Manchester City take on Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarterfinals, aiming to keep their last remaining silverware hopes alive in what has been a turbulent campaign.
City are the only Premier League heavyweight left in the competition, as Nottingham Forest, Fulham, and Brighton headline an FA Cup season defined by underdog success.
AFP Sport delves into the key narratives ahead of the weekend’s action:
Manchester City risk finishing a season without a major trophy for the first time since 2016-17, and their trip to Bournemouth comes with added pressure following their defeat at the Vitality Stadium earlier this season.
When Pep Guardiola’s side suffered a shock 2-1 loss to Bournemouth in November, it marked the first time in their history that they had lost to the Cherries. That result signaled the start of a dramatic downturn, with City winning just one of their next 11 matches in all competitions.
After dominating English football with six league titles in the past seven seasons, City now find themselves languishing in fifth place, battling for a Champions League spot rather than the title. A loss to Nottingham Forest and a draw with Brighton in their last two outings further highlight the issues Guardiola has yet to resolve.
Another setback at Bournemouth—who have never reached the FA Cup semifinals—would add to the list of disappointments in what has been a season to forget for Guardiola.
Fulham will host Crystal Palace on Saturday with a chance to end decades of FA Cup frustration.
The Cottagers last reached the FA Cup final 50 years ago, losing to West Ham in their only appearance in the competition’s showpiece, while their most recent semifinal run came in 2002.
Marco Silva’s side advanced to the quarterfinals after a dramatic penalty shootout win over holders Manchester United but will need to overcome a recent setback—a 2-0 home loss to Palace in February.
Palace, managed by Oliver Glasner, come into the clash in formidable away form, having won five consecutive matches on the road while keeping six straight clean sheets. The Eagles, who have never lifted the FA Cup, could be boosted by the return of Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has recovered from a nasty injury that required 25 stitches after a challenge from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts.
Nottingham Forest will have to navigate their FA Cup quarterfinal without star striker Chris Wood, who has been ruled out with a hip injury sustained while on international duty with New Zealand.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have been one of the stories of the season, surging to third in the Premier League and putting themselves on course for their first Champions League appearance since 1980-81.
Reaching their first FA Cup semifinal since 1991—when they finished as runners-up to Tottenham—would further bolster Nuno’s case for manager of the year. However, missing their leading scorer will be a significant blow.
"He will not be available for this game. He felt a strong kick to his hip, and the pain hasn’t subsided," Nuno confirmed.
Preston North End, the last non-Premier League side left in the competition, host Aston Villa in a bid to pull off a major upset.
The Championship club, currently 14th in the second tier, boast a rich FA Cup history, having won the trophy in 1889 and 1938. However, they haven’t reached the semifinals since 1964 and last played in the top flight in 1961.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side will face a Villa team with momentum on their side. Unai Emery’s men are through to the Champions League quarterfinals and are looking to reach the FA Cup semifinals for the first time in a decade. Villa, who last won the competition in 1957, were runners-up in 2015 after losing to Arsenal in the final.
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