Football Trips FA Cup: These top flight teams are still in

„Good ebening” – This original greeting by Unai Emery certainly applies to the FA Cup as well. Aston Villa, the team of the Spanish coach, still has excellent title chances in the English Cup, which has been played since 1871. The editorial team of event-breaks.com looks at other top clubs that could still shine in this competition. 

We have already captured the magic of the FA Cup for you several times. Fantastic underdog stories, but also fascinating final tales. 

These are the kinds of stories that make up the legendary sagas of the FA Cup. I experienced it live in Cardiff myself, in 2006, when FC Liverpool with the outstanding Steven Gerrard ("Oh Captain, my Captain!") delivered one of these sagas in the final – in a penalty thriller against West Ham United, after trailing twice. A magnificent game, even for me as a reporter. 

FA Cup miracles don't happen every day: Liverpool conquerors are out 

FC Liverpool, the clear leader of the Premier League, is no longer in the competition. The Merseysiders were embarrassed with a 0:1 loss at the bottom team of the Championship, Plymouth Argyle (event-breaks.com reported). 

The fairytale of football from the South Coast ended – as most experts expected – on March 1, 2025, with a 1:3 loss at serial champions Manchester City. 

The team of Pep Guardiola is the biggest heavyweight among the teams that will play in the quarterfinals starting on March 29, 2025. 

The Premier League teams are almost exclusively in the quarterfinals. 

Only Preston North End, where a certain David Beckham took his first career steps as a loan player from Manchester United 30 years ago, is still in it as a second-division club.

„PNE” will face Aston Villa's high-flyers at Deepdale stadium. 

FA Cup: Will Aston Villa crown an amazing season?

For "The Villans," it could be a historic season. Represented in the Champions League for the first time, Unai Emery's team can already secure the next round after a 3:1 win in the first leg of the round of 16 at Club Brugge.

Aston Villa is also the clear favorite in the FA Cup, even though in this competition... well, you know…

AFC Bournemouth has home advantage against Manchester City – and "The Cherries" already caused one of the most surprising defeats for the billion-dollar star ensemble from the Etihad Stadium on November 2, 2024, with a 2:1 win in the Premier League.

Or how about a London Derby on March 29, 2025? FC Fulham against Crystal Palace. 

In the narrow Craven Cottage stadium, where the scent of history lingers, "The Eagles," as the team from South London is called, could once again write a memorable cup chapter, even as visitors. 

In 1990, Crystal Palace reached the final, as they did in 2016. Fulham only made it to the FA Cup final in 1975, but surprised in 2010 with a run to the Europa League final in Hamburg against Atlético Madrid (1:2 after extra time). 

Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest round out the quarterfinals. It’s a matchup of two surprise teams this season in England. 

Bernd Leno: "Our man in Fulham"

The German coach Fabian Hürzeler and his "Seagulls" triumphed 2:1 after extra time in the round of 16 at Newcastle United. 

An old-timer became the FA Cup hero for "BHA": The 34-year-old striker Danny Welbeck took Brighton into the quarterfinals with his 1:2 goal in the 114th minute. 

But it was "The Cottagers" of FC Fulham who stole the show. They won 5:4 after a penalty shootout at Old Trafford against Manchester United, thanks to two penalty saves by the former German national goalkeeper Bernd Leno. "Our man in Fulham" saved against Victor Lindelöf and former Bayern player Joshua Zirkzee. 

Thus, the defending champion is out. It was a match that fit the desperate situation at "The Red Devils." After 26 matchdays, United is in 15th place – right in the relegation battle. It’s the worst performance for the record champions in the English top league. “Manchester United as bad as never before,” headlined BILD am SONNTAG on February 23, 2025, after the 2:2 draw at FC Everton. 

The next FA Cup hero was, meanwhile, Bernd Leno. "Of course, penalties are sometimes a lottery, but luckily we won the roulette today," rejoiced the 32-year-old Swabian after the success at Old Trafford. 

The next heroic chapter? It certainly awaits in the FA Cup quarterfinals…

 

Are there tickets for the FA Cup quarterfinals?

Event-breaks.com helps you with individual offers for all four games, contact us, and you can find the overview here. 

What happens after the FA Cup quarterfinals?

The two semifinals will take place on April 26, 2025, at a neutral venue, the London Wembley Stadium. Tickets for the FA Cup semifinals.

When is the FA Cup final 2025 in Wembley?

The English football temple will host the stage for the oldest cup competition in the world on May 17, 2025. Final Ticket Packages FA Cup 2025.