The FA Cup semi-finals will be contested this weekend and it is all to play for in England’s main cup competition.
Manchester City are the favourites, with no other member of the so-called ‘Top 6’ reaching this stage.
Sunday sees the Citizens take on Nottingham Forest, while Crystal Palace and Aston Villa lock horns at Wembley on Saturday.
Below, we preview both semi-final fixtures, providing you with the best football betting odds from NetBet, as well as some online betting tips.
And if your selected bet on either semi-final (or both!) is coming in with time still left to play, our Cash Out feature allows you to collect winnings before the full-time whistle is blown.
Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa Preview
These two sides enjoyed a comfortable passage to the semis, each winning their quarter-final match 3-0.
Palace impressively beat Fulham at Craven Cottage, while Villa saw off Championship side Preston.
Both teams had to play midweek Premier League matches, with Villa losing 2-1 at City courtesy of a stoppage-time goal from Matheus Nunes and Palace drawing 2-2 at Arsenal thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s stunning equaliser.
Palace and Villa have already met three times this season – and it is the Eagles who have enjoyed more success with two triumphs, most recently a 4-1 win at Selhurst Park.
The reverse Premier League fixture finished 2-2, with Oliver Glasner’s side winning 2-1 at Villa Park in the Carabao Cup Round of 16.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City Preview
Two teams competing for Champions League football lock horns at Wembley.
Forest reached this stage of the FA Cup by beating Brighton on penalties, while City came from a goal down to defeat Bournemouth 2-1 at the Vitality.
And the Citizens will be feeling good after their aforementioned win over Villa, their fifth victory in six matches across all competitions.
But Forest should be full of confidence too after beating Tottenham 2-1 on the Monday Night Football.
City won the first Premier League meeting between the pair 3-0 at the Etihad, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s men getting payback in March courtesy of a 1-0 victory at the City Ground.
FA Cup Semi-Finals Odds
*All odds are subject to change
In the first semi, Villa are the favourites at 2.15. Palace are priced at 3.32, while the draw is 3.35.
Sunday’s match sees City as the dominant force, priced at 1.72 to claim the win in 90 minutes. Forest are at odds of 4.50 and the draw is 3.84.
Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa Betting Tips
Player to score or assist – Morgan Rogers @ 2.25
When it comes to attacking output, Rogers has been among the best in the Premier League. With 14 goals and 13 assists across all competitions, the Englishman is a force to be reckoned with and his goal at the Parc des Princes vs PSG highlighted his ability to deliver in big games.
Both teams to receive 2 or more cards – Yes @ 2.00
In the heat of an FA Cup battle, tempers can flare. There will be 50/50s fought all over the park in search of silverware, so expect the referee to be kept fairly busy throughout the contest.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City Betting Tips
Player to score or assist – Nico O’Reilly @ 3.25
Despite operating primarily as a left-back, O’Reilly has been one of City’s chief attacking threats of late, with two Premier League goals to his name. And in this competition, he has really excelled. In four FA Cup outings, O’Reilly has registered three goals and two assists, hence why we are tipping him to deliver under the bright lights of Wembley.
Manchester City winning margin – 1 goal @ 3.40
Forest’s defence is one of Europe’s meanest, City are still missing Erling Haaland and FA Cup semis can often be tight, tense affairs. So if you want to get better odds on a win for Pep Guardiola’s men, this could be a good avenue to go down. Forest’s last four matches have all been decided by just one goal.
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