The draw for the 3rd round of the FA Cup did not smile on Ruben Amorim. Manchester United will start thier historic campaign at home against brighton, in a duel between Premier League teams. The red devils will face, on the second weekend of January, a team that currently occupies seventh place in the table.

The draw dictated four clashes between primary division teams in the first round with clubs from all levels of English football. Tottenham and Aston Villa face each other in London, Everton and Sunderland face each other in Liverpool, and Newcastle hosts Bournemouth, coach Eddie Howe’s former club.

Marco Silva and Nuno Espírito Santo, like Ruben Amorim, also play at home. Fulham hosts Middlesbrough, second in the Championship, while West Ham plays a London derby against QPR, 10th in the second tier of English football.

FA Cup Third Round: Key Matchups to Watch

The FA Cup Third Round is here, and it’s always full of exciting games! This round often pits teams from different leagues against each other, creating potential upsets and memorable moments. Here’s a look at some of the key matchups to keep an eye on:

• Boreham Wood vs. Brackley Town or Burton Albion: A clash between non-league and league One/Two sides. It’ll be captivating to see wich team progresses.
• Bristol City vs. Watford: A Championship battle – both teams will be looking for a cup run to boost their season.
• Burnley vs. Millwall: A Premier League team hosting a Championship side.Burnley will be the favorites, but Millwall can be a tough opponent.
• Cambridge United vs. Birmingham City: Another Championship vs. League One contest.
• Charlton Athletic vs. Chelsea: A meaningful David vs. Goliath matchup. Chelsea, a Premier League powerhouse, will be heavily favored against the League One side.
• Cheltenham Town vs. Leicester City: League One Cheltenham will face a tough test against the Championship’s Leicester city.
• Derby county vs.Leeds united: A highly anticipated clash between two big names from the Championship. This one’s sure to be a competitive game.
• Doncaster Rovers… (Further matchups were not provided in the source text)

The FA Cup always delivers drama, and this year’s Third Round looks set to be no different. Don’t miss these exciting contests!