Crystal Palace Vs Millwall

As they prepare to meet for the 100th time across all competitions, South London rivals Crystal Palace and Millwall are set to battle it out at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon, with a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals at stake.

Crystal Palace secured their spot in this stage of the tournament with a composed 2-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers, while their Championship visitors also progressed with an identical scoreline, triumphing over fellow second-tier contenders Leeds United.

Eager to seize the opportunity for FA Cup success, Palace manager Oliver Glasner has shown no hesitation in deploying strong line-ups against lower-league opposition. His faith has been rewarded with a pair of victories, both accompanied by clean sheets, en route to the last 16 of the competition.

Though their performances against Stockport County and Doncaster Rovers were not particularly dominant, the Eagles displayed professionalism in their approach, culminating in a routine 2-0 win over Doncaster on February 10. Goals from Daniel Munoz and Justin Devenny sealed their place in the fifth round.

This upcoming fixture will mark only Palace's second appearance at this stage in the past six seasons. However, history appears to favor the home side, as they have triumphed in each of their last three FA Cup fifth-round fixtures since their defeat to Liverpool a decade ago.

Having reached the semi-finals in the 2021-22 campaign, Palace have every reason to believe they can advance even further this time around. Their recent form has been formidable, highlighted by a commanding 4-1 victory over Champions League contenders Aston Villa. That win was their fourth in their last five matches and their eighth in their last 11 outings.

Moreover, the Eagles have demonstrated a strong track record against lower-league opposition in the FA Cup, suffering just one defeat in their last 10 such encounters. Their only setback came in the form of a surprising third-round loss to Derby County during the 2019-20 season.

Meanwhile, Millwall, known for their memorable run to the FA Cup final in 2004—where they were overpowered by a Manchester United team featuring a young Cristiano Ronaldo—have struggled to make deep runs in the competition in recent years. Since that 3-0 defeat to the Red Devils at the Millennium Stadium, the Lions have only progressed beyond the fifth round on three occasions.

Nevertheless, simply reaching this stage marks their best FA Cup run in four years. Now, they stand just 90 minutes away from a first quarter-final appearance since the 2018-19 season, which took place before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the footballing world.

Their journey to this point was aided by a Leeds United side that made several changes to its starting lineup in favor of prioritizing their Premier League promotion push. Capitalizing on this opportunity, Millwall's Femi Azeez netted a brace at Elland Road, securing their progression. However, the Lions' celebrations were short-lived, as just four days later, they suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle in the Championship.

Since that drubbing, Alex Neil’s squad has managed to stabilize their form, drawing 1-1 with both West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End before clinching a dramatic 1-0 victory over Derby County on February 22. The decisive moment arrived deep into stoppage time, with Josh Coburn finding the back of the net in the fifth additional minute.

Despite this recent resilience, history does not favor the visitors when it comes to FA Cup matches against Premier League opposition. Millwall have not claimed victory in such a fixture away from home in three decades, their last triumph coming in 1995 when they stunned Arsenal 2-0.

Further adding to Palace’s advantage, their most recent FA Cup encounter with Millwall—back in the third round of the 2021-22 edition—ended in a 2-1 victory for the Eagles, inspired by a standout performance from Michael Olise.

As the two fierce rivals prepare to lock horns once again, the stakes could not be higher. For Crystal Palace, the promise of FA Cup glory serves as a powerful motivator, while Millwall look to defy the odds and make history. With both sides hungry for victory, a fiercely contested South London derby awaits.