Bacon Boys FC and baldwin 3 arrive with almost identical cup statements behind them: Bacon scored 22, led by Joshua Tatnell with seven, while baldwin matched that total as Anthony Pettit struck eight.
The sharper edge may come from league context, where Bacon already beat baldwin 2 : 1, though baldwin pushed Diddillibah FC close in a 4 : 3 defeat. Diddillibah now face CIKAR again after winning their league meeting 3 : 1, but CIKAR’s 19-goal cup response showed danger, with Greg Heffernan scoring six and Derek Ezzy five.
Two all top-flight ties should quickly show which contenders are built for another deep run.
baobeiqiqi arrive with momentum after edging Yanbian FC 1:0, while lanxingxing answered with an 11-goal cup display of their own. The tie carries extra weight after last season’s final, when baobeiqiqi beat lanxingxing 3:1.
Their league meeting ended 1:1 recently, so this promises another tight test. Alen Hrovatic leads lanxingxing’s cup charge on 22 goals, while baobeiqiqi’s attack remains spread across several reliable scorers.
Cup Brings Another Chapter in Rangdajied–Pune Rivalry
Rangdajied UFC begin their Super Cup defence with the toughest possible test: a meeting with FC Pune City. The holders beat Pune 4-1 in last season’s semifinal before lifting the trophy, and they also struck back in the league last weekend with a 3-1 win.
Pune still lead the Super League on goal difference, but that defeat ended their perfect start and gives Rangdajied fresh belief. With both sides level on 33 points domestically, this cup opener already feels like a heavyweight statement match.
Bangkok Glass face the tournament's surprise package
Nakhon Pathom Hunter have emerged as one of the surprise stories of this year’s National Cup and now face their toughest challenge yet. The third-tier side followed a 5-0 win over Donmuang United with a commanding 9-0 victory in the previous round, led by Lindomar Escalona, who scored eight goals across the last two rounds to climb to 12 in the cup scoring charts.
Bangkok Glass Football Club arrive as clear favourites after back-to-back 13-0 victories. Their attack has been driven by Somsak Luanratana and Pongdetch Kanchanavornun, who added seven and two goals respectively in Round 4 to reach 13 and 10 cup goals. The top-flight side’s experience should count, but Nakhon Pathom Hunter have already shown they are capable of making this tie far more competitive than the division gap suggests.
The standout tie of the round brings together Keila JK and JK Fellin, two Meistriliiga sides whose recent league meeting ended in emphatic fashion. Just days ago, Fellin strengthened their position at the top with a commanding 5–1 victory over Keila, adding to their earlier 3–0 away win in the opening round.
Despite those setbacks, Keila have shown they can compete with the division’s strongest teams, collecting points against both Saaremaa JK and FC Õieke this season. Their cup form has also been impressive, with Valdemar Joosepson leading the competition scoring charts on 27 goals after adding 13 goals across the last two rounds.
Fellin arrive with equally devastating momentum. The league leaders have scored 18 goals in their last three cup matches, while Erki Peterson has contributed five goals during that run to reach 18 in the competition. Having reached the cup final last season and the semifinals the year before, Fellin will be eager to continue another deep run, but Keila now have an immediate chance for revenge.
The cup now moves into a sharper phase, with several top-flight sides facing each other and last season’s contenders again under pressure. Spars, the defending cup winners, meet FK Jurmala in a rematch of last season’s semifinal, when Spars edged through 1–0. Jurmala arrive with scoring form after a 20–0 win, powered by six-goal jumps from Olgerts Lietuvens and Manuel Lucas.
Preiļu BJSS and Admirals FC offer another balanced tie, after their league meeting ended goalless earlier this season. Lauki will also feel confident against Skonto Football Club, having beaten them 5–2 in the league and then knocked out Iļģuciema Zvejnieks 6–3 in the cup.
At the top end, A J Bramlett and FC Veltins remain the sides to avoid. Bramlett’s Janis Paveders scored nine last round, while Veltins continue their title defence chase with familiar efficiency.
RFS arrive unbeaten in the league and fresh from a 16-goal cup win, but Agrastai offer a sharper test. Their league meetings have both gone RFS’s way this season, including a 4–1 away win, while Agrastai have since lost ground in the title chase. With Carl Johan Berg already on 22 cup goals, the holders look dangerous again.
FC Hermannstadt delivered the statement of the cup so far, knocking out league leaders Ferencváros 4:2 and immediately turning their campaign into one to watch. Their reward is another demanding tie, this time against Moldavian Stars, who arrive after a 15:0 win and recently pushed Dacians White Wolves close in the league.
There is another heavyweight meeting as FC Sheriff Tiraspol face FC Păduricea. Sheriff have already beaten them 2:0 in league play and carry major scoring threats, with Vasile Turcan on eight cup goals and Dorian Chiriac on seven.
Romania’s cup race reaches a sharper stage, with only eight ties left and several lower-level sides carrying real momentum into meetings with top-flight opposition.
Podgoria Murfatlar, last season’s cup winners, remain one of the headline names after a controlled win over F.C. Arges 1953 Pitesti. Their next test comes against C.S. SPARTA, the dominant leader of Divizia C7, making this one of the round’s most intriguing clashes.
Abatorul Slobozia, beaten finalists last season, continue to look built for knockout football. Their narrow win over PiLos was less spectacular than earlier rounds, but more meaningful, and now they face FC Botosani, who have already survived pressure by eliminating Avrig United on penalties.
AFC Atletico Mangalia arrive after a clean 3–0 win over FC U. CRAIOVA, but fc juventus gp have quietly built a dangerous cup run, knocking out CS Alouette 1947 after earlier high-scoring displays.
There is also a strong Divizia B presence. FC Caracal have already removed Universitatea Cluj and now meet FC Univ. Craiova, while Fulgerul Sf.Ilie and Hipodrom II Sibiu offer a balanced second-level duel.
With FC 23 Mai Onesti visiting an impressive F.C. STEAUA 2012 PASCANI, this round has the feel of a genuine sorting point: reputations matter, but form and nerve may matter more.
Cup Ties Bring Serious Challenges for Premiership Sides
The English National Cup enters a fascinating stage this week, with a number of Premiership teams facing opponents who have already shown they can compete with the country's best.
The headline clash sees unbeaten league leaders Rougemont Rovers travel to face Championship promotion hopefuls Aston Villa F.C.. Rougemont have built their domestic success on defensive solidity, but Villa arrive in excellent form after scoring 57 goals in 12 league matches and cruising through the previous cup rounds. This is likely to be one of the most closely contested ties of the round.
Another standout encounter pits former cup winners Gravediggers against Championship (B) leaders The Tea Garden. Gravediggers lifted the trophy two seasons ago and reached the semi-finals last year, but they now face a side whose attack has been devastating. Cup top scorers Terence Richards and Bennett Timberlake have combined for 67 goals in the competition, making The Tea Garden one of the most dangerous remaining challengers.
Chester Ducks and Phantom Force FC renew acquaintances after sharing a 1-1 draw in league play earlier this season. Chester have enjoyed a strong recent spell, climbing away from danger in the Premiership, while Phantom continue to rely on their disciplined defence and the goals of Pawel Pisarski, who added three more in the previous round.
Heeley Harriers will look to repeat their league victory over Albion Allstars, while Merlin Magic XI face a formidable challenge against Championship (A) leaders carter city, whose unbeaten league campaign has made them one of the strongest sides outside the top flight.
With former cup winners, league leaders and promotion hopefuls all colliding, this round has the feel of an early quarter-final and could significantly reshape the race for silverware.
The Irish Cup has reached the stage where reputations matter, and this round features several ties that would not look out of place in the latter stages of the competition. Defending cup holders Hibernia face a stern examination against Knockea United, one of the Premier Division’s form sides. Their league meetings this season ended 1-1 and a 1-0 Knockea victory, suggesting another tight contest is likely.
Irish Villa Mob and Irish Knights renew acquaintances after meeting twice in league play already. Villa won the first encounter 5-1 before edging a much closer match 1-0 only days ago. The unbeaten league leaders will be favourites, but Irish Knights have been among the cup’s most prolific sides. Tomislav Hajdinaga has scored nine cup goals since Round 3, while Kyle Mahoney added ten over the last two rounds.
Another intriguing clash sees Red Forest take on Myaella Fc. Red Forest have already beaten Myaella twice in the league this season, 3-0 and 2-0, but cup football has a habit of ignoring previous results.
SportingHaroldsCross are the last Premier Division side facing Championship opposition. Their 3-0 victory over An Cumann Peile Bóihéamach in the previous round was impressive, yet RENFORD REJECTS arrive with dangerous firepower. Kristijan Bajrami and Wei Hong Yin combined for 25 goals in Round 4 alone and remain among the tournament’s leading scorers.
With several genuine contenders meeting head-to-head, the road to the trophy is about to become much clearer.
Przed nami osiem ciekawych spotkań w 1/8 finału Pucharu Polski.
Hitem tej rundy będzie starcie liderów – lidera Ekstraklasy KS Mosquito Zabrze z liderem II ligi gr. 2 – WUJEK TEAM™. Starzy znajomi z Ekstraklasy ponownie sprawdzą swoje siły. „Komary” od czterech ligowych spotkań nie potrafią zdobyć bramki, z kolei WUJEK TEAM™ znajduje się na przeciwnym biegunie – wygrał sześć ostatnich meczów ligowych z rzędu. Czy ekipa lidera Ekstraklasy przełamie się właśnie dzisiaj? Kamery będą skierowane na bramkarza „Komarów” – Józefa Podraskiego. W przerwie sezonowej golkiper zamienił WUJEK TEAM™ na KS Mosquito Zabrze.
Kolejnym bardzo ciekawym meczem będzie pojedynek ekstraklasowiczów. Panteras Gliwice CF zmierzy się ze Stalą Mielec. W ligowym starciu Stal Mielec okazała się lepsza na własnym stadionie. Czy Pantery wezmą rewanż w Pucharze Polski? Wszystkie oczy będą skierowane na Vidara Gjerdingena oraz napastników Stali Mielec. To może być bardzo zacięty pojedynek.
W innym interesującym spotkaniu obrońca tytułu – Bocian Zgorzała – zmierzy się z ekstraklasowym NaprzódPoGorzałę. Obie drużyny słabo radzą sobie w swoich ligach i Puchar Polski jest dla nich szansą na poprawę nastrojów. Bardzo trudno wskazać faworyta tego meczu.
Polish Cup – Round 7
Eight exciting fixtures await in the Round of 16 of the Polish Cup.
The headline clash of the round will feature a battle of league leaders – Ekstraklasa leaders KS Mosquito Zabrze against II Liga Group 2 leaders WUJEK TEAM™. Former Ekstraklasa rivals will once again test themselves against each other. The “Mosquitoes” have failed to score in their last four league matches, while WUJEK TEAM™ are enjoying the exact opposite form, having won six consecutive league games. Will the Ekstraklasa leaders finally rediscover their scoring touch tonight? All eyes will be on Józef Podraski, goalkeeper of the “Mosquitoes”. During the offseason, the shot-stopper made the move from WUJEK TEAM™ to KS Mosquito Zabrze.
Another fascinating matchup sees two Ekstraklasa sides go head-to-head as Panteras Gliwice CF face Stal Mielec. In their league encounter, Stal Mielec came out on top at home. Will the Panthers get their revenge in the Polish Cup? Attention will be focused on Vidar Gjerdingen and the attacking line of Stal Mielec. This could turn into a fiercely contested battle.
In another intriguing tie, defending champions Bocian Zgorzała will take on Ekstraklasa side NaprzódPoGorzałe. Both teams have struggled in their respective leagues, making the Polish Cup a welcome distraction and opportunity to regain confidence. It is extremely difficult to predict a favourite in this matchup.
Bingolspor FC and FC Drobeta meet again after Bingolspor’s 3-1 league win earlier this season, but Drobeta arrive with the competition’s sharpest scorer, Bellamy Leoix, already on 55 cup goals.
Huntly FC face Fife Funk FC in another tight-looking tie. Their league meeting ended 0-0, while Fife also knocked Huntly out in last season’s quarterfinals, so there is plenty of recent history around this one.
Macduff Lions travel to St Mirren after a 24-0 cup win last round, but St Mirren’s scoring form has also been strong, led by Dmitar Sain on 19.
Being the Cup King is no easy feat, especially when only 5 Süper Lig teams are left standing! Let's take a look at these magnificent Round 8 (Last 16) matchups, themed "The Revenge of the Lower Leagues," through football's pure, surprise-filled, and slightly "What are we doing here?" lens.
As we enter the Round of 16 in the cup, only 5 teams from the Süper Lig continue their journey. This is absolute proof of how open to surprises this competition truly is.
1. Sports Academy vs. Trabzonspor ★★☆☆☆
Match Summary: "Lesson: The Art of Toppling"
Süper Lig leaders Trabzonspor are going on an away trip to a "Sports Academy" which, judging by its name, probably focuses more on theoretical lectures. Trabzonspor arrives here wearing their leadership cape, but the opposing team intends to calm the Black Sea storm in the practical exam. Looking at the star rating, it might not promise a Champions League night in terms of quality, but if the academy professors write the right tactics, the Black Sea storm could find themselves stuck taking a "makeup exam" here.
2. Efsane.1925 vs. Nazillispor ★★★★★
Match Summary: "Time for a Showdown, Not a Zeybek Dance in the Aegean"
Things are going poorly and morale is low for Efsane.1925 in the Süper Lig, putting them in an absolute "The league is over, let's at least win the cup so the fans don't stone us" mode. But their opponent is no ordinary lower-league side; it's Nazillispor, the Aydın representative that has been destroying everything in its path to climb up from the 3rd League! It smells like a true Aegean derby. Nazillispor is coming to show the power of Aydın figs, saying "We don't care about legends or myths." In this 5-star match, if Efsane.1925 gets knocked out, they might have to shelf the "Legend" part of their name for a while.
3. KIZIL KÖRFEZ İSKENDERUN SPOR vs. GÖNENSPOR ★★★★★
Match Summary: "Fishing in the Gulf"
Gönenspor, currently second in the Süper Lig and one of the biggest favorites to win the cup, is heading down to the İskenderun gulf, the home of a highly determined 2nd League Red Group runner-up. While Gönenspor dreams of bringing the cup to their museum, the Kızıl Körfez team has already hung a "No Exit" sign. The away atmosphere is so hot that Gönenspor might arrive as favorites but end up drowning in the waters of the gulf. The viewing pleasure is 5 stars; because watching the struggles of favorites in lower-league away matches is always highly entertaining!
4. Çankırıspor vs. Balkesspor ★★★★★
Match Summary: "Çankırı Salt vs. Balıkesir Höşmerim Dessert"
Çankırıspor, sitting 4th in the 2nd League White Group, hosts Balkesspor, one of the heavy hitters of the cup, at their home turf. Balkesspor arrives here with the favorite tag, but breaking through Çankırı's salty defense won't be that easy. Çankırıspor is taking the pitch to ruin Balkesspor's taste and turn their sweet dreams into dust. Another 5-star match; bones will rattle, and the cup fire will burn Çankırı!
5. FENERBAHÇE SKOR KULÜBÜ vs. hacettepeliaslanlar ★★★★★
Match Summary: "A Giant 66-Thousand-Capacity Trap"
One of the most absurd matchups on our list. The 3rd League representative, Fenerbahçe Skor Kulübü, has somehow managed to build a 66,500-capacity stadium (there are probably more seats than fans). Meanwhile, the "Lions" coming from the upper league will try not to get hunted in this massive arena. A 3rd League team having a 66-thousand-capacity stadium is already a subject for a federation investigation on its own, but this is the cup; if they manage to fill that stadium, hacettepeliaslanlar might lose their bearings from all the noise.
6. Publius Cornelius Scipio African vs. KOCAELİSPOR ★★★★★
Match Summary: "Roman General Against the Gulf Monster"
Publius Cornelius, struggling to survive in the Süper Lig, possesses a name as majestic as a Roman general, but their current gameplay isn't quite so majestic. They are looking for a way through against Kocaelispor, who is fighting hard to earn a ticket to the Süper Lig. Kocaelispor might well say, "You're relegated anyway, just leave the cup to us." The host team, whose name feels plucked straight out of a history textbook, will fight a defensive war against Kocaelispor. Let's see if Scipio African can destroy Kocaeli the way he destroyed Carthage, or if the boys of the İzmit gulf will push this historical name right out of the cup!
7. AfelSpor vs. Akköseli_Gençlik ★★★☆☆
Match Summary: "The Battle of the Unsung Heroes"
While Afelspor fights for the top spots in the 2nd League White Group, they find themselves up against Akköseli Gençlik, a humble team straight out of the heart of Trabzon that has climbed all the way here in a massive surprise. Afelspor doesn't want to leave anything to chance, adopting a "Enough with this fairy tale" mindset. On the other hand, Akköseli Gençlik believes, "We've made it this far, we won't return without playing against a Süper Lig team." This 3-star match will witness the most hardworking struggle of the tournament.
8. incomparable king vs. A&S KafkasKartalı ★★★☆☆
Match Summary: "The Incomparable King Climbs the Caucasus Mountains"
Now we come to the highly anticipated clash between two humble but courageous teams. On one side, we have incomparable king, who calls themselves incomparable but hasn't quite declared their kingdom yet; on the other side, we have A&S KafkasKartalı, who loves to fly high. This match is a textbook "Now or Never" struggle. Both teams probably popped champagne in their rooms when they saw each other in the draw, because there couldn't be a sweeter draw to advance to the quarterfinals. Will the King protect his crown, or will the Caucasus Eagle snatch that crown and fly off to the mountains with its talons? Whoever wins, it's certain they will fight tooth and nail not to become "easy prey" for one of the giants in the quarterfinals!
The Austrian Cup reaches a fascinating stage with several top-flight sides forced into genuine examinations of their ambitions. The standout tie sees TRABZONSP0R meet Maribor FC, two teams that have already shared points in league play this season. Maribor arrive in excellent form after climbing into the Bundesliga’s top four, while TRABZONSP0R have recovered from a difficult spell with consecutive victories, including a commanding league performance at the weekend.
NO MA´AM against AC Sienna also carries recent history. NO MA´AM defeated Sienna 3–0 in league competition and famously edged them 1–0 in the Season 50 cup final. Yet Sienna have rediscovered momentum, winning their latest league outing and boasting the competition’s most prolific cup scorer, Fabian Wagner, who has struck nine times in two rounds.
Wolfsberger and Kapfenberg SV may be the most evenly balanced contest of all. Their league meeting ended scoreless, and little separates the sides in the standings. Wolfsberger’s cup attack has been led by Wulff Freud, whose 14 goals in Round 2 propelled his club into the spotlight.
Elsewhere, second-tier hopefuls B.F.C. 1909 Klagenfurt and Partizan battle for a rare place among the competition’s remaining outsiders.
BH Dragons meet FK Sloboda Tuzla in one of the round’s sharpest tests, with the champions facing a side sitting high in Prva Liga A and fresh from a 23 : 0 cup win. F.C. Imperial also get a demanding away tie against FK Tuzla United, whose scoring form has been relentless in both league and cup.
The all-Premier Liga meeting between FK Ljiljan and NK Asim adds extra intrigue after Ljiljan beat Asim 3 : 0 in their recent league clash. Elsewhere, Carolina RailHawks FC and Cuhovici bring together two powerful Prva Liga B attacks, while Belfast warriors will look to test FK Baščaršija’s fragile defence.
There is also a chance for a lower-division story to continue. FC Željezničar, the last remaining Druga Liga side in the competition, have already eliminated United Blaze and now face a formidable Zvijezda Gradacac side that sits near the top of Prva Liga A. The underdogs have nothing to lose, but another upset would rank among the cup’s biggest surprises this season.
After a round where close wins mattered more than the biggest scorelines, this stage should reveal which contenders can handle pressure when the margins finally shrink.
Lazio_1900 and CSKA Sofia meet in the standout tie after both swept through the previous round in dominant fashion. Lazio also beat CSKA 3:1 in the league earlier this season, while CSKA arrive with Gunnar Larsen already on 15 cup goals. With last season’s finalists still looming in the competition, this is an early test of real cup ambition.
Fight United Elite continue their cup defence with a tricky visit to Kardio FC, one of the strongest lower-level survivors after wins over Pilot and Šparta Blato. The champions have already removed FC Blue knights, but this tie has the feel of another serious test.
HAŠK also face a lower-level opponent with momentum, as F.C.Ozujsko arrive after three straight clean-sheet wins. Gružanin Football Club, meanwhile, meet Only Natural after scoring heavily in earlier rounds, though their league form has been less explosive.
The all-Druga HNL meetings add depth to the round. FK Rudar Kakanj and Patidon both earned solid wins last time out, while HNK Čokolino’s clash with St. Krijal offers a clear upset chance. Lupa against Dimension Tech could be another open contest, with both sides already showing serious attacking power.
There is also a spotlight on NK Mrežnica, now the last remaining Četvrta HNL side in the tournament. Their run has included convincing victories and a composed 3–0 success over Nekont FC in the previous round, proving they are more than just a lucky survivor. Facing F.C. Real Madrid will be their toughest challenge yet, but with every higher-ranked rival they eliminate, the underdogs continue to build one of the cup’s more memorable stories.
The Vereinspokal reaches a fascinating stage with several top-flight contenders now forced to eliminate one another. The headline tie sees Elegant Elephants and Kicker der Kokosnuss meet in a clash worthy of a final. Kicker currently lead the Bundesliga and already took four points from the champions in league play this season, winning 4–1 most recently after a 1–1 draw earlier in the campaign. Their cup form has been equally impressive, with Juan Galka scoring 18 goals through the first four rounds.
Omega FC face a dangerous test against HamburgerSV, one of the strongest sides remaining from the second tier. Omega arrive with confidence after eliminating last season’s cup winners Diamond Dogs and have already lifted their league form with consecutive victories over Rasenschach Bedburg-Hau and FK Leotar München.
Another intriguing Bundesliga duel pits Crvena Zvezda FK against FC Passau. Passau won their league meeting 1–0 earlier this season and have quietly assembled another deep cup run, while Crvena Zvezda’s attack remains capable of overwhelming opponents on its day.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen travel to league leaders Berlin Hertha FC in what could be the toughest assignment of the round. Leverkusen’s attack has been devastating throughout the competition, with Isidro Pardal adding five goals in the last round alone to reach 26 cup goals.
Elsewhere, FC St. Pauli and Rasenschach Bedburg-Hau will both view their ties as opportunities to continue impressive runs and join the quarter-final picture.
FTC Isti and Football club Pécs meet in the standout all-top-flight tie after both swept through the previous round. Isti arrive with Jan Bizjak on 9 cup goals and Valmir Kologeski on 8, while Pécs can look to Oliver Kepecz, also on 9, after their own emphatic start.
With holders Szeged also in action, the pressure is already rising.
FC Restig Penguins get another shot at Spartak Trnava FC, who beat them in last season’s final and edged their latest league meeting 1–0. The Penguins arrive with Branislav Feher on 30 cup goals, but Spartak’s pedigree is clear.
Váh River Titans also meet SC Bianconeri after winning their league clash 2–0.
The Slovenski Državni Pokal enters a pivotal stage with several established names facing ambitious challengers who have already proven they belong in the competition's latter rounds.
Defending cup holders Alkosi i drogeraši continue their title defence away to NK Kačji Dol. The visitors have struggled in the Prva SNL this season, but knockout football has often brought out their best. Last season they lifted the trophy after eliminating Grosuplje Dreamteam, Manchester United FC and HNK Hajduk Split, and another deep run would help compensate for a difficult league campaign.
Grosuplje Dreamteam, winners of the cup two seasons ago and current Prva SNL leaders, travel to face zlatorog. The hosts sit near the top of Tretja SNL B and have conceded only 14 goals in league play, making this one of the most dangerous draws available for the favourites.
Another standout tie sees Barcelona host FC Soccer Academy Red Bull. Barcelona have stormed through the competition with 78 goals scored across four rounds, while Red Bull arrive as one of the strongest top-flight sides, currently second in the Prva SNL and fresh from a dominant 4–0 league victory over FC Loče Soccer Academy.
fc david against Portsmouth guarantees a Tretja SNL representative in the next round. David have been particularly impressive, winning three consecutive cup matches without conceding and leading Tretja SNL H.
Elsewhere, former finalists HNK Hajduk Split face regional-league surprise package FC Bears, while Sweet Whales attempt to extend their giant-killing run against Prva SNL side Grosuplje FC. With several former winners and finalists still involved, but plenty of dangerous outsiders remaining, the road to the trophy looks far from straightforward.
Former finalists and giant-killers converge as the competition reaches a decisive stage
The National Cup has reached the point where reputation begins to matter, and several familiar names remain firmly in contention. Last season's finalists SC Betekom are still chasing another deep run after eliminating Sasboys and AS Beveren on their way to the final twelve months ago. Their reward this time is a trip to De Rode Leeuwen, one of the strongest sides remaining from 2de Klasse A. The hosts edged past Liverpool Football Club after extra time in the previous round and boast prolific scorer Tristan Peeters, who added one goal in Round 6 to reach 26 cup goals.
Club Internationale face another difficult away assignment against league leaders A.C. Milan 1899. The visitors demolished stvv64 19–0 in the last round and continue to rely on a remarkably balanced attack, with Florentin Lemaire, Nolan Etienne, Martial Guilllaume and Diego Gerard all among the competition's leading scorers.
Elsewhere, Fc Bijou welcome promotion-chasing Racing White Daring Molenbeek. Bijou have already shown their knockout pedigree, while RWDM arrive with striker Jordy Janssen carrying impressive scoring form.
kfc de preistampers and Merchtem2016 will both fancy their chances at home, although neither can afford complacency against ambitious second-tier opposition. Meanwhile, CA Boca Juniors against Club Brugge K.V. stands out as a genuine heavyweight clash between two sides enjoying excellent campaigns and possessing enough firepower to dream of lifting the trophy.
There is also added intrigue around SC Betekom's challenge. The cup runners-up from last season have endured a difficult league campaign, sitting tenth in Eerste Klasse, making this competition an opportunity to reignite their season. With several top-flight clubs still involved and a number of dangerous second-tier contenders refusing to yield, the road to the trophy remains wide open.
Borsholm-Skibstrup IF arrive with momentum after a 26-0 win, but Club Vestegnen offer a far sharper test as one of 1. Division A’s strongest sides. With Duco Aarts now on 45 cup goals, the holders’ runners-up from last season still look dangerous.
Skuldborg Vikings also face a major challenge against unbeaten Wunderfull Copenhagen, who removed Silkeborg IF in the previous round. Meanwhile, Ishøj Soccer Club meet an in-form FC Bulderbold after both progressed with convincing wins.
The Superligaen clubs remain favourites, but this round has enough quality from below to threaten at least one upset.
Several top-flight sides face awkward tests as lower-tier contenders chase another statement
FC Palestine, Olympique de Saubusse and paris ST Germain arrive with league momentum, but none have a routine path into the next stage. Palestine face bulle bulle, who have already beaten ASAS F.C and then swept past PSG AS 20-1. Saubusse, current Ligue 1 leaders, meet Les Brutasses after successive cup wins over St. Senoux Spiders and a strong league run.
OMforEVER get one of the sharpest tests against US Warlaing, leaders of Ligue 2a and conquerors of Standard FC in the last round. With OMforEVER slipping recently in the league, this tie carries real danger. JFK Lusignacum also bring scoring power into their meeting with paris ST Germain, while FC Grenoble, fresh from knocking out Tnaz Team, will believe they can trouble Gunny FC.
The only all-Ligue 1 tie pairs les Loups noirs with panenka. Their league meetings were tight: a 1-1 draw followed by a narrow panenka defeat, suggesting another tense cup battle.
Linceo and Atletico Sacca headline a round packed with danger for the top-flight sides
Copa Italia reaches a sharper stage now, with several Serie A clubs facing opponents who have already built strong cup momentum. The standout tie is clearly Linceo against Atletico Sacca, a meeting with league weight behind it: Atletico won their most recent league clash with Realjoggi, while Linceo remain close to the Serie A summit and already edged AC Asti in this cup run.
Il Circolino, winners of the last two editions, continue their defence against AC Vitasana, who arrive from Serie B-1 with serious scoring form. Davor Klun leads the cup chart with 32 goals, making this one of the most dangerous draws the holders could have received.
There is also pressure on Realjoggi and Navigli UTD, both away to ambitious Serie B sides. MoVeN'torZ FC and Perder Brema have already shown they can score heavily in the cup, so neither favourite will expect a quiet afternoon.
And then there is Barca nel Bosco, the last remaining lower-tier headline act, now facing Chipperfield after eliminating Classica Lanusei. With Aron Fauske on 23 cup goals, their fairytale still has teeth.
Several top-flight clashes now shape a demanding route toward the quarterfinals
FC Mornar Bar earned the standout result of the previous round, eliminating O.F.K. Ostrog after extra time, but their reward is a difficult tie against league leaders For The Alliance. With Adrian Stroenco already on 16 cup goals and For The Alliance’s Cvetko Vujosevic on 19, this could be one of the round’s sharpest tests.
The holders, Club Atlético de Madrid S.A.D., continue their defence against OFK Titograd Podgorica after a 19-0 win in which Jean Ispasescu moved to 21 cup goals. Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest FC face Big Boys, while Yellow Pillow’s prolific attack meets Real Betis in a second-tier duel with plenty of scoring pedigree.
The draw has narrowed quickly, and this round should reveal which contenders have the depth to match their early momentum.
The cup now feels far less forgiving, with several top-flight sides facing dangerous opponents from below. SSSE, last season’s league champions and still setting the pace domestically, travel to SV Houten after a 5–0 cup win over VV Oudekade, but Houten arrive with confidence after knocking out FC Utrecht in extra time.
SC Pink and DeDonnys provide the standout all-Eredivisie tie. Both reached this stage convincingly, and with DeDonnys already showing cup sharpness against Fc Fartree and Ridgesister FC, this looks finely balanced.
Elsewhere, PEC Zwolle face a tricky visit to YUNUSLAR FC, while Carlstad United must deal with Eerste Divisie A leaders Ceasar Empire. Lazio Berkel also have reason to be wary of Hønefoss BK, whose Koray Ertepinar has surged to 36 cup goals.
Former finalists and rising challengers converge as the quarter-final places come into view
The National Cup enters a fascinating stage with several clubs carrying both league form and recent cup pedigree into decisive ties. Torden, finalists in each of the last two seasons and winners of the most recent final against Bella FC, arrive in excellent shape after eliminating Bella in the previous round and continuing their strong league campaign. Their meeting with Manchester City F.C. pits cup experience against a side that has scored freely in this competition, with Jan Groselj still among the tournament’s leading scorers on ten goals.
Another intriguing contest sees Kazor Villains face Lyn. Kazor were cup finalists two seasons ago and have already beaten Oftebro United in last season’s quarter-finals before reaching the final. Lyn, meanwhile, have been ruthless in this year’s competition, winning 17-0 and 6-0 in successive rounds, powered by Sturla Gudbrandsen, whose cup tally exploded from 8 to 22 goals in the last round.
Deathbydawn and derby county fc renew a rivalry with knockout history. Derby survived their season 50 quarter-final meeting on penalties and will again be wary of a side whose forwards Sven Westgaard and Niclas Fremstad have delivered consistently throughout the cup run.
Elsewhere, lower-division contenders BALUBA FC and vimses fc meet in a clash between two of the competition’s most prolific attacks. With Louis Sanchez on 24 goals and Oivind Wisth on 21, few fixtures in this round can match its firepower.
Futebol Clube do Porto face one of the round’s sharpest tests against holders G. D. C. de Fernão Ferro, who lifted this trophy last season and have already shown their scoring power again, with Delio Junior on 25 cup goals and Amir Stebbing on 23. Porto survived Black Pearl Team 2-1 last round, but this is a far sterner examination.
Sumolix Stars also meet recent cup pedigree, taking on ODC WaRrIoRz v2, semi-finalists two seasons ago. Sumolix have been efficient rather than spectacular since the big early rounds, while ODC arrive after a strong 4-1 win over Sport Aveiro e Benfica.
The all-Superliga tie between Sá FC and Vale Pisão brings league context into the cup: they drew 1-1 earlier this season, but Sá FC have since climbed into the title chase while Vale Pisão have struggled for consistency.
Galacticos C.P., the current Superliga leaders, visit Sport Lisboa e Telheiras after a narrow 1-0 win over Carcavelos, while Grupo Desportivo de Sá and Sport Lisboa e Benfica meet in another top-flight duel where one league rival must fall.
Last season’s finalists are gone, but the field stays fierce
The cup has already lost its holder after Real Puertomarín stunned Espongis, and the next round brings another demanding test as they face C.D. Alebal. Alebal have scored heavily in the competition, with Grig Mihailescu now on 24 cup goals, but Real Puertomarín arrive with the biggest scalp of the season.
Brian Boitano's, finalists in each of the last two seasons, meet Portela after a 20-0 win in the previous round. Their league meeting ended 3-0 to Brian, though Portela have already removed Celtic de Mostoles FC and Monjuic from the cup.
There is also an all-Primera tie between Gran Canaria and CE L'Hospitalet, while Drunks Oilers will look to avoid trouble against Hercules. KaKaTuaS face a difficult trip to FC Lleida, whose cup scoring has been ruthless so far.
Two all-Allsvenskan ties headline the cup’s next test
Norrlandsfotboll FC kept their defence moving with a controlled 5–0 win, while Bałtyk Gdynia, last season’s beaten finalists, advanced with an 8–0 victory. Slovenia Dreamteam had the sharper scare, edging Rutger Boll Klubb 2–1 as Vagner Bosco moved to 23 cup goals.
The next round brings sharper stakes. Slovenia Dreamteam face Eneby BK, who just hit 24 without reply and already beat them 1–0 in the league. Gnuville BK meet Bałtyk Gdynia after losing their league rematch 2–0, but their 1–0 cup win over Uppsala Kickers suggests they can make this awkward.
The National Cup moves into a sharper phase after a round of emphatic statements. The steelheads, FC KOFA, Fc Black Panther and Terror City United all advanced with heavy wins, while fc walhalla produced the standout upset by edging HyperVibes 1–0. That reward is a dangerous Level 2 duel with CB Churer Öglia, whose Matthieu Decitre already has 49 cup goals.
The headline tie brings The steelheads against NK Bugojno, a repeat of last season’s quarterfinal won 3–1 by the eventual cup winners. Terror City United also face a stern test against FC KOFA, while AC TORINO’s scoring power meets a Black Panther side still carrying recent cup pedigree.
