Look, we could sit here and regale you with details on each of the 16 sides playing in the FA Cup this weekend, giving you numbers on goals scored and chances created. But that wouldn’t be fair to Aston Villa or Leicester. Plus, as we all know, the FA Cup isn’t about stats. It’s about magic. The magic of Bradford City coming from behind to haunt José Mourinho’s nightmares. The magic of Darren Bent making himself relevant again. The magic of possibility.
FA Cup 5th Round schedule and preview: How to watch, and why you should
Let’s all sit back, breathing in the magic of the cup.
Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
West Brom vs. West Ham
how to watch: Fox Soccer, Fox Soccer 2Go, Fox Deportes (USA); BT Sport 1 (UK)
watch it because: Even if the game does end in a 1-1 draw (could this be any more predictable?) West Ham needed nine spot-kicks to get past Everton in the third round, so there’s a potential for ... goalkeeper penalties! Again!
Blackburn vs. Stoke
how to watch: Fox Soccer 2, Fox Soccer 2Go, Fox Deportes (USA); Sportsnet World (Canada)
watch it because: you fear both rams and reading, but pottery and roving soothe you. Or your laptop’s broken so you can’t get a stream.
Derby vs. Reading
how to watch: Fox Soccer 2Go (USA); Sportsnet World Now (Canada)
watch it because: Darren Bent has five goals in four games for Derby as they chase promotion again. His parent club have but one goal in an infinite number of league games.
Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool
how to watch: Fox Soccer 2Go, Fox Deportes, Fox Soccer Plus (USA); Sportsnet World (Canada); BT Sport 1 (UK)
watch it because: Crystal Palace seem to bring out the best in Liverpool. Well, the best for neutral fans, anyway. Don’t worry, Reds supporters, your team is still the best, even if it’s difficult to scrape by lowly Bolton.
Aston Villa vs. Leicester
how to watch: Fox Soccer, Fox Soccer 2Go (USA); Sportsnet World (Canada); BBC 1 (UK)
watch it because: This matchup offers up the very best chance we have of seeing a team make it to the FA Cup final and be relegated in the same year. Twisted souls like that sort of thing.
Bradford vs. Sunderland
how to watch: Fox Soccer 2Go (USA)
watch it because: It might not be quite as funny to see Bradford heartlessly pick off Sunderland they way they did Chelsea, but only a truly tormented soul wouldn’t be cheering on the League One side here (so, Sunderland fans)
Arsenal vs. Middlesbrough
how to watch: Fox Soccer 2Go, Fox Deportes, Fox Sports 2 (USA); Sportsnet World (Canada); BT Sport 1 (UK)
watch it because: It’s what everyone will be talking about. Especially if Arsenal pull an Arsenal, zone out, and allow Middlesbrough the chance to have their dirty, dirty way with them, just like Manchester City did.*
*don’t worry; you’ll still get your hipster credit if you can prove you watched Derby vs. Reading the day before.
Preston vs. Manchester United
how to watch: Fox Soccer, Fox Soccer 2Go, Fox Deportes (USA); Sportsnet World (Canada); BBC 1 (UK)
watch it because: Remember the joy you felt when Bradford came back and beat Chelsea? Imagine the excitement, then, if another League 1 side manages to push out a big bad wolf. Sure, it’s probably not going to happen, but live the dream, man. Live the dream.
FA Cup schedule
results updated as available
Saturday, February 14
West Bromwich Albion vs. West Ham United | 12:45 p.m. BST, 7:45 a.m. ET
Blackburn Rovers vs. Stoke City | 3 p.m. BST, 10 a.m. ET
Derby County vs. Reading FC | 3 p.m. BST, 10 a.m. ET
Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool | 5:30 p.m. BST, 12:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, February 15
Aston Villa vs. Leicester City | 12:30 p.m. BST, 7:30 a.m. ET
Bradford City vs. Sunderland | 2:30 p.m. BST, 9:30 a.m. ET
Arsenal vs. Middlesbrough | 4 p.m. BST, 11 a.m. ET
Monday, February 16
Preston North End vs. Manchester United |7:45 p.m. BST, 2:45 p.m. ET
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