Preston North End Faces Aston Villa in FA Cup Quarter-Final

Preston North End will face Aston Villa in the FA Cup quarter-finals, marking a significant opportunity for the Championship side to reach the semi-finals for the first time since the 1963-64 season. Preston, currently 14th in the Championship, hopes to upset the Premier League team, which sits 9th in the top-flight and has been performing well recently. Historically, Preston has struggled against top-flight teams, having lost 18 of their last 19 FA Cup games against such opponents, with their last victory being a notable exception. Aston Villa, on the other hand, has shown strong form, winning their last four matches and looking to secure their first FA Cup semi-final appearance in a decade. Both teams have a mixed record in previous FA Cup encounters, with each side having progressed from three of their six meetings in the tournament. The stakes are high for both clubs, particularly for Preston, as they seek to capitalize on their home advantage while Villa aims to continue their pursuit of silverware.