Fulham vs Crystal Palace

FA Cup Quarter-Final Preview: Fulham vs. Crystal Palace

This Saturday afternoon, London rivals Fulham and Crystal Palace will battle for a spot in the FA Cup semi-finals when they meet at Craven Cottage. With just 10 miles separating the two clubs, this clash promises high stakes and fierce competition.

Fulham booked their place in the quarter-finals after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Manchester United, while Palace cruised past Millwall—though their win was marred by a serious injury to Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Fulham’s Road to the Quarter-Finals

Fulham’s journey has been defined by resilience. After a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, they held their nerve in the shootout, with Bernd Leno making crucial saves against Victor Lindelöf and Joshua Zirkzee. Four flawless penalties later, the Cottagers sent United crashing out, proving their status as dark horses in this competition.

However, history isn’t on their side—Fulham have lost their last four FA Cup quarter-finals since reaching the semis in 2002. But with momentum from a 2-0 win over Tottenham before the international break—thanks to goals from Rodrigo Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon—Silva’s men will be eager to rewrite the script.

Despite keeping three consecutive clean sheets on their previous trips, Forest's defensive prospects are particularly bleak as they have now given up multiple goals in each of their past five away games across all competitions after giving up two goals against Ipswich.

Prior to February's resounding seven-goal victory, Santo's rearguard was also exposed in a feisty 2-2 draw with Brighton earlier in the season; the previous time Forest scored ten goals against a single team in a season was against Doncaster Rovers back in 1998.

One concerning trend? Fulham haven’t won back-to-back home games all season. Will they break that streak when it matters most?

Crystal Palace’s Resurgence Under Glasner

Palace, meanwhile, have been strong at Selhurst Park, securing three straight home wins before the break. Their 3-1 victory over Millwall in the last round was overshadowed by Mateta’s horrific injury—a challenge Palace chairman Steve Parish called the "most reckless" he’s seen in 59 years.

Yet, the Eagles regrouped and dominated, showcasing their mental strength. Now, with a semi-final place within reach, Oliver Glasner’s side will look to capitalize on Fulham’s inconsistencies.

What to Expect

This London derby is set to be a tight, hard-fought affair. Fulham will rely on their penalty shootout confidence, while Palace will aim to exploit any defensive frailties. With both teams hungry for silverware, who will seize their moment under the Wembley arch?