi-final).
- Recent meetings: Forest and City split their league games—Forest 1-0 at the City Ground in March; City 3-0 at the Etihad in December. Palace did a league double over Villa this season.
- Injury watch: City will assess Erling Haaland after his ankle knock at Bournemouth.
From here it’s about recovery, detail, and nerve. The coaches will parcel out minutes, drill set pieces, and fine-tune pressure triggers. Players will count the days. Wembley awaits, and four very different stories are converging on the same stage.
August 25 2025 0
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