FA Cup Quarter-Final Weekend Preview & Match Tips
Tony Scott 
Domestic football is back this weekend after the international break, and it's back with a bang with four FA Cup quarter-finals dominating the schedules.
The Premier League will have to wait for a few more days as attention turns to the oldest cup competition in the world of football, and with four intriguing games lined up we have some excellent football betting offers heading your way.
Last year's runners-up Manchester City are still considered as favourites to lift the trophy in May but given their form this season, it really is wide open with all eight teams in with a shout of upsetting the odds favoured by most betting sites.
Let's have a look at some tips to use with your free bets!
Fulham v Crystal Palace
- Will Hughes to be carded
Yes, I know it's the dreaded early kick off but this clash in the capital could be a profitable one.
Both clubs have still yet to get their hands on the FA Cup so Marco Silva and Oliver Glasner will see this as a fantastic opportunity to make history at their clubs.
The Eagles have been outstanding on the road of late losing just one away fixture since October 2024 coinciding with a 2-0 victory at Craven Cottage before the international break.
Fulham have not beaten Crystal Palace on their own patch for 20 years, a time when both Glasner and Silva had football boots on themselves.
A very difficult game to predict the outcome of so I'm sliding with Will Hughes to be carded.
No player has seen more yellow cards than Hughes this season with the midfielder fresh from serving a Premier League ban for accumulated bookings, the Englishman is cherry ripe for another at 7/2.
Brighton v Nottingham Forest
- Over 4.5 cards
The Seagulls host Forest for the first time ever in this great competition with both clubs seeing off Premier League opposition in the previous round.
High flying Forest sit bottom of the possession stats with 39% while opponents Brighton have 53% - You don't need a coaching license to see how this game is going to pan out.
Nuno Espirito Santo's men have been frightening on the counter attack this campaign but the meet the most in form team in the Premier League on their own patch.
Interestingly there is a bit of needle between these two clubs meet.
The previous five head to heads have produced 35 yellow cards (7 cards per game) with both Nuno Espirito Santo and Fabian Hurzler seeing red in a feisty encounter back in September.
Preston v Aston Villa
- Marco Asensio to score
The Lilywhites are hoping to progress to the semi final of the FA Cup for the first time since 1963/64 - a season when Liverpool won the top flight and Leeds United won the second division!
Ring any bells?
The odds are stacked against Preston with the Lilywhites not beating a Premier League club in the FA Cup since 2008.
Unai Emery's side are having a terrific season in the Premier League and Champions League but may see the FA Cup as their best route to success this term.
Marco Asensio has been on fire since his move to the Premier League scoring 7 goals in his last 5 matches.
The loan signing will be finding pockets of space at Deepdale with Preston's defence occupied via runs from Marcus Rashford and Ollie Watkins.
Bournemouth v Manchester City
- Over 3.5 goals
The reigning Premier League champions last chance of silverware hinges on a trip to the Vitality Stadium.
The Citizens will be looking to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the seventh consecutive season but host Bournemouth will have other ideas.
The Cherries are just four points off Pep Guardiola's side in the Premier League having already beaten Manchester City 2-1 back in November.
30 goals have been scored in the previous eight meetings (3.75 pg) and I see that trend continuing on Sunday afternoon.
More Football Tips
Even though there is no Premier League action this weekend, there is a full compliment of EFL fixtures which means there is plenty to look at ahead of a busy weekend of football.
FA Cup Outright Odds
