FA Cup quarter-finals draw: Bournemouth v Man City, Preston v Aston Villa

The FA Cup quarter-final draw has been revealed, with Bournemouth set to host Manchester City at home. This matchup is undoubtedly the highlight of the round, as Manchester City, the defending champions, are a formidable force, while Bournemouth will be playing at home, striving to achieve excellent results. The home advantage could prove crucial for Bournemouth as they look to upset the reigning champions.

Preston is the only Championship team remaining in the FA Cup and will host Aston Villa, managed by Unai Emery. Another match will be a London derby, with Fulham hosting Crystal Palace. Brighton will play at home against either Nottingham Forest or Ipswich Town, with those two teams set to play their fifth-round match on Monday. The opportunity to progress to the semi-finals will be a significant motivator for all teams involved.

It is worth noting that, aside from 2023 champions Manchester City, Ipswich Town is the most recent FA Cup winner among the remaining teams (1978). Fulham, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, and Brighton have never won the competition. This adds an extra layer of intrigue as some teams chase their first-ever FA Cup title.

Former Manchester City and Villa defender Micah Richards stated on BBC One: "The opportunity is so open now. It's a great opportunity for a team to go and win it. All the other big teams are out. Man City are obviously the strongest team left. This is what we want, opportunities for teams." The belief that any of the remaining teams could lift the trophy is growing.

The quarter-final matches will take place on the weekend of Saturday, March 29th. The full FA Cup quarter-final draw is as follows: Fulham vs Crystal Palace, Preston vs Aston Villa, Bournemouth vs Manchester City, Brighton vs Nottingham Forest or Ipswich Town. Fans are eagerly anticipating these exciting matchups and the drama they are sure to bring.