Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa LIVE
Crystal Palace are through to the FA Cup final are beating Aston Villa at Wembley. Speaking ahead of the game, Eagles boss Oliver Glasner challenged his key men to step up and deliver at Wembley to secure a place in next month’s final, and he got his wish as two sensational finishes from Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr means Crystal Palace will be back at the national stadium on May 17, 2025 to contest the FA Cup final.
Palace took the lead through Eze’s stunning strike in the first half. They then suffered agony when Jean-Philippe Mateta struck wide of the post with a penalty, but Sarr was on hand to fire home their crucial second goal five minutes later.Palace then scored again in stoppage time, with Sarr grabbing his second, to make absolutely sure of a resounding victory and their place in the final.
Follow the game back below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert analysis from Dom Smith!
Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa latest news
- GOAL! Sarr adds another
- GOAL! Sarr increases Palace's lead
- PENALTY MISSED: Mateta puts his effort wide
- GOAL! Eze breaks the deadlock
- DISALLOWED GOAL! Mateta denied opener
Match report
19:36 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneCrystal Palace are through to the FA Cup final are beating Aston Villa at Wembley.
Speaking ahead of the game, Eagles boss Oliver Glasner challenged his key men to step up and deliver at Wembley to secure a place in next month’s final.
Glasner got his wish as two sensational finishes from Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr means Crystal Palace will be back at the national stadium on May 17, 2025 to contest the FA Cup final against either Nottingham Forest or Manchester City.
Crystal Palace player ratings
19:31 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIsmaila Sarr 8
He cost, let me remind you, just £12.7million last summer. What a signing. Sensational on the counter-attack at Wembley, scoring a bullet from distance to make sure Palace reached the final.
Eberechi Eze 8
Produced his finest moment in five years as a Palace player when he struck gold in the first half with his magnificent effort from distance. Then just had fun for the rest of the afternoon as Palace’s creative lynchpin.
Jean-Philippe Mateta 6
He ran the line superbly, showing skill to beat Matty Cash, and bringing the ball forward bravely. But had to lose a mark or two for his penalty miss, a slightly more serious offence than having a spot-kick saved by the goalkeeper. Regouped straight away, though, and got back to it... and it didn’t matter anyway, in the end.
Click here for our Crystal Palace player ratings in full!
FULL-TIME
19:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneCrystal Palace 3-0 Aston Villa
Palace are FA Cup finalists!
Dom Smith at Wembley
19:09 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIt's one of Palace's most famous days, perhaps their greatest. Sarr makes it three. Wow.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 3-0 Aston Villa | Ismaila Sarr '90
19:08 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+4 min: GOALLLLLLLLLLL
Villa get caught on the ball, Nketiah feeds Sarr and he keeps his cool to slot the ball past Martinez.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
19:06 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+3 min: Frustration beginning to build for Villa with time ebbing away.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
19:04 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90 min: SEVEN added minutes.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
19:03 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne89 min: Malen tries to make space for a shot but he is crowded out in the area.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
19:02 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne88 min: Wharton has also made way for Lerma.
A sign of intent from Glasner to shut up shop.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
19:01 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne87 min: Another Palace change as goalscorer Eze is replaced by Hughes.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
19:00 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne85 min: Cash finds himself in a decent position but slices an effort wide.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
18:58 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne84 min: No risks taken with Mitchell as he is replaced by Chilwell.
Henderson then punches a corner away whilst Kamada is booked for a foul on Tielemans.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
18:56 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne82 min: Brief pause in play as Mitchell requires treatment.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
18:55 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne81 min: Martinez has to make an adjustment to keep out Nketiah’s effort that took a deflection.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
18:54 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne80 min: CLOSE!
Sarr should make it three from Kamada’s cross but he heads the ball wide.
At the other end, Mitchell with a crucial clearance to take the ball off Watkins’ feet.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
18:52 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne78 min: Henderson makes a sharp save to deny Bailey. The Villa winger is certainly carrying the fight.
Changes for both sides.
Mateta makes way for Nketiah and gets a standing ovation from the Palace fans.
Malen replaces Rogers in Villa’s last throw of the dice.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
18:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne77 min: Eddie Nketiah is being readied to come on for Palace.
Dom Smith at Wembley
18:49 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneNo sign of any Palace subs yet, and that shows how well the 11 on the pitch have done. Glasner will be delighted. A huge final 15 minutes in store.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
18:49 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne74 min: Outstanding defensive work from Mateta as he tracks all the way back into his own penalty area to deny Barkley a shot.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
18:47 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne73 min: Bailey has made a difference since coming on for Villa. He wins and takes a corner which goes through a lot of bodies before Wharton is able to clear.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
18:45 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne71 min: Mateta playing the role of hype man as he gets the Palace supporters to make some noise.
And they respond by increasing the sound levels.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
18:43 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne69 min: Two more Villa changes as Barkley and Ramsey replace Kamara and Asensio.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
18:40 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne65 min: WHAT A BLOCK
I’m not sure who made the final block but at least four Palace players put their body on the line to stop Bailey’s effort from going in.
Turns out Pau Torres had the final touch as Palace get a goal-kick.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
18:38 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne64 min: Richards fouls Rogers and is booked.
Dom Smith at Wembley
18:37 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneI'm told the official number of Palace fans at Wembley today is 35,500 ticketed supporters. 82,301 is the overall attendance. Great effort by the Eagles' faithful.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
18:36 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne62 min: Tielemans shot sails over Henderson’s bar.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
18:33 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne59 min: Villa respond to that goal by making a double change.
Maatsen and Bailey on for Digne and McGinn.
Dom Smith at Wembley
18:33 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHow about that for a response to Mateta's penalty miss from Palace. Sarr, simply superb. The cheer was deafening.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa | Ismaila Sarr '58
18:32 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne58 min: GOALLLLLLLLLLLLL!
Ismaila Sarr doubles Crystal Palace’s lead with a brilliant strike.
Dom Smith at Wembley
18:28 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIt's a wild penalty from Mateta, who doesn't look like he can quite believe it. Martinez, ever the antagonist, celebrates on his knees as if he's saved it (which he hasn't).
Crystal Palace 1-0 Aston Villa
18:27 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne53 min: PENALTY MISSED
Jean-Philippe Mateta puts his penalty wide.
Dom Smith at Wembley
18:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneNow it gets interesting. A penalty is awarded to Palace as Eze gets the wrong side of Kamara, who has been booked.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Aston Villa
18:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne51 min: Penalty for Crystal Palace!
Kamara trips Eze in the box and Anthony Taylor points to the spot.
Dom Smith at Wembley
18:24 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThat would have been an outrageous goal from Digne. The volley is incredibly well saved by Henderson, who is in inspired form.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Aston Villa
18:23 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne48 min: SAVE!
Henderson tips McGinn’s effort over the bar. It is a save you would expect the Palace keeper to make as it was straight at him.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Aston Villa
18:21 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne47 min: Eze goes for goal right at the start of the second half, but he is off target this time.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Aston Villa
18:18 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBack underway at Wembley.
No changes for either side.
Bench reminders
18:16 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThis second half could be decided by which manager has the strongest bench.
Here is a reminder of who Oliver Glasner and Unai Emery can call upon
Palace subs: Turner, Ward, Clyne, Chilwell, Lerma, Hughes, Esse, Devenny, Nketiah.
Villa subs: Olsen, Mings, Maatsen, Garcia, Onana, Barkley, Bailey, Ramsey, Malen
First-half highlights
18:10 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneJust the one goal so far, but what a goal!
EBERE EZE. THAT IS INCREDIBLE.
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 26, 2025
An unbelievable goal from the @CPFC and @England magician 🤯#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/SD364TWvBF
Dom Smith at Wembley
18:04 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe only man faster down the tunnel than Oliver Glasner there was Unai Emery, who won't be happy with how this is unfolding for Villa.
Palace are owning the moment.
HALF-TIME
18:03 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneCrystal Palace 1-0 Aston Villa
A magnificent goal from Eberechi Eze is the difference between the two sides at the break.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Aston Villa
18:02 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne45 min: WHAT A MISS!
End-to-end stuff at Wembley as Lacroix makes a fine block to deny Villa at one end before Sarr picks out Mitchell at the other, but the left-back somehow fails to connect with the ball.
He had an open goal!
Crystal Palace 1-0 Aston Villa
17:59 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne43 min: Konsa causes problems for Palace once again but he can’t get on the end of a dangerous cross into the box.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Aston Villa
17:57 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne40 min: Kamada is in despair! He thinks he won the ball from Tielemans with a clean tackle, but Anthony Taylor thinks otherwise.
This game has exploded into life since Eze’s goal.
Dom Smith at Wembley
17:55 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSo important for Palace, now, that they either add to their lead or at lead ensure it's intact by half-time. Must ensure they have the advantage when they head to the dressing rooms. They've grown immensely in confidence since scoring.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Aston Villa
17:55 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne39 min: SAVE!
Henderson with a great stop to keep out Konsa’s header. Palace living dangerously here.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Aston Villa
17:54 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne38 min: Decent response from Villa to going a goal down but Mateta does superbly well to get Palace up the pitch, he tries to pick out Sarr but Digne the winger can’t direct his header at goal.
Dom Smith at Wembley
17:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHas Eberechi Eze just produced his finest moment in a Crystal Palace shirt? I think he might have. That flew past Martinez, and Palace are ahead.
Sarr did well to block and chase down, but then it was all about his pick-out to Eze, whose finish was explosive. What a noise from the Eagles' supporters.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Aston Villa
17:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne33 min: Clever corner routine from Villa almost catches Palace out. They manage to scramble it clear eventually and the ball is returned into the box where Pau heads wide.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-0 Aston Villa | Eberechi Eze '30
17:47 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne30 min: GOALLLLLLLLLLL!
Eberechi Eze fires Crystal Palace ahead with a wonderful finish. Great play from Sarr in the build up.
Dom Smith at Wembley
17:46 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThat's a very soft foul. I can see why Taylor has given it, but it's soft. Mateta aggrieved, and fairly so.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Aston Villa
17:45 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne28 min: GOAAA...NOOOO!
Mateta wheels away in celebration after sticking the ball in the net. However, Anthony Taylor had blown his whistle straight away, adjudging the Palace striker to have fouled Konsa.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Aston Villa
17:44 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne27 min: Konsa breathes a huge sigh of relief as he doesn’t deal with a cross and is fortunate that Digne was positioned well to clear the danger as Sarr was lurking.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Aston Villa
17:40 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne24 min: After brandishing two yellow cards in quick succession, Anthony Taylor has now decided to let the game flow. A couple of times he could have blown up for a foul.
Digne is afforded too much space and his cross into the box finds its way to Rogers at the back post but he slices an effort wide.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Aston Villa
17:36 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne20 min: From the resulting free-kick, Richards heads the ball behind for a corner. More defending for Palace to do and they do it well to earn themselves a goalkick.
Dom Smith at Wembley
17:35 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneMitchell shown a yellow card for pulling Rogers back down the right, but that feels a harsh booking in my opinion. A foul, definitely. Decent chance for Villa this now...
Crystal Palace 0-0 Aston Villa
17:35 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne18 min: Yellow card is out again, this time to Mitchell as he brings down Rogers following a great run from the Villa midfielder.
1-1 in yellow cards, but it’s goalless where it matters.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Aston Villa
17:34 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne17 min: Really good centre-forward play from Mateta, his run is halted by Kamara who is shown a yellow card.
Long time for the midfielder to watch his step.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Aston Villa
17:33 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne16 min: Lacroix gets touch tight ton Watkins and the Villa striker goes to ground. However, he does not get the free-kick he was looking for.
Seconds later, Eze tries to pick out Mateta with a ball over the top, but gets too much on the pass and Martinez claims it.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Aston Villa
17:29 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne12 min: Kamara runs onto Asensio’s pass and space opens up for a shot. He lets fly from distance but can’t keep his effort down.
First attempt of the game.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Aston Villa
17:27 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne11 min: Palace look to build an attack down the right but Sarr overhits a pass to Munoz and the ball drifts out of play.
Dom Smith at Wembley
17:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneExtremely flat start to this match, most of it spent with Aston Villa passing calmly between themselves at the back, so far. Palace easing into their big day out.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Aston Villa
17:24 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne7 min: It is definitely a deliberate ploy from Aston Villa to stay patient in their build up. Has Unai Emery spotted something after failing to beat Oliver Glasner in three meetings this season?
Crystal Palace 0-0 Aston Villa
17:21 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne5min: Palace seem content with letting Villa have the ball deep in their own half.
Brief pause in play for Dean Henderson to pop a few balloons.
Dom Smith at Wembley
17:18 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneA number of fans in the Palace end let off flares just before kick-off. The smoke is still a long way from clearing.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Aston Villa
17:18 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne1 min: First foray forward is from Aston Villa down the right but Palace defend the situation really well.
KICK-OFF!
17:16 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWe are underway in this FA Cup semi-final!
Here we go!
17:12 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTeams are out onto the pitch.
Kick-off just a few minutes away, as Crystal Palace and Aston Villa battle for a place in the FA Cup final.
Dom Smith at Wembley
17:10 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAlmighty noise being made by the Palace fans down to my right, and the red and blue flags are on display proudly.
The press box, where I am sat, is being targeted by balloons of the same colour. They're everywhere!
Not long now!
17:05 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLess than 10 minutes to go until kick-off at Wembley!
No Rashford
17:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAston Villa forward Marcus Rashford misses today’s FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace through injury, Unai Emery has confirmed.
Rashford had been ever-present for Villa in the competition since joining on loan from Manchester United during the January transfer window.
However, an unspecified injury issue means he will play no part at Wembley as Villa look to book a place in next month’s FA Cup final against either Nottingham Forest or Manchester City.
Glasner speaks
16:55 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneOliver Glasner has been speaking to the media ahead of kick-off.
"We are all very excited. A great game, great atmosphere and a fantastic stadium,” he said. “We're in a good shape, we feel well, so let's go.
"Aston Villa is doing so well in the league and Champions League. We know how they play and if we're very disciplined in our defending - we will get our chances."
Pitch inspection
16:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHere are shots of the Crystal Palace getting used to their surroundings...
Afternoon lads 👋#CPFC pic.twitter.com/hdMH1tn5QB
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) April 26, 2025
Rashford absence
16:45 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneUnai Emery has explained why Marcus Rashford is not in the Aston Villa squad this afternoon.
"He's injured,” the Villa boss told reporters.
Dom Smith at Wembley
16:40 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneDom Smith is at Wembley for us and he has delivered his reaction to the Crystal Palace team news!
🗣 "For Crystal Palace today, the interesting decision is in midfield."@MrDomSmith gives his thoughts on the Crystal Palace team news!
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) April 26, 2025
LIVE: https://t.co/zPFONeagjz#CRYAVL | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/9A4J8JVx8B
Aston Villa changes
16:35 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe big news for Aston Villa is there is no Marcus Rashford in the matchday squad at all.
Ollie Watkins gets the nod up front. He is one of three changes to the Villa side that started the 2-1 loss to Manchester City in midweek as Amadou Onana and Jacob Ramsey also make way for John McGinn and Marco Asensio.
Crystal Palace changes
16:30 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneOliver Glasner has made three changes from the Crystal Palace side that started at Arsenal last time out.
Chris Richards, Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta all return as Jefferson Lerma, Justin Devenny and Eddie Nketiah make way.
Ben Chilwell is back in the matchday squad after illness.
Aston Villa team in full
16:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Pau, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Asensio; Watkins
Subs: Olsen, Mings, Maatsen, Garcia, Onana, Barkley, Bailey, Ramsey, Malen
Crystal Palace team in full
16:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneCrystal Palace XI: Henderson; Lacroix, Guéhi, Richards; Muñoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Eze, Sarr, Mateta.
Substitutes: Turner, Ward, Clyne, Chilwell, Lerma, Hughes, Esse, Devenny, Nketiah.
CONFIRMED ASTON VILLA XI
16:15 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLining up for Villa...
Today's starting XI from Wembley 👊
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 26, 2025
UP THE VILLA 💪#CRYAVL || #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/BqQyUcivA5
CONFIRMED CRYSTAL PALACE XI:
16:15 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHere is the Crystal Palace team that Oliver Glasner has named for today's FA Cup semi-final...
Your Palace XI for the @EmiratesFACup semi-final ❤️💙#CPFC
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) April 26, 2025
Team news imminent
16:10 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTeam news coming up from Wembley shortly...
The walk
16:05 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHere is the walk from the dressing room to the pitch that the Crystal Palace will make this afternoon.
From the changing room to the pitch...#CPFC pic.twitter.com/aaVKN5GjIo
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) April 26, 2025
Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa stats
16:00 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne- Aston Villa have won none of their last four matches against Crystal Palace in all competitions (D1 L3), conceding 13 goals. Palace knocked them out of the League Cup earlier this season, with Spurs the only side to eliminate them from both the FA and League Cups in the same campaign in 1968-69.
- Crystal Palace have faced Aston Villa three times in the FA Cup and have been eliminated each time, losing 5-0 in the third round in 1912-13, 4-3 in the third round in 1961-62 and 3-1 in a fifth round replay in 2009-10.
- Aston Villa have reached the FA Cup semi-final for the first time since 2014-15, beating Liverpool 2-1 to reach the final. They’ve reached 11 FA Cup finals, with only seven teams featuring in more.
- This is Crystal Palace’s sixth FA Cup semi-final and they’ve alternated between going out at this stage (1976, 1995, 2022) and reaching the final (1990, 2016) in their previous five semi-finals.
Aston Villa route
15:55 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneOn the other hand, Aston Villa had to beat both West Ham and Tottenham in their first two ties in this season's competitions.
Things got easier for Unai Emery's side thereafter, beating Championship opposition in Cardiff and Preston in round five and the quarter-final respectively.
Results
Aston Villa 2-1 West Ham
Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham
Aston Villa 2-0 Cardiff
Preston 0-3 Aston Villa
Crystal Palace route
15:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIt has been a relative straightforward run to the FA Cup semi-final for Crystal Palace. They beat Stockport in round three, Doncaster in round four and Milwall in round five.
A much sterner test away at Fulham followed in the quarter-final with the Eagles running out 3-0 winners.
Results
Crystal Palace 1-0 Stockport
Doncaster 0-2 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace 3-1 Millwall
Fulham 0-3 Crystal Palace
Predicted Crystal Palace XI
15:45 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneChris Richards is available for selection again having served a one-match suspension for receiving two bookings in a goalless home draw with Bournemouth.
After such a strong result last time out, Oliver Glasner will not be tempted to tinker too much ahead of the biggest match of his Crystal Palace tenure so far, but he may be enticed by Jean-Philippe Mateta’s goal off the bench at the Emirates.
Predicted Crystal Palace XI (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Guehi, Lacroix, Richards; Munoz, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell; Eze, Sarr; Mateta
Glasner using Ancelotti mantra
15:40 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneOliver Glasner will seek to keep the butterflies at bay and harness the wisdom of Carlo Ancelotti to turn Crystal Palace’s “OK season into a great season”.
The Eagles meet Aston Villa at Wembley this afternoon as they contest only the sixth FA Cup semi-final in their 120-year history.
If they make it past Unai Emery’s Champions League quarter-finalists, they will be one game away from winning major silverware for the first time in their history.
Star attackers Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta both scored on Wednesday night as Palace twice came from behind to earn a creditable 2-2 draw away to Arsenal. Glasner hopes the duo, as well as the Eagles’ other key men, deliver at Wembley and secure a place in next month’s final.
Calm before the storm
15:35 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIn around about an hour's time, Wembley will be filled of Crystal Palace and Aston Villa supporters!
The calm before the storm 🏟️#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/kRCIBtBnAE
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 26, 2025
Villa objectives
15:30 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAston Villa came up short in their Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain last month, but Unai Emery insists his side can still have a successful season.
“When you start the season, you are trying to set some objectives for the end of the season through four competitions – Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup," he told reporters.
“We are still in two competitions – Premier League because it’s 38 matches and the FA Cup. We finished the Champions League. We’re focusing on each match in each competition, trying to get our best.
“To be in Europe is one clear objective we have. The first way to get Europe is through the Premier League, but getting the trophy in the FA Cup you can play in the Europa League. It’s the second objective we can have in the competition.
“Now, we can’t choose only one competition, we are choosing both competitions strongly because we have two ways for our objective.”
Oliver Glasner exuding calm as Crystal Palace chase FA Cup history
15:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIn the days leading up to the biggest match of his Crystal Palace managerial career and the club’s most important game since the 2016 FA Cup final, Oliver Glasner smiled rather mischievously and declared: “I’m calm.” And he meant it.
The same, he added, was not necessarily true of his players, though the volume of some of the laughs being shared in the changing room at Palace’s Copers Cope Road training ground suggested this is just another week.
It isn’t. Only the sixth FA Cup semi-final in the Eagles’ 120-year history awaits at Wembley on Saturday evening - a chance to reach their third FA Cup final and to avenge two previous visits, one of which had Alan Pardew cutting shapes and both of which had Palace beaten to the punch by Manchester United.
Read Dom Smith's FA Cup semi-final preview right here!
Today's settings
15:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe home of football is ready to host today’s FA Cup semi-final!
Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa latest match odds
15:15 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneCrystal Palace to qualify: 5/4
Aston Villa to qualify: 8/13
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa: Head to head (h2h) history and results
15:10 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneCrystal Palace wins: 16
Draws: 16
Aston Villa wins: 21
Score prediction
15:05 , Tashan Deniran-AlleynePalace do have something of a penchant for making deep runs in the FA Cup. But with Villa enjoying one of their better seasons in recent memory, one would imagine the pattern will continue.
So far this season, Villa have beaten PSG, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City, drawn with Liverpool, and just recently scored four at home to Newcastle. While it is true that they had shipped four when they last faced Crystal Palace, they will more than likley get their own back under the Wembley arch.
Aston Villa to win 2-1
Aston Villa team news
15:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneA question mark continues to hang over Ollie Watkins as he publicly campaigns for increased minutes.
Unai Emery has hinted the player has been managing a minor injury for some time which has limited his playing time and prevented him from gaining a foothold in the starting XI.
Crystal Palace team news
14:55 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneCrystal Palace have an almost entirely clean bill of health going into their FA Cup semi-final tie against Aston Villa.
Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure are both out for the season with respective ACL injuries but the Eagles otherwise have all their players available for today's trip to Wembley.
That includes wing-back Ben Chilwell, on loan from Chelsea, who missed Wednesday night’s 2-2 Premier League draw at Arsenal due to illness.
How to watch
14:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTV channel: The game will be broadcast on BBC One which is free to air for UK viewers. Coverage starts at 4.45pm BST ahead of an 5.15pm kick-off.
Live stream: BBC iPlayer will offer a live stream service.
LIVE coverage: Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog!
Welcome
14:45 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa!
It's FA Cup semi-final weekend with both teams dreaming of reaching the final and going on to lift silverware.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news right here ahead of kick-off, which comes at 5.15pm GMT from Wembley. Stick with us!
