17:20 Wednesday

Lyon vs Lille – Lille

Lyon and Lille are set to clash in the Coupe de France at Groupama Stadium as they vie for a spot in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

In their previous knockout matches, Les Gones narrowly defeated Bergerac Perigord 2-1, while the Mastiffs secured a 1-0 victory over Racing Colombes 92 to advance to the round of 16. 

Despite Lyon's well-documented struggles in Ligue 1, they come into this Coupe de France fixture following a hard-fought 1-0 win against Marseille, marking their third victory in five matches across all competitions in 2024. 

Pierre Sage's permanent appointment as manager appears to have stabilised the team, evident in their recent four-game winning streak without conceding between December and January. Sunday's win also lifted them out of the relegation zone, offering a glimmer of hope for the future. 

While Lyon have shown improvements under their new manager, Lille have performed better this season. Therefore, we predict a narrow victory for Lille, propelling them to the next round of the competition.

19:45 Wednesday

Nottingham Forest vs Bristol City - Nottingham Forest

In the FA Cup's quest for repeat lightning strikes, Nottingham Forest welcome Bristol City for their fourth-round rematch at the City Ground this evening. 

Nuno Espirito Santo's squad settled for a goalless draw against their Championship counterparts at Ashton Gate last time out, but both teams have a history of success in replay matches. 

Despite a total of 16 shots fired during the initial encounter between Nottingham Forest and Bristol City, neither goalkeeper conceded a goal, resulting in a fair draw upon reflection.

Arsenal's recent victory at the City Ground extended Nottingham Forest's streak of losses to five in their last seven home matches across all competitions. 

Nottingham Forest's attacking prowess may not be as potent as it was in the early stages of Santo's tenure, as evidenced by their lackluster performance at Ashton Gate. Additionally, a multitude of fresh selection concerns adds to their challenges. 

However, facing a Bristol City side that struggles on the road and narrowly lost to Leeds, Nottingham Forest could replicate their previous success against the Robins, setting the stage for a potential fifth-round showdown with Manchester United.

20:00 Wednesday

Aston Villa vs Chelsea – Aston Villa 

Balancing precariously on the brink of yet another potential crisis on the field, Chelsea aim to rectify recent Premier League disappointments as they face Aston Villa in the FA Cup's fourth-round replay. 

The two teams reconvene at Villa Park following a goalless draw in West Londo. Chelsea's struggles away from Stamford Bridge have been glaring, suffering defeat in six of their last seven matches on the road. 

You can read Scott Thornton's match prediction here.

Although Chelsea have previously triumphed at Villa Park in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 Premier League seasons, they have encountered difficulty in finding the net against Aston Villa in recent meetings, risking the possibility of failing to score against them in four consecutive matches for the first time. 

While we anticipate Chelsea to avoid a scoreless encounter against Aston Villa, they face the threat of Aston Villa's formidable attackers, led by Emery, which could result in their advancement to the fifth round and further intensify the pressure on the beleaguered Pochettino.