2019/20 FA Cup Fixtures, Dates and Times
Along with the 2019/20 Premier League season resuming over the coming weeks, there are also plans to complete the FA Cup, with the competition reaching the quarter final stage before the COVID-19 pandemic forced a UK lockdown which has only just started to ease.
There are eight teams remaining in the FA Cup and they’re all Premier League clubs which at least makes things easier from a logistical perspective, with the quarter final matches proposed to now go ahead across the weekend of 27/28 June.
FA Cup 2019/20 Fixtures and Dates – 27/28 June
When Will the FA Cup Semi-Finals and Final Take Place?
It has been announced that the FA Cup semi-finals will take place across the weekend of the 18/19 July, while the Emirates FA Cup final is scheduled to occur on Saturday 1 August, with an empty Wembley Stadium set to be the venue for this annual showpiece event.
How Can I Bet on the 2019/20 FA Cup?
Several bookmakers are now offering customers the chance to bet on the FA Cup again, with the four quarter-final matches being priced up by several operators.
Chelsea are slight favourites to beat Leicester City even though the game is taking place at the King Power Stadium, although perhaps home advantage won’t count as much in an empty stadium.
Manchester City are huge favourites to overcome Newcastle United at St James’ Park, while Pep Guardiola’s side are also the market leaders when it comes to landing this piece of silverware just as they did last season.
Manchester United are also favourites to win their match when they travel to Carrow Road to take on Norwich City, with the Red Devils slightly odds-on to beat a Canaries team who won at Tottenham in the previous round.
Meanwhile, one wonders if Sheffield United should be outsiders when they meet with Arsenal in the other quarter final considering that the Blades have been more consistent in the Premier League this term.
Who are the 2019/20 FA Cup Favourites?
Manchester City completed the domestic treble last season and have already bagged the EFL Cup this time around, with Guardiola now looking for his team to land the FA Cup considering that the Premier League consecutive hat-trick dream has ended.
City are odds-on to win the FA Cup although there’s an element of doubt about this price considering that the lockdown might have had an impact on things, while there are several other strong clubs still involved.
Manchester United have shown they’re capable of beating City on their day and odds of 7/1 are available about the Red Devils lifting the FA Cup, while Arsenal and Chelsea are priced at 8/1.
What Day and Time is the 2020 FA Cup Final?
The FA Cup final is always a highlight of any football season and this season’s FA Cup final is scheduled to take place on Saturday 1 June. This is likely to be a 5pm kick-off based on last year’s final between Manchester City and Watford which saw the former win by a 6-0 scoreline.
Quarter Finals Tips – 16th – 17th March 2019
Every team who reaches the quarter finals of the FA Cup harbours real hopes of going on to lift the famous old trophy. That’s the case at both Watford and Crystal Palace even though it was a long way from the thoughts of either club at the start of the season. Those dreams of cup glory only got stronger when these two teams came out of the hat against one another and our odds comparison shows that the bookies believe this is a tie that could go either way.
Watford are the justifiable favourites at a best price of 6/4 but there is no chance of Crystal Palace exiting the competition without a fight. Roy Hodgson’s side are playing well at the moment (despite the derby day loss against Brighton last weekend) and have more than enough firepower to score at Vicarage Road. Therefore, a bet on Watford winning a game in which both teams score seems a sensible option at best betting odds of 4/1.
Swansea v Man City - Gabriel Jesus to Score and Man City to Win
Man City were at their ruthless best on Tuesday night when they absolutely battered Schalke in the Champions League. The Citizens already had one foot in the quarter finals but refused to relent when scoring seven goals. You can forgive Graham Potter and his players if that result gave them sleepless nights ahead of Man City’s third trip to South Wales of the season.
Potter has done a very good job with the Swans despite being cut off at the knee by a lack of support from the club’s board who have steadfastly refused to give him the sort of funding he needs to have any chance of mounting a promotion challenge. Swansea will put up a fight but even the best betting odds available on a Man City win are too short to consider.
A better option is the 20/21 that can be found on a combination of a Man City win and a Gabriel Jesus goal. The Brazilian will likely get a start at the Liberty Stadium and can make a claim for more minutes with a goal.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said that the 2-0 loss against Arsenal last weekend was the lowest moment of his time in charge at Man Utd to date. He should have little trouble getting his players to snap out of their upset at that result though given how well things have gone more generally since he took control of the club.
Man Utd’s run through to FA Cup quarter final has seen them secure big away wins at the Emirates and Stamford Bridge and they will need another top class performance to get past Wolves at Molineux. There is now no doubt that Wolves are the best newly promoted team in the history of the Premier League and right now the bookies make them favourites to finish seventh.
Wolves’ league performances are a source of real pride but there’s nothing like winning a trophy. They will give it their all on Saturday evening as will Man Utd which will hopefully provide an FA Cup classic which makes a bet on over 3.5 goals tempting at football betting odds of 11/4.
Millwall have an incredibly good record in the FA Cup ever since they made the final in 2004. Neil Harris played in that final and has subsequently had success with the Lions in the FA Cup as a manager. The 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon saw Harris guide Millwall to the quarter finals for the second time in three seasons but this is likely as far as they’ll get this time around.
Brighton are only narrow favourites for the match but the stars are aligning for the Seagulls. Their win over Crystal Palace last weekend eased their relegation fears and gave Chris Hughton the green light to throw his resources at the FA Cup. By the same token, Millwall are in terrible form in the Championship and avoiding relegation is their biggest concern. Brighton’s organisation should see them keep Millwall at bay for most of the match so a bet on the away side winning 2-0 is worth a shot with our odds comparison showing it’s available at big odds of 19/2.
2018/19 Fifth Round Tips
Frank Lampard got his hands on the FA Cup four times as a player with Chelsea and he’s enjoying his first crack at the famous tournament as a manager. His Derby side have already knocked out Premier League opposition in Southampton before coming through an ill-tempered tie with Accrington Stanley.
Derby have another top flight side in their crosshairs on Saturday. Brighton’s league form has fallen off a cliff and confidence has suffered. Chris Hughton has never had a problem prioritising the league if he feels it’s necessary so expect a rotated team which gives Derby a real chance of securing at least a replay. So, take the football betting odds of 11/10 available on the Derby/draw double chance.
Newport County have had some excellent FA Cup campaigns in the last few years. Last season they beat Leeds and took Tottenham to a replay and this time around they’ve beaten Leicester and Middlesbrough to set up a match against Man City at Rodney Parade.
Pep Guardiola’s men are the overwhelming favourites to win at generally available odds of 1/16 but there is value to be had about a Man City win. You can back the Premier League side to win and both teams to score at best betting odds of 17/10 which, given how tough Newport have made it for illustrious opponents in the recent pasts, is a very tempting bet.
Swansea were the model of how to run a football club for so many years as they made their way up through the leagues to the Premier League but nobody wants to copy the mess the South Wales club find themselves in now. A lack of investment has hamstrung Graham Potter who, despite it all, is managing to pull off some good results.
Brentford represent a tough proposition on Sunday afternoon though. The Bees have found their feet under Thomas Frank so will be hopeful of progressing further in the FA Cup. Whatever the result, it should pay to expect goals. Our odds comparison shows over 3.5 goals is available at nice odds of 23/10 which looks a price to snap up.
Talking about Chelsea’s capitulation against Man City, Jamie Carragher said that the Blues reminded him of Arsenal in the last couple of years of Arsene Wenger’s time in charge. There is a definite lack of leaders and fighting spirit in evidence with Chelsea. Some even believe that the players have given up on Maurizio Sarri which is troubling for the rest of the season.
It’s the complete opposite situation at Man Utd where the players have flourished since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took control. If he can secure a trophy he’ll be a certainty to get the United job in the long term. Solskjaer and Man Utd can take one more step towards FA Cup glory by winning on Monday night at best betting odds of 9/4.
FA Cup Third Round 18/19 Football Accumulator Betting Odds
Things are going badly enough at Reading without them having to face a daunting trip to Old Trafford. The Royals are in big relegation trouble in the Championship and could do without a match against a resurgent Man United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer knows he basically has a free hit in his short spell as Man United manager. He’s got the United players and fans to enjoy their football again and the football odds show they are the overwhelming favourites to progress to the fourth round. This should be a good afternoon for Man United who can score over 2.5 goals at 8/11.
West Ham are one of several unpredictable teams in the middle of the pack in the Premier League. The Irons do take a positive approach to their football thanks to Manuel Pellegrini but it doesn’t always work so some pundits have picked their home tie against Birmingham City as a potential upset.
It’s tough to predict what team Pellegrini will start let alone how West Ham will play but one thing is very clear, Birmingham will be right up for this one. The away section could have been sold out twice over so the Championship side will be especially keen to impress. Our odds comparison shows West Ham are the favourites but this could be tight so be sure to bet on both teams to score at 4/5.
There’s a lot of the Championship season still to play but it’s already clear that Derby are unlikely to win automatic promotion. The Rams are very much in the hunt for a playoff berth though and will love the chance to test themselves out against Premier League opposition on Saturday.
The football betting odds show that Derby’s meeting with Southampton is likely to be very close with both teams available at 17/10. Derby’s home advantage coupled with their desire to prove themselves makes the Rams look the best option at that price though.
Rafa Benitez continues to do everything in his power to guide Newcastle away from the threat of relegation. That doesn’t always result in the best football but he has no problems doing what it takes.
The FA Cup should provide both Benitez and the Newcastle fans with something of a relief from the stresses of the league campaign but the same is true for Blackburn who are going through a poor run of form. Newcastle are the favourites at best betting odds of 8/13 but a bet on over 2.5 goals could be a safer play at 8/11 with bet365.
Both Steve McClaren and Marcelo Bielsa have been focusing on improving their teams from a defensive standpoint in recent months. QPR and Leeds have made steps forward in that regard but they’ve both had to rely on their attacking players digging them out of a hole on more than one occasion.
The pressure may be off a little in the FA Cup compared to the Championship so the attacking players of QPR and Leeds may well come to the fore again. Leeds got the better of QPR when these two met at Elland Road earlier in the season and they should combine to provide another entertaining encounter at Loftus Road where over 2.5 goals is the best football betting option at 17/20.
Newport County have enjoyed themselves in the FA Cup in recent years. They came within minutes of knocking Tottenham out of the competition last season so will fancy their chances of taking a Premier League scalp when Leicester visit Rodney Parade on Sunday.
Claude Puel is likely to make a number of changes as he rests key players which could make the Foxes vulnerable. Leicester’s quality should prove too much but Newport can make a game of this which makes both teams to score well priced at 3/4.
The third round of the FA Cup is one of the best weekends of the English football season. This year’s round of fixtures has thrown up many exciting matches including the prospect of a few real ‘cupsets’.
The sheer number of fixtures taking place over the weekend also makes it a great time for those getting involved in the football betting. To make the most of the betting opportunity we’ve picked out six tempting bets and combined them to make one football betting accumulator which would pay out at very handy betting odds of 46/1.