Macclesfield take on the visitors Brentford in the round 1/16-finals for English FA Cup. The match will be played on Monday, February 16th at Leasing.com Stadium (Macclesfield).
Macclesfield boast a 150-year history, but in 2020 the project had to be rebuilt from scratch. Step by step, they have been reclaiming lost ground: last season they won their very modest amateur division and earned promotion to the National League North. Even at that level, results have been encouraging, as they are not only fighting for survival but also pushing for another promotion, potentially through the playoffs. Despite this remaining the main priority, the underdogs have already managed to beat six opponents in the cup. Naturally, most of them were also low-profile teams, but in January they sensationally defeated Crystal Palace 2–1. Recent league form shows Macclesfield playing with confidence at home, where they regularly impose their tempo. Cup performances have further boosted belief, proving they can rise to the occasion against stronger opposition.
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Brentford are also delivering pleasant surprises. The Bees managed to climb out of the Championship and establish themselves at a higher level. Last spring they even finished 10th in the final Premier League table. Afterwards, key figures departed and expectations dropped sharply, with many predicting a difficult campaign. However, the team has remained competitive, winning at least as often as they lose and staying in the race for European places. This has been underlined by recent results, including a victory over Newcastle and a hard-earned 1–1 draw against Arsenal. In the cup, they were drawn against Sheffield Wednesday, who are currently struggling badly, so a calm and controlled win came as no surprise. Overall momentum suggests Brentford are handling the schedule well. Their away performances in particular indicate stability and maturity.
The clubs met in League Two between 2007 and 2009. Each side managed to win twice at home. The visitors are clearly stronger and are in good form. Even allowing for some rotation, they should secure a comfortable win, so the pick is an away victory with a -1.5 goals handicap.
Prediction for the match: Brentford to win with -1.5 handicap.
