Brighton take on the visitors Nottingham in the quarterfinal match of English FA Cup. The match will be played on Saturday, March 29th at Amex Stadium (Brighton).
Brighton earned their first-ever spot in European competition two seasons ago. However, after topping their Europa League group, they were eliminated immediately in their first knockout-round tie. Their Premier League form also dipped, largely due to Roberto De Zerbi’s clear reluctance to continue working at the club. The Italian was replaced in the summer by Fabian Hürzeler, with Brighton investing over £100 million to strengthen the squad under their young German coach. After a promising start to his tenure, results took a downturn, and the team endured an eight-match winless streak during the winter. However, they recovered well, and by the March international break, a series of victories and a hard-fought draw against Manchester City had lifted them to seventh place. Meanwhile, in the FA Cup, they eliminated Norwich, Chelsea, and Newcastle to keep their silverware hopes alive. Their recent defensive improvements have been crucial, conceding just three goals in their last five outings.
| 2 x £10 Free Bet | Review | |||
| 100$-500$ for No Lose Free Bets | Review | |||
| 100% up to £200 | Review | |||
| Not available | Review |
Nottingham Forest is the biggest surprise in English football, but their priorities lie elsewhere. The Tricky Trees secured Premier League promotion not long ago, and Steve Cooper not only guided them back to the top flight but also kept them there. However, midway through last season, he was replaced by Nuno Espírito Santo. The more experienced manager helped Forest avoid relegation despite being docked points for breaching financial fair play rules. More importantly, Chris Wood and company are making history—they have rarely been this strong in the modern era. They continue to pick up big wins, including a recent triumph over Manchester City, which has helped them consolidate third place in the current league table. Simultaneously, they have advanced through three rounds of the FA Cup, although only their victory over Luton came in regular time—matches against Exeter and Ipswich ended in draws before goalkeeper Matz Sels became the penalty shootout hero. However, with their primary focus on securing European football, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them rotate heavily in this cup fixture.
Brighton won both encounters last season. This campaign, they drew the first match, but Nottingham Forest shocked everyone with a 7-0 home win in their latest meeting. With Forest unlikely to prioritize the FA Cup, Brighton have a great chance to bounce back from their recent Premier League struggles—back the Seagulls to win at home.
Prediction for the match: Brighton to win.
