The FA Cup fifth round is a trademark date during the English footballing calendar. As one of the world's oldest cup competitions approaches its latter stages, underdogs meet heavyweights in a bid to move within just one game of Wembley.
The action starts tonight and continues tomorrow with Premier League Champions Manchester City travelling to Nigel Pearson's Bristol City this evening and Manchester United hosting West Ham on Wednesday night. The FA Cup continues to be held in high regard by many football purists but once again the last 16 ties have been handed a midweek slot.
To put it simply, the games are being played during midweek in an attempt to avoid fixture congestion for some of the country's top sides. The FIFA World Cup enforced break means there are more Premier League matches to be played than usual at this time of year. Several big-name managers, such as Pep Guardiola or Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp have previously gone on record to voice their frustration with scheduling.
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There is also the Champions League to factor in, with that competition currently at the halfway stage in the last 16, as well as the Europa League which continues next week. Midweek fifth round matches were initially introduced when there was a two-week winter break in 2020.
FA Cup fifth round fixtures:
Bristol City v Manchester City
Fulham v Leeds United
Leicester City v Blackburn Rovers
Stoke City v Brighton & Hove Albion
Sheffield United v Tottenham Hotspur
Southampton v Grimsby Town
Manchester United v West Ham United
Burnley v Fleetwood Town
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