Bournemouth vs Sunderland

Bournemouth return to league duty after a midweek win against Sturm Graz in the UEFA Europa League. Their recent domestic form includes a draw against Brentford and defeats to Liverpool and Chelsea. In the League Cup, they enjoyed a convincing victory over Lincoln. Across these matches, Bournemouth have found the net regularly but struggled to keep clean sheets in the top flight. Sunderland also head into this fixture following a win in the UEFA Europa League against Torreense. Their domestic progress has been mixed, with a win over Hull City in the League Cup offset by recent league defeats against Arsenal, Manchester City, and Brighton. The away side has shown an ability to score on the road, though defensive consistency remains a challenge for both teams in this competition.

The recent history between these sides is limited. Sunderland secured a narrow victory at home in November 2025, and their meeting at the Vitality Stadium in February 2026 ended in a draw.

• Bournemouth will be without A. Scott, E. J. Kroupi, and J. Araujo, with V. Milosavljevic also in doubt.
• Sunderland are missing D. Ballard, R. Mundle, and T. Meunier, while W. Isidor remains in doubt.
• Bournemouth have averaged 18 shots per match in recent outings, slightly more than Sunderland's 16.
• Sunderland's T. Meunier, who is ruled out for this match, provided two assists in the recent run.

Both sides have struggled to find consistent results in the Premier League so far this season, leaving them near the bottom of the table. With similar records and both teams navigating recent injury concerns, it is difficult to see either side establishing a clear advantage. The match could prove to be a tight affair as both teams look to climb the standings.