The Road to Wembley: FA Cup Semi-Finals Set to Deliver Drama

Get ready for FA Cup semi-final action! Crystal Palace takes on Aston Villa, while Nottingham Forest faces Manchester City. Find out who's set to reach the final.

The FA Cup semi-finals are here, with four teams vying for a spot in the final at Wembley on May 17. In the first semi-final, Crystal Palace takes on Aston Villa on Saturday evening. Villa hopes to defy recent history, having lost three of their last four matches against Palace in all competitions, conceding 13 goals.

Palace previously knocked Villa out of the League Cup this season. Interestingly, only Tottenham has eliminated Palace from both the FA Cup and League Cup in the same campaign, achieving this feat in 1968/69.

Aston Villa's Wembley Record and FA Cup History

Aston Villa have struggled at Wembley, losing six of their last eight games at the stadium. Their last visit was a 2-1 loss to Manchester City in the 2020 League Cup final. Despite this, Villa have a historical edge over Crystal Palace in the FA Cup, having eliminated them in all three of their previous meetings.

These meetings include a 5-0 win in the 1912/13 third round, a 4-3 victory in the 1961/62 third round, and a 3-1 win in a 2009/10 fifth-round replay.

Cup Finals History and Unai Emery's Record

Unai Emery boasts a perfect record in single-legged semi-finals, progressing in all four ties he managed with Paris Saint-Germain. His wins include the 2016/17 and 2017/18 Coupe de la Ligue and Coupe de France semi-finals.

In FA Cup history, Crystal Palace has yet to win the trophy, losing in the 1990 and 2016 finals to Manchester United. Aston Villa, on the other hand, has won the FA Cup seven times, with their last victory in 1957-58. Villa have appeared in 11 FA Cup finals, including losses to Chelsea in 2000 and Arsenal in 2015.

Which two teams are reaching the 2024-25 #EmiratesFACup Final this weekend? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/XarUrjOxOO

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 25, 2025

Key Player to Watch: Marcus Rashford

Crystal Palace is making its sixth FA Cup semi-final appearance, with a history of alternating between exiting at this stage and reaching the final. They've been inconsistent against Premier League sides, eliminated in eight of their last 10 FA Cup ties.

One player to watch will be Aston Villa's Marcus Rashford, who has shown a newfound form at Villa Park. With plenty of attacking talent on both sides, Rashford's performance could be crucial in the match.

Marcus Rashford has had a strong season in domestic cups, contributing to six goals (4 goals, 2 assists) for both Manchester United and Aston Villa. Since the start of the 2016/17 season, he has been involved in 40 goals in 60 FA Cup and League Cup games (26 goals, 14 assists), the most among Premier League players.

However, Rashford has yet to score or assist in an FA Cup semi-final despite five attempts.

Nottingham Forest's FA Cup Semi-Final Quest

Nottingham Forest faces Manchester City in the second semi-final on Sunday, seeking to reach their first FA Cup final since 1991, when they lost to Tottenham Hotspur. A win over City would mark a significant milestone for Nuno Espirito Santo's side.

This semi-final appearance is Forest's first since their 4-0 win over West Ham at Villa Park in the same 1990-91 season.

Wembley History and Penalty Prospects

Wembley has become a familiar venue for Manchester City, marking their 28th appearance at the stadium. In contrast, Nottingham Forest is making only its second appearance at the "new" Wembley since 2007, with their previous match being a 1-0 win over Huddersfield in the 2022 Championship play-off final.

Given Forest's recent FA Cup history, a penalty shootout wouldn't be surprising, as they've been involved in shootouts in the fourth round, fifth round, and quarter-final this season - the first team to have three shootouts in a single FA Cup campaign.

Forest also lost on penalties to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup. Chelsea in 2021/22 hold the distinction of being the only top-flight team involved in five penalty shootouts in a single season.

Kevin De Bruyne is the key player to watch in this semi-final. The Belgian midfielder will likely have a significant impact on the match outcome. This may be his last FA Cup campaign with City, and possibly his last ever, if he chooses to move abroad later in his career.

Since his FA Cup debut in January 2016, Kevin De Bruyne has been involved in more goals in the competition proper than any other player, contributing 28 (10 goals, 18 assists).

The FA Cup remains highly popular among clubs and supporters, despite rumors of its decline. By Sunday evening, two of the four remaining teams will be eliminated, leaving only two to progress to the final.