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Trophies are what any club or player aspires to win, and with Europe's elite clubs battling it out for the top prizes on offer, the less prestigious trophies become appealing to smaller club having smaller resources.
The bigger clubs tend to look at cup games as an opportunity to rotate and rest key players giving squad players some game time. This may be the primary reason why we find many upsets in domestic league competitions every year.
Everyone loves an underdog . Smaller teams seem to have an extra bit of belief when they come up against the big clubs. No one expects them to win and that's exactly where their confidence lies. Giant killing in itself acts as a virtual trophy and something that will live on as a memory for years to come.
Here are five of the biggest cup upsets this season.
#5 1. FC Magdeburg 2-0 FC Augsburg (DFB Pokal First round)
The very first round of this year's DFB Pokal sprung a surprise as Augsburg succumbed to a shocking defeat to a club you have probably never heard of before. Magdeburg ply their trade in the third division of the German league and were the unlikely winners of the tie.
The game was an end to end affair with both teams trying hard to score the opening goal. Both keepers were on their toes and had to make crucial saves throughout the game. The first half ended goalless with neither team able to break the deadlock.
The second half resumed in similar fashion and both teams were neck to neck for the majority of it. Eventually, it was the home side who went in front, as striker Christian Beck scored from close range in the 87th minute to send the crowd into a frenzy.
Their victory was confirmed in the 91st minute as Tobias Schwede also found the back of the net. Augsburg had won a corner and their keeper was committed forward. The corner was cleared and a shot was fired into the open net. The ball hit the post and was bobbling inside the box as the winger came running to hit it past the sliding defenders. It was a night that the Magdeburg fans will never forget.
Video: Augsburg stunned by third division team
#4 Nottingham Forest 4-2 Arsenal (FA Cup third round)
What was supposed to be a routine night for Arsenal turned into a six goal thriller and a defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest in the third round of the FA cup. Arsenal fielded a young eleven consisting of Maitland-Niles, Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson. Danny Welbeck started up front.
Eric Lichaj gave the home side the lead with a close range header following a set piece. Their joy was cut short as Per Mertesacker equalised as he reacted first to a loose ball in the box after Rob Holding hit the post. Ospina had to make a crucial save as he denied Brereton a chance to make it 2-1. Forest eventually took the lead before half-time as Lichaj scored again with a well measured shot from outside the box.
Arsenal's misery continued into the second half as Holding gave away a cheap penalty and Brereton scored from the spot to make it 3-1. Welbeck gave Arsenal a lifeline in the 79th minute when he scored following an error from Forest keeper Jordan Smith.
Arsenal were piling on the pressure but another penalty was awarded to Nottingham as Debuchy brought down Traore in the box. Keiran Dowell stepped up to score the penalty and make the score 4-2. Forest defender Joe Warral was sent off in the 89th minute for a second yellow but Arsenal had little time left to salvage anything.
The damage was done and the current holders of the trophy were knocked out in the third round.
Video: Forest knocks Arsenal out
#3 Leganes 2-2 Real Madrid (Copa Del Rey Quarter Final, Leganes go through on away goals)
For all their mediocrity in the league this year, you would expect Real Madrid to come out all guns blazing and try to defend their domestic cup title. But that was not the case as Leganes ran out winners on away goals over the two legs.
Madrid played away in the first leg and had to leave it late to snatch a winner through Marco Asensio. It was a game of few chances and Leganes defended well throughout the 90 minutes. The deadlock was broken in the 89th minute when Asensio scored from a Theo Hernandez cross. The tie was finely poised and Madrid had the advantage.
The second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu turned out to be quite a shocker for Real. Again, there were not many chances in the first half as the Leganes defense stood solid. Beauvue nearly gave Leganes the lead when his free kick hit the outside of the post and went out. In the 31st minute however, Javier Eraso took full advantage of an error from Achraf Hakimi and unleashed a powerful shot into the back of the net to give Leganes the lead on the night and equalise the tie.
Madrid started the second half with intent and soon scored through Benzema to give Madrid a 2-1 aggregate lead. Their joy was cut short when Gabriel Pires rose highest and headed the ball past a helpless Casilla. Madrid had to score and Zidane sent in Carvajal and Modric to eke out a goal. They fought back strongly, but in vain. Leganes managed to hold on and claim a historic victory.
Video: A historic victory for Leganes
1st Leg: Leganes 0-1 Real Madrid
2nd Leg: Real Madrid 1-2 Leganes
#2 Bristol City 2-1 Manchester United (Carabao Cup Quarter Final)
Ashton Gate was the venue when Bristol City pulled off one of the biggest ever cup upsets. The Championship club hosted the current holders Manchester United in front of a sell out crowd.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his first start for the club in eight months after coming back from a long term injury and Paul Pogba returned after a three game suspension. Bristol City, however, were unfazed about the big names in their opposition's squad.
It was a lively first half in which both Zlatan and Rashford hit the post with United looking to assert dominance. The home side had a couple of chances themselves, but neither keeper was really tested.
Six minutes into the second half, Joe Bryan was put through on goal and he finished expertly past Romero to give Bristol City the lead. Seven minutes later, United equalised through Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swede struck a powerful, low free kick to the keeper's right and the scoreline was 1-1.
Both teams had few chances after that, among which, Lukaku had a header saved by the outstretched hands of Luke Steele. Extra time was looming but the home fans were sent into delirium in the 93rd minute when United's defense meekly allowed Korey Smith to get through, chest down a through ball and strike it past a helpless Romero. It was a night that Bristol City will never forget.
Video: Bristol City shocks United
#1 Wigan 1-0 Manchester City (FA Cup 5th round)
The Premier League champions-elect, Manchester City faced Wigan in the FA Cup 5th round tie at the DW Stadium. It was a repeat of the 2013 final when Wigan famously ran out winners. No one would have predicted a similar result this time, considering how City have been gliding past teams effortlessly.
It was a classic smash and grab affair with Wigan running out as winners. Manchester City had a giant 83% possession and 29 shots at goal. They started very well, testing the Wigan keeper Christian Walton on multiple occasions.
The whole dimension of the game changed towards the end of the first half when Fabian Delph was shown a straight red card for a lunging-tackle on Max Power. The decision drove Guardiola crazy and he was involved in heated arguments with match officials as well as his opposite number.
City brought on Leroy Sane in the second half in a bid to break the deadlock. They kept applying pressure relentlessly but WIgan somehow managed to hold on. Their ecstasy knew no bounds when striker Will Grigg pounced on a mistake from Kyle Walker and slotted the ball past Claudio Bravo.
In the ten minutes that remained, City did their best to get back into the game, but in vain. Wigan had knocked them out of the FA Cup and the home crowd invaded the pitch. They had beaten Manchester City again!
