FA Cup Quarter-Finals: Preston North End Aims For Upset Against Aston Villa

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Preston North End and Aston Villa face off in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday, with a coveted spot at Wembley Stadium at stake. Preston stands out as the only lower-league team remaining in the competition, having avoided Premier League opponents until now. Despite a fluctuating season in the Championship, where they sit 14th, reaching the semi-finals could brighten their campaign.

Villa, positioned 24 places above Preston in the league hierarchy, are not favourites for the cup due to Manchester City's presence. However, they have shown their mettle in the Champions League and are vying for a top-four finish in the Premier League. With four consecutive wins leading up to this match, Villa is optimistic about reaching their first FA Cup semi-final in a decade.

The last encounter between Preston and Villa was a 1-1 draw at Deepdale in December 2018. Their recent meetings have often ended in draws, which both teams will aim to avoid this weekend to prevent extra time or penalties. Preston has only one win against Villa in their last 15 encounters across all competitions.

In previous FA Cup ties between these sides, both teams have progressed three times each from six meetings. The most recent was a 1-0 victory for Villa in January 1967. According to Opta's supercomputer, Villa has a 65.9% chance of winning within regular time on Sunday.

Preston's journey to this stage included victories over Charlton Athletic, Wycombe Wanderers, and Burnley. They are unbeaten at home in their last 15 matches across all competitions (W6 D9), conceding just nine goals during this run. Their home win over Burnley was particularly impressive as it ended Burnley's streak of nine clean sheets.

The Lilywhites have struggled against top-flight teams historically, losing 18 of their last 19 FA Cup games against such opponents. Their sole exception was a 4-1 victory over Derby County in the 2007-08 fourth round. This season's EFL Cup saw them eliminate Fulham via penalties before falling to Arsenal.

Villa's Away Challenges

Villa fans are excited with both an FA Cup run and a Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain on the horizon. The FA Cup is seen as their best chance for silverware since winning the EFL Cup in 1996. However, they haven't won this competition since 1957.

Despite strong performances at home against West Ham, Tottenham, and Cardiff City, Villa has struggled away from home in the FA Cup. They have won just one of their last eight away matches (D2 L5) and lost nine of their last 15 away games overall.

Key Players to Watch

Robbie Brady (Preston North End): Brady scored his first career FA Cup goal against former club Burnley on his 13th appearance in the competition. It was also his first goal for Preston since February 2024 against Blackburn Rovers.

Marco Asensio (Aston Villa): Asensio has been involved in nine goals (six goals, three assists) across his last seven starts in major cup competitions. He scored both goals for Villa against Cardiff City and has netted five 'big' chances since joining Villa.

This match presents an opportunity for either team to make significant progress towards Wembley glory. While Preston hopes to leverage their home advantage and break past trends against top-tier teams, Villa aims to overcome their away challenges and continue their pursuit of silverware.