FA Cup: Fulham Seek Cup Revenge Over the Eagles

Fulham vs Crystal Palace

The oldest cup competition in the world is back on the agenda this weekend when Fulham host Crystal Palace in the FA Cup quarter final at Craven Cottage.

Marco Silva’s Fulham and Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace are both in good shape in the Premier League, the hosts in eighth and chasing a European place while their visitors are climbing rapidly up the table and are in 12^th, only six points behind Fulham and with a game in hand.      

This FA cup is wide open with Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Chelsea all out. While Manchester City are the hot favourites, our SBOTOP stats team make Fulham the fourth favourites at around 8.00 to lift their first major trophy, while the FA Cup 2025 betting odds will swing towards sixth favourites Crystal Palace should they come out on top at the Cottage. When the Cottagers met Tottenham Hotspur before the break they signed off with a 2-0 win, while Palace made it four wins on the bounce in all competitions with a 1-0 victory over struggling Ipswich Town.

But Fulham will sniff the chance to exact some revenge over the Eagles, who took all three points away with a 2-0 win when they last visited Silva’s team, just five weeks ago.    

 

Talking Points

Fulham fighting on two fronts

These are exciting times to be a Fulham fan. Once this tie is over the Cottagers have another huge derby to look forward to when they meet title chasing Arsenal in a Premier League clash on Tuesday 1^st April; and they follow that up with games against Liverpool, Bournemouth and Chelsea before finishing off the month against doomed Southampton. These five games will be a huge test for Silva’s men who are well on target to beat last season’s 13^th placed finish and earn a return to European competition.

And then this great chance to win their first ever FA Cup is another huge priority; so Silva will need to use his squad to its full extent. The emergence of Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic as a strong central midfield partnership has left the manager with chance to assess his creative options. The return of flying wingback Ryan Sessesgnon has excited fans and he scored his first goal back at the Cottage against his old club Spurs, where he spent five injury ravaged campaigns. Record signing Emile Smith-Rowe has shown glimpses of his undoubted talent while the return to form of Rodrigo Muniz to challenge star striker Raul Jimenez is welcome.

The one note of concern this week is the news that fullback Antonee Robinson withdrew from the USA squad and, as the team’s most prolific assister, he is one of the first names on Fulham’s team-sheet.           

 

Mateta nearing Palace return

In other FA Cup 2025 news there could be a boost for the Eagles with reports that star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is close to a return following a four week absence and is in contention for a start against the Cottagers. The French star was in a nasty collision with Millwall keeper Liam Roberts in the last round and required 25 stitches to a facial injury around his ear. The Lions’ star has subsequently received a six match ban for the high challenge and, if Mateta can face Fulham he will play with a specially designed protective mask.

He has been working individually to return to fitness and now Mateta has joined the rest of the squad and he provides Glasner with another goal threat to add to Ismaila Sarr, who scored the winner over the Tractor Boys, and Eberechi Eze who scored his first goal for England in the Three Lions’ win over Latvia on Monday.              

 

History

Fulham were FA Cup runners up back in 1975, losing the final 2-0 to West Ham United. The Cottagers had some stellar talent in their squad that day including ex England captains Alan Mullery and Bobby Moore, while the Hammers were the last all English team to lift the famous trophy.

Meanwhile the Eagles have been runners up twice, in 1990 and 2016 and losing both finals to Manchester United, who certainly won’t be in this year’s final having been dumped out of the competition by Fulham.  

Both teams are in good nick, the Cottagers with three wins from the last five in the league, while Palace have won four.

 

Betting Tip

With Palace at 3.04 and the Draw at 3.13 this is a tight game to call; but the Cottagers have the edge at 2.21, which makes sense given their home advantage and the added incentive of repaying the Eagles for their recent defeat. 

For a correct score line, 2-1 to Fulham at 8.87 would be my long shot alternative bet.   

   

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