Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola will target FA Cup glory, knowing that it won't savage their season entirely. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
There was extra drama added to the race for the top four in the English Premiership, with Manchester City's Premier League game against Aston Villa having to be rearranged after both teams reached the FA Cup semi-finals at the weekend.
Both teams are in the running for a place in the Uefa Champions League next season. Defending champions Man City are in fifth place on 48 points from 29 games. Villa are three points and four places below them.
The clubs were due to meet in a league clash on Monday, April 28, at the Etihad. But the contest will need a new date after both reached the Cup semi-finals. City came from a goal down to win 2-1 at Bournemouth thanks to strikes from Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland was on target in the come-from-behind win over Bournemouth in the FA Cup semi-final.
Image: Darren Staples/AFP
Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford scored twice and Lucas Digne was also on target as Villa beat Preston North End 3-0 at Deepdale. It means Villa and City will be in last four action at Wembley that weekend. The pair could face each other in the FA Cup final in May.
It remains to be seen when City's league fixture against Villa could be rearranged for. Unlike their more illustrious rivals, Unai Emery's Villa side is still in the Champions League.
They play PSG in the quarter-finals next month and should they progress, they would face a two-legged semi-final in late April and early May. The only available options, in that scenario, would be the second or third week in May.
There is a lot of football to be played between now and then, but the tight nature of the race for Champions League football next season (fifth spot may also be good enough) means neither side can afford any slip-ups.
Nottingham Forest, another side in the race for Champions League football, will also see a fixture rearranged – against Brentford – after their FA Cup semi-final win over Brighton on penalties. Forest won't have a lot of time to recover before tonight's crunch league match against Manchester United.
Villa also face a daunting clash against Brighton tomorrow, when City face a less taxing clash against Leicester.
Seven-time winners City have reached seven successive FA Cup semi-finals and the last two finals, beating Manchester United in 2023 as part of their treble before losing to the same 'noisy neighbours' last season. Villa haven't won the FA Cup since 1957 while Forest last triumphed in 1897. Palace are yet to win the competition.