Fulham vs Crystal Palace FA Cup Preview

• Palace to win
• Under 2.5 goals

The FA Cup quarter-finals are upon us, and with Wembley now just 90 minutes away, Fulham and Crystal Palace will battle it out for a coveted semi-final spot.

For Fulham, this is a rare opportunity—they haven’t reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup since 2001/02, but their recent Carabao Cup semi-final appearance last season shows they’re capable of deep cup runs.

Marco Silva’s side enter this fixture with six wins from their last eight matches (L2), but one of those defeats was a damaging 2-0 loss to Palace at home—a result that highlights a long-standing home hoodoo against their South London visitors.

Palace, on the other hand, have history and form on their side, having reached the FA Cup semi-finals twice since Fulham last did.

They arrive in imperious away form, winning their last five competitive away games without conceding, and are now aiming for a third semi-final appearance in the last ten editions of the competition.

Can Fulham finally end their two-decade-long wait for an FA Cup semi-final, or will Palace’s defensive solidity and cup pedigree prove too much once again? Here’s a full preview of this all-London showdown.

Fulham’s Best Chance in Years

This tie represents one of Fulham’s best opportunities in recent memory to return to Wembley. After knocking out Manchester United at Old Trafford in the previous round, confidence is high.

Their attacking threat has been consistent, and they’ve now won six of their last eight matches across all competitions.

However, that 2-0 defeat to Palace at Craven Cottage looms large—it extended a long-standing winless home run against the Eagles, with Fulham last beating Palace at home in January 2005 (D3, L3) since then.

If Fulham are to finally break that trend, they’ll need another inspired cup performance, and perhaps most importantly, they must take their chances when they come.

Crystal Palace’s Away Form

Palace’s path to this stage of the FA Cup has been relatively straightforward, with wins over lower-league opposition in rounds three, four and five, but their away form suggests they’re more than capable of stepping up in this quarter-final.

The Eagles have now won five consecutive away matches without conceding, including that 2-0 victory over Fulham, and haven’t conceded a goal on the road since mid-December at Arsenal—a staggering 549 minutes unbreached.

This clash will undoubtedly be a step up in quality compared to their previous FA Cup ties, but Palace’s defensive resolve and counter-attacking threat under Oliver Glasner could once again prove decisive.

Head-to-Head Record: Palace’s Edge at the Cottage

• Last meeting at Craven Cottage: Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace (Premier League, recent)
• Fulham’s home record vs Palace since 2005: D3, L3
• Palace’s current away run: Won last five competitive away games without conceding
• Fulham’s recent form: W6, L2 in last eight matches

While Fulham have been in good overall form, their struggles against Palace at home remain a concern.

Key Players to Watch

Rodrigo Muniz (Fulham)

Muniz has been Fulham’s standout forward in this season’s FA Cup, scoring three goals in the competition. Notably, ten of his last 12 goals for the club have come after half-time, but two of the exceptions came in this cup, showing his willingness to make an early impact in knockout football.

Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)

Fresh off his first England goal during the international break, Eze enters this match in great spirits.

His last four club goals have come in cup competitions, and three of those were opening goals, with the last two coming inside ten minutes—making him a potential early difference-maker.

Prediction: Can Fulham End Their Palace Hoodoo?

This promises to be a tight, tactical encounter, with both sides eyeing a rare trip to Wembley. Fulham’s attacking quality and recent form suggest they could edge it, but Palace’s incredible away record, recent dominance at Craven Cottage, and cup pedigree give them a slight advantage.

Expect a tense battle, likely decided by fine margins, and possibly late in the game. Palace’s away momentum and defensive organisation could just see them sneak through.

Predicted Score: Fulham 0-1 Crystal Palace

Palace’s historic run without conceding on the road continues, and they march on to another FA Cup semi-final, leaving Fulham’s wait for Wembley heartbreakingly intact.