Premier League Powerhouses Clash in FA Cup Third Round
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The FA Cup third round has been drawn, featuring a mix of Premier League giants and lower-division underdogs. Crystal Palace will begin their title defense at sixth-tier Macclesfield, while Tottenham Hotspur welcomes Aston Villa to their home turf in one of the standout ties. Other Premier League matches include Everton hosting Sunderland, Newcastle United taking on Bournemouth, and Manchester United facing Brighton & Hove Albion. Manchester City, who were defeated by Palace in last season's final, will entertain Exeter City, while Premier League leaders Arsenal travel to Portsmouth. The FA Cup has also been a springboard for smaller clubs, including Macclesfield, who have risen from the ashes of the defunct Macclesfield Town. They will be joined by Weston-super-Mare, who will face Grimsby Town. Meanwhile, Wrexham, a club dubbed a 'Hollywood team' due to their celebrity ownership, will host top-flight Nottingham Forest. The full draw for the FA Cup third round is as follows: - Doncaster Rovers vs Southampton - Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Shrewsbury Town - Port Vale vs Fleetwood Town - Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa - Ipswich Town vs Blackpool - Preston North End vs Wigan Athletic - Charlton Athletic vs Chelsea - Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest - West Ham United vs Queens Park Rangers - Manchester City vs Exeter City - Fulham vs Middlesbrough - Sheffield Wednesday vs Brentford - Liverpool vs Barnsley - Everton vs Sunderland - Norwich City vs Walsall - Burnley vs Millwall - Derby County vs Leeds United - Portsmouth vs Arsenal - Salford City vs Swindon Town - Swansea City vs West Bromwich Albion - Grimsby Town vs Weston-super-Mare - Boreham Wood vs Brackley Town or Burton Albion - Newcastle United vs Bournemouth - Hull City vs Blackburn Rovers - Cheltenham Town vs Leicester City - MK Dons vs Oxford United - Bristol City vs Watford - Cambridge United vs Birmingham City - Macclesfield vs Crystal Palace - Stoke City vs Coventry City - Sheffield United vs Mansfield Town - Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion The matches will take place over the weekend of January 10.
