Crystal Palace - Aston Villa 26-04-25

The world's oldest club tournament is of course found on the ball island. Did they invent football over there? They probably believe so, even if nothing else. The FA Cup is legendary, with the first final held as early as 1872. The road to Wembley is firmly rooted in the British football soul, and if you win the great trophy in May, the season will undoubtedly have been a success.

 

Crystal Palace and Aston Villa could only have dreamed of making it to the semi-finals of this year's edition. Two teams that occasionally fluctuate in their performances, but who at their best beat whoever they want. Palace have had an interesting season, with occasional excellent form, before the switch is turned off and they suffer some real setbacks. Villa, on the other hand, are fighting for Champions League places for next season, and have made a fine figure in the world's fiercest club tournament this season. Not bad for two clubs that have long lived in the valley of shadows in England. Does Crystal Palace have what it takes to deliver another rock-solid performance and make it all the way to the final? The burgundy-clad team with a goal-hungry Rashford at the helm will be a real nut to crack.

 

Crystal Palace – So much more than just Eze

 

Last season it was all about Eze and Olise. The latter left for Germany, and Eze was left alone. This season it would be up to the eminent midfielder to steer Palace to safe ground. However, there would turn out to be so much more in this crew. We saw it at the end of last season too, the Eagles could deliver the goods. This season players like Mateta, Sarr, Munoz and the aforementioned Eze have really bitten off. Palace have an impactful crew, and the midfield in particular impresses constantly, even without an often injured Doucoure available.

 

In the domestic league, they are in twelfth place, just four points behind Bournemouth in eighth. A far better season than big teams like Tottenham, Manchester United and Everton. Much thanks to Glasner, Saturday's home team has proven to be a difficult team to beat. At times. Because it is remarkable to see at times how terribly low the bottom level can be. In two games in a row, they conceded five goals, against Manchester City and Newcastle respectively. Tough opposition, of course, but these losses must be eliminated for next season if the team is to take the next step. The last two matches have ended with two points ties against Bournemouth and Arsenal.

 

If the points don't come as ordered at all times, it's fascinating to look at the statistics to see how often Palace go goalless. Before the 0-5 defeat to Newcastle recently, the Londoners had 18 straight games with a goal. So we have to go all the way back to last year to find the last time Palace didn't find the net. There were two goalless games, before they scored two again against Arsenal recently, where Mateta wrote himself into the list of candidates for the goal of the year. Their offensive qualities are indisputable.

 

Crystal Palace took care of Fulham in the quarter-finals, with a full 3-0. The last league match against Saturday's opponent, Aston Villa, ended in a 4-1 win two months ago. Palace will not be a throw-in tomorrow.

 

Aston Villa – Slowly but surely, Villa has become a great team again

 

Because things have happened to this Villa team. Okay, so it stopped against PSG in this year's Champions League, but what a performance they put on in their attempt to advance. I personally was surprised by the pressure they were able to generate, and at one point the Parisians were really hanging on by the ropes. There is power, there is finesse, there is speed, and there is solid leadership from the touchline. Aston Villa, Champions League winners that they are after all, are among England's very best football teams.

 

The league season has taken a slight hit this year. It was no surprise that they were going to travel down to the continent to compete with the best of the best. They did, however, and the season has featured several solid scalps. But scalps here and there do not add to the clubhouse's display cabinet. Consistent performances are needed, and now the venerable club is close. If they knock out Palace in the semi-finals, the winner of Nottingham and Manchester City awaits. No matter who it is, Villa will not stand back from these teams in this year's edition. The top level should make seasoned guys like Pep tremble in their pants.

 

However, Birmingham is not all about wealth. By the way, how many people knew that Birmingham is England's second largest city? It's easy to think it's Manchester or Liverpool, right? But no, Birmingham is bigger than those two cities combined. It's clear that such a city should have a top team in the Premier League! The city of 1.1 million inhabitants is known for being an ethnic melting pot, as well as a cultural mecca. In addition to this, they are big on arms production. An exciting mix. But, we digress. Within Villa there is also a certain disagreement. It's about Ollie Watkins and Marcus Rashford. Both English national team strikers, and both more than ready to lead the attack on the road to success. Watkins has been the preferred choice for a period at the club, but Emery has shown his dissatisfaction with the quick-footed attacker's performance. First, he chose Jhon Duran as his preferred striker on several occasions last year, before he now does it again with loanee Rashford. It has created a certain faction in the squad, and both players and fans are at odds over how to resolve the situation. The manager is reluctant to use either. The gut feeling is that whoever gets the nod on Saturday will be a hot topic for the Palace defenders.

 

Conclusion – Two teams with exciting offensive pieces

 

Can we get a goalless semi-final at Wembley tomorrow? I doubt it. It is clear that it is dangerous to get into these matches, and that you therefore probably hold something back, at least at the start. I still think that we have two teams here who want to play to their strengths, and it is not to wall ourselves off and wait. Palace with Sarr, Mateta and Eze will try to set the pace against a backing Villa defense, and if Mateta gets the ball in, or around, the 16-meter box, it will be fired. That ball quickly sings in the note behind the sometimes uncharismatic last line of Aston Villa.

 

Saturday's away team also has its best cards up front. Morgan Rogers has had a brilliant season, while the all-rounder McGinn is always a good choice. Perhaps it's time for a repeat of the star-studded match against PSG? Rashford, Watkins and Asensio give Emery the freedom of choice such a match needs.

 

Given Palace's 4-1 win the last time these two met, the fact that there are "always" a lot of goals between the teams, Palace's 18 straight matches with net knowledge, and all of Villa's offensive aces, we end up with a safe recommendation. At least that's how we feel. Both teams score in the first semi-final at Wembley, and it's unlikely to be just these two goals. This will be an open and fun match, so sit back in front of the screen and enjoy the world's oldest club competition for all it's worth!

 

England at 18:15: Crystal Palace - Aston Villa: Both teams score (1.78)

 

Alternative game

England at 18:15: Crystal Palace - Aston Villa: Over 2.5 goals (1.95)

England at 18:15: Crystal Palace - Aston Villa: Rashford scores (2.90)