Weekend forecasts: Will Wrexham surpass Chelsea in the FA Cup?
Every Friday, I highlight the most thrilling or significant soccer matches that should not be overlooked during the weekend. From local derbies to crucial top-of-the-table encounters, relegation battles to elite players going head-to-head, or other intriguing tactical showdowns, there will be something for every fan to appreciate.
This week, we journey to England, France, Scotland, Italy, Wales, and Portugal for two monumental derbies, some cup excitement, and even a rematch from the UEFA Champions League playoff stage.
– The top teams in Europe currently: Barcelona, Bayern lead the way
– Evaluating new rule changes ahead of the World Cup: Is increased VAR beneficial?
– Champions League round of 16 forecasts: Real Madrid over Man City
Will Wrexham maintain their remarkable FA Cup journey?
Wrexham vs. Chelsea
English FA Cup, round of 16
Kickoff: Saturday, 12:45 p.m. ET / 5:45 p.m. GMT
Stream live on ESPN+ in the U.S.
Will the enchantment of the FA Cup return this weekend in Wales? A Championship team eliminating a Premier League club in the FA Cup is always exciting, and it would be even more thrilling if Wrexham manages to do so against Chelsea!
A win this weekend would add another chapter to the Welsh fairytale of how Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have revitalized this club. Following three consecutive promotions, from the National League (England’s fifth tier) to the Championship (second tier), they are on track for a potentially historic fourth promotion in four seasons. Currently, they sit sixth in the table, holding the final playoff spot with a four-point cushion over Southampton and 11 matches left to play.
Manager Phil Parkinson has a skilled roster at his disposal, featuring former Premier League players such as Kieffer Moore, Jay Rodriguez, and Issa Kaboré, along with several experienced Championship players. They are riding a wave of momentum, having lost only once in their last nine matches across all competitions, and they previously defeated Premier League side Nottingham Forest back in January. They certainly believe they can replicate that success this weekend, even against a team of Chelsea’s stature.
For Chelsea, this match poses a significant challenge in terms of timing, as it occurs just four days before Liam Rosenior’s squad faces Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie. Rosenior’s team is struggling in the league following a 2-1 loss to Arsenal last weekend and recent draws with Burnley (1-1) and Leeds (2-2). This match likely does not afford the luxury of rotation, as a defeat would be quite damaging.
Chelsea has already encountered difficulties in Wales this season — against Cardiff in the Carabao Cup quarterfinal — and although they managed to win that match, they return to the country this weekend for another challenging contest.
MY PREDICTION: Wrexham 1-2 Chelsea. I anticipate Chelsea will emerge victorious, but I recognize that Wrexham will present a formidable challenge for the Blues. The London side will need to demonstrate resilience and rely on Cole Palmer and João Pedro to perform, as they are currently pivotal players.
Milan derby still holds significant implications
AC Milan vs. Inter Milan
Italian Serie A, Matchday 28
Kickoff: Sunday, 2:45 p.m. ET / 6:45 p.m. GMT
Naturally, everyone would have preferred this match to take place amidst a genuine title race, with both Milan teams closely positioned in the standings, but unfortunately, that opportunity has passed: Inter is 10 points ahead at the top with 11 matches remaining. A loss at San Siro on Sunday against their local rivals, who are “hosting” the match in their own stadium, would not significantly alter the standings.
A poor result for Inter would still inject some intrigue into the remainder of the season, as they still have to contend with Atalanta, Roma, and Como, among others. However, the league leaders have been exceptionally strong lately, boasting eight consecutive league victories.
Nonetheless, Milan must make an effort. Their recent form has been inconsistent, with a last-minute win at Cremonese last weekend, a defeat against Parma, and a draw at Como prior to that. The team continues to rely on the brilliance of 40-year-old Luka Modric in midfield and on Christian Pulisic or Rafael Leão in attack, while collectively, they are certainly not as robust as Inter.
That said, the crushing disappointment of being eliminated twice by Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League knockout round playoffs has had a ripple effect on the Nerazzurri. They rectified matters last weekend by defeating Genoa with a stunning goal from Federico Dimarco — currently my pick for Serie A’s player of the season — and they drew at Como in midweek during the Coppa Italia semifinal first leg after a solid performance. However, star striker Lautaro Martínez remains sidelined due to injury, which is a significant setback, and Marcus Thuram and Pio Esposito will face considerable pressure.
MY PREDICTION: AC Milan 2-1 Inter Milan. Milan has not lost a derby in nearly two years (four wins and two draws from six encounters), and I do not believe they will suffer defeat again on Sunday. A draw seems more probable, but for the sake of the title race, I will predict a Milan victory with Pulisic scoring!
Major derby in France
Paris Saint-Germain vs. AS Monaco
French Ligue 1, Matchday 25
Kickoff: Friday, 2:45 p.m. ET / 7:45 p.m. GMT
Prepare for the fourth encounter of PSG vs. Monaco this season! After Monaco won the reverse fixture in Ligue 1 (1-0) back in November, and PSG triumphed in both legs of the Champions League playoffs (5-4 on aggregate), we have another showdown on Friday night at the Parc des Princes. The stakes are high; while not as critical as continuing the Champions League campaign, they are still significant.
PSG is four points clear at the top of the table with a superior goal difference (+10) compared to Lens, and they require a victory to extend their lead to seven points and increase pressure on their competitors. Monaco sits seventh, six points behind Marseille, who currently occupies the Champions League qualifying position for the next season.
A positive aspect for the Monegasques is their improved form. They were unfortunate to be eliminated from the Champions League by PSG, having performed admirably in both matches despite receiving a red card in each game. They have also secured three consecutive victories in Ligue 1, including an away win at Lens two weeks ago (3-2). USMNT striker Folarin Balogun is in excellent form, contributing significant goals and assists; and despite the team’s overall issues with discipline and red cards, there is considerable optimism for the remainder of the season and the possibility of a top-four finish.
PSG will be mindful of Chelsea, their opponent in the Champions League round-of-16 first leg next week, but they cannot afford to underestimate Monaco. Ousmane Dembélé will again be unavailable due to injury, although Luis Enrique cannot afford to rotate given the match’s importance. A strong PSG lineup is expected, likely featuring a front three of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola, and Désiré Doué.
MY PREDICTION: PSG 3-2 Monaco. I anticipate an open match, similar to the last two encounters we witnessed in the Champions League between these teams, and Monaco will employ a back five and exhibit considerable intensity in midfield. However, I expect PSG to secure the win.
One final opportunity for Mourinho & Co.
Benfica vs. FC Porto
Portuguese Primeira Liga, Matchday 25
Kickoff: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. GMT
This match is undoubtedly significant in Portugal and Europe, regardless of timing, but it may be the most critical clash between these two rivals in some time. Firstly, Porto leads the table, four points ahead of Sporting CP in second and seven ahead of Benfica in third. This is essentially the last opportunity for the hosts to re-enter the title race, and a home victory would make the remaining nine matchdays extremely tense.
Remarkably, Benfica remains the only team yet to suffer defeat in one of Europe’s top six leagues, but they have drawn too many matches. The reverse fixture ended in a 0-0 draw, where manager José Mourinho set his team up defensively, resulting in only one shot on target throughout the entire 90 minutes (Porto had two) and an xG of 0.12.
Porto won their latest encounter (in January’s cup match) in another closely contested game, and we can expect a similar scenario on Sunday. Francesco Farioli’s side arguably possesses the best defense in the world right now, having conceded just eight goals in 24 league matches, even after veteran defender Thiago Silva’s injury. Their top scorer, Samu, is also doubtful, along with center back Jan Bednarek, but striker Terem Moffi has integrated well since his arrival from Nice.
MY PREDICTION: Benfica 1-0 Porto. I believe the match will be tight again, and not particularly entertaining to watch, but Benfica will find a way to secure the victory. They must. Mourinho and his players understand this is their last chance.
Old Firm arrives at the Scottish Cup
Rangers vs. Celtic
Scottish Cup, quarterfinal
Kickoff: Sunday, 8 a.m. ET / 12 p.m. GMT
It is time for a fifth encounter this season between Scottish rivals, Rangers and Celtic … and the second meeting within a week. This fixture was included in last weekend’s preview, ahead of their eagerly awaited league match that ended 2-2, and they are set to clash again on Sunday, once more at Ibrox, in the cup.
Let’s recap their previous meetings in the 2025-26 season: a 0-0 draw in August at Ibrox; a 3-1 victory for Celtic in the League Cup final in November; a 3-1 win for Rangers at Celtic Park in the league in January; and last week’s 2-2 draw. We can expect plenty of drama again — just like last weekend, when Rangers led 2-0 at halftime and seemed to be in control until Celtic, following some inspired coaching by Martin O’Neill, managed to come back and equalize in the 91st minute.
The winner on Sunday will have a clear path toward winning the competition, as league leaders Hearts have already been eliminated. Reo Hatate made a significant impact coming off the bench last weekend for Celtic, but will he be in the starting lineup? Meanwhile, Youssef Chermiti, who netted both goals for Rangers last weekend, will again be the hosts’ primary threat.
MY PREDICTION: Rangers 2-1 Celtic. This time, Rangers will not let the match slip away. They will draw extra motivation from how they dropped points last week to secure their place in the semifinals.
English powerhouses clash once more
Newcastle United vs. Manchester City
English FA Cup, Round of 16
Kickoff: Saturday, 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. GMT
Stream live on ESPN+ in the U.S.
It is exciting to see two prominent teams face off in the cup, and two Premier League giants will compete on Saturday. Similar to some other matchups in this preview, we have witnessed this encounter multiple times this season, marking their fifth head-to-head. [Newcastle secured one win at home in the Premier League back in November; City has won three times, following two legs of the Carabao Cup semifinal and February’s home match in the league.]
However, to claim that Pep Guardiola & Co. have the Magpies’ number would be unwise, as Newcastle can achieve anything at home. They can be the most intense team in the country, boasting the best fan atmosphere and genuine talent throughout the squad, even in the absence of injured midfielder Bruno Guimarães. Their strategy must be to attack. Their challenge this season has been a lack of clinical finishing: regardless of who plays up front (Anthony Gordon, Yoane Wissa, Nick Woltemade) or on the wings (Harvey Barnes, Anthony Elanga, Gordon, or Jacob Murphy), they must convert their chances.
For City, the intense title race with Arsenal has drained a lot of energy, and dropping points midweek at home to Nottingham Forest could prompt them to refocus on other opportunities for silverware. Additionally, they must prepare for their upcoming match against Real Madrid in the Champions League next week. (Newcastle faces Barcelona at home, which is also a challenging fixture.)
Erling Haaland is not fully fit — neither is Nico O’Reilly, which poses a problem for Guardiola, but Antoine Semenyo (seven goals in 12 matches across all competitions) and Marc Guéhi have integrated seamlessly since their arrivals during the January transfer window. They have proven to be game-changers for City, and while Guardiola may consider rotation, the squad possesses enough depth to secure a fourth consecutive victory against Newcastle.
MY PREDICTION: Newcastle 0-2 Man City. Once again, I believe City will prove too strong for Newcastle. The absence of Bruno Guimarães will be felt by the home side, and I think they will ultimately fall short once more.
