Macclesfield vs Crystal Palace Live Stream: FA Cup Kick-Off Time, Predicted Line-Ups & Upset Odds

Macclesfield FC welcome reigning FA Cup champions Crystal Palace to the Leasing.com Stadium this afternoon in a third-round tie that has “cupset” written all over it. Kick-off is 12:15 GMT and the match is being shown live on BBC One and TNT Sports, with free streaming available for UK viewers via BBC iPlayer and Discovery+. Why the fixture matters • Non-league Macclesfield, re-founded only four years ago, are bidding to become the first eighth-tier side to eliminate top-flight opposition since 1901. • Palace arrive as holders after last season’s Wembley triumph and view the cup as their likeliest route back into Europe. Team news and predicted line-ups Head coach John Rooney keeps faith with the Silkmen’s high-pressing 4-3-3: goalkeeper Theo Richardson; back four Alex Curran, Lewis Fensome, Zeki Fryers, James Hardy; midfield trio Paul Dawson, Sam Wedgbury, Alex Kiwomya; and a front line of Neil Kengni, Alex Curran and Kane Drummond. Oliver Glasner rotates for Palace but still names a strong XI featuring Sam Johnstone; Kaden Rodney, Marc Guéhi, Chris Richards, Tyrick Mitchell; Cheick Doucouré, Eberechi Eze; Michael Olise, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Jeffrey Schlupp; and Jean-Philippe Mateta up front. Key tactical battles 1. Kengni vs Mitchell on Macclesfield’s right flank: the winger’s pace is central to the hosts’ counter-attack threat. 2. Eze and Olise in the half-spaces: if the Premier League duo find pockets between the lines, Palace’s superior quality should tell. 3. Set-pieces: Macclesfield have scored 41 % of their goals from dead-ball situations this season; Palace conceded twice from corners in their last four outings. Form guide • Macclesfield are unbeaten in 13 at home, scoring 38 times in the process. • Palace have lost just one of their past nine in all competitions and kept four clean sheets. How to watch and live score updates Fans worldwide can follow real-time statistics, commentary and “as-it-happens” highlights via SofaScore and ESPN GameCast. UK radio listeners can tune in on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra, while international rights holders include ESPN+ (USA) and DAZN (Canada). Prediction Crystal Palace’s depth should eventually prevail, but expect a fired-up Moss Rose crowd to make life uncomfortable. If Macclesfield can reach half-time level, the pressure shifts firmly onto the holders. Palace to edge it 2-1—yet the Silkmen have already won the hearts of neutral supporters and the SEO battleground alike for “Macclesfield vs Crystal Palace live updates”.