Two London clubs are facing Crystal Palace in Craven Cottage this weekend in the first of a fascinating quarter -finals of the FA Cup.
The competition is far open this season, and the decline of Manchester City this semester means that there is no guarantee that the cityzens will interfere with an outsider story, as they did in 2019 and 2023.
Fulham and Palace are two of four teams in the FA Cup who have never lifted the trophy. The couple has been waiting for a large cutlery for so long, and tension is widespread in West London on Saturday.
The hosts beat the owners Manchester United to get into the last eight while the Palace came past the championship outfit Millwall. As one of the Premier League, Palace appears in the cup tie, but they are six points behind Fulham after playing one less game.
The 2-0 victory of the Cottagers against Spurs before the international break rose to eighth place and moved to a top five place in touch, which should be enough to play the Champions League football next season.
Here is 90 minutes Guide to the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
Fulham against Crystal Palace head-to-head record (last five games)
Current form (all competitions)
Fulham | Crystal palace |
|---|---|
Fulham 2-0 Tottenham – 16/03/25 | Crystal Palace 1-0 Hamkam – 13/03/25 |
Brighton 2-1 Fulham – 08/03/25 | Crystal Palace 1-0 Ipswich – 08/03/25 |
Man UTD 1-1 (3-4p) Fulham-02/03/25 | Crystal Palace 3-1 Millwall – 01.03.25 |
Wolves 1-2 Fulham – 25/02/25 | Crystal Palace 4-1 Aston Villa – 25/02/25 |
Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace – 22/02/25 | Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace – 22/02/25 |
country | TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | ITVX, STV player, ITV 1 UK. STV Scotland, UTV |
United States | ESPN+, ESPN app |
Canada | Sportsnet World Now, Sportsnet Now, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet West, Sportsnet World, Sportsnet Now Plus |
Sasa Lukic played an important role for Fulham this season this season after the departure of Joao Palhinha, and the Cottagers will welcome him back this weekend after serving a suspension with two games before the break.
With Lukic Back, Marco Silva between Emile Smith Rowe and Andreas Pereira will choose the last midfield.
Reiss Nelson was excluded for the rest of the season, while Kenny Tete and Harry Wilson are out of operation.
Fulham predicted the line-up against Palace (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Mountains, Lukic; Adama, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Jimenez.
Liam Roberts took a six-game ban on his challenge for Jean-Philippe Mateta at the fifth round victory of Palace over Millwall, and the French striker has been out of operation since then. However, Mateta was given the general to play on Saturday.
Oliver Glasner has to decide whether to start his star striker in Craven Cottage or to use Eddie Nketiah from the start.
With Mateta back, Palace only misses Joel Ward, Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucore through injury. Matt Turner could continue between the posts for this cup tie.
Palace predicted line-up against Fulham (3-4-2-1): Gymnast; Richards, Guehi, Lacroix; Munoz, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell; Eze, Sarr; Mateta.
Wembley outings have not been around too often for these two clubs in modern times and expect the opportunity to expect both teams to be a nervous affair on Saturday.
These are a couple with medium blocking that have the potential to cancel each other, even though the in-form palace has won in Craven Cottage in the Premier League last month. Three of the previous five sessions ended all-Square.
There is the scope that this tie can go all the way, but the dynamics could fit the visitors. They are well built to deal with Fulham’s crossing barrage and enjoyed the recent meeting on the counterattack. Mateta’s return is huge and the French striker could overthrow the palace into the last four.