FA Cup draw: Chelsea, Man City, Southampton and Leeds discover semi-final opponents

Premier League big hitters Manchester City and Chelsea managed to avoid each other in the FA Cup semi-finals.

City were drawn against Arsenal’s conquerors Southampton, while Chelsea will come up against Leeds United.

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Getty

Chelsea vs Leeds could become a particularly feisty affair given it’s a rematch of the 1970 final, which is better known for the tackles flying in rather than the quality of football.

Ties will be played on Saturday April 25 and Sunday April 26 at Wembley Stadium. It will be decided later which ones will take place on what day.

The final of the FA Cup is on Saturday May 16 at Wembley with kick-off expected to be at 4:30pm.

The FA Cup weekend started with City giving eight-time winners of the competition Liverpool a 4-0 hiding.

Erling Haaland‘s hat-trick and a deft finish by Antoine Semenyo secured the convincing win for last season’s beaten FA Cup finalists.

The shock of the round came on Saturday night with Premier League leaders Arsenal being dumped out of the cup by Championship side Southampton.

Ross Stewart put Saints in front before Shea Charles scored a late winner after Viktor Gyokeres equalised for the Gunners.

And Leeds were the final team to book their place in the last four with the most entertaining tie of the round.

Daniel Farke’s men looked set for a comfortable win thanks to goals by Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin but two goals in stoppage-time saw it go to extra time and then penalties.

Despite Joel Piroe having his effort saved in the first spot-kick of the shootout, Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri was the hero as he denied Jarrod Bowen and Pablo to give Leeds their first FA Cup semi-final in 39 years.

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Man City, Chelsea, Leeds and Southampton FA Cup history

Pep Guardiola’s side will be considered as heavy favourites to lift the trophy having already tasted glory at Wembley this season by beating Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final.

City have won the FA Cup on seven occasions, two under Guardiola’s guidance, although they surprisingly lost to Crystal Palace in the final last May.

Chelsea have won it eight times, although the last time they won it came in the 2017/18 season.

Southampton are still competing in what is the 50th anniversary of their sole FA Cup triumph which saw them claim a famous 1-0 victory over Manchester United.

With Leeds, you have to go even further back with the 1971/72 season the last time they got their hands on the FA Cup. Indeed, they last made the semis in the 1986/87 season.