Seventh meets eighth in a fascinating fight between two European hopefuls on Saturday evening, when Bournemouth host Aston Villa in the Premier League.
The Cherries strengthened their continental credentials with a historic 2-1 victory at Arsenal last weekend, as did Unai Emery's side when they eked out a 1-0 success over Fulham.
Match preview
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Eight times Bournemouth had visited Arsenal before the 2024-25 season, and eight times the Cherries fell to defeat against the North London giants, but nine proved to be the magic number for the South Coast side as they picked up their first-ever away win versus the Gunners.
Becoming the latest in a long line of teams to capitalise on Arsenal's frailties after going a goal ahead, Andoni Iraola's men remained unfazed following Declan Rice's opening goal, as Dean Huijsen's header and Evanilson's unorthodox finish with his midriff completed a captivating Cherries comeback.
While the second half of the campaign has been underwhelming as a whole for the hosts compared to the latter stages of 2024, Bournemouth appear to slowly be rediscovering their steel, going unbeaten in five straight games to potentially remain in control of their European destiny.
Bournemouth's eighth-placed ranking may suffice for Conference League qualification if the outcomes of knockout competitions go their way, although failure to win on Saturday will officially eliminate them from top-seven contention given Villa are seven points better off.
The Cherries have been nothing if not consistent on their own patch in recent weeks, scoring exactly one goal in each of their last six matches at the Vitality Stadium, and that exact tally was enough for their visitors to remain in the Champions League picture last weekend.
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Following unsuccessful trips to both the Etihad and Wembley, where their dreams of FA Cup glory crashed and burned in such pitiful fashion, Villa Park provided the Lions faithful with much-needed home comforts when Fulham paid a visit last weekend.
Emery's side made amends for their semi-final crushing at the hands of Crystal Palace by edging out the Cottagers in the lunchtime kickoff, as Youri Tielemans - so often the provider - turned goalscorer with a smart header from John McGinn's corner.
Still within touching distance of the Champions League places, the Villans have a one-point gap to make up to Nottingham Forest while being just three adrift of Chelsea and Newcastle United, as the engrossing battle for a top-five finish reaches a cracking conclusion.
Seven victories from their last nine Premier League contests is more than Emery's men achieved in their previous 21 (six), and an 11-game scoring sequence in the top flight also stands the visitors in good stead; they have not drawn a blank in the division since February 1.
The tide has also turned in the head-to-head column between Bournemouth and Aston Villa; the Cherries won four Premier League games in a row between April 2016 and August 2022, but the Lions have since gone unbeaten in their most recent four, only being pegged back by 96th-minute Evanilson leveller in October's 1-1 draw.
Team News
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The one slightly dampening aspect of Bournemouth's victory at the Emirates was the groin injury suffered by Dango Ouattara in the second half, and the attacker is not expected to play again this term.
However, the Cherries have a fearsome replacement in the shape of Antoine Semenyo, who came off the bench at the Emirates to set up Huijsen's header with a fabulous long throw, one that compatriot Thomas Partey tried to replicate several times against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League to no avail.
Semenyo and Ouattara's fellow winger Luis Sinisterra (thigh) will not play any part, though; Iraola fears that he might miss the rest of the season too, as Ryan Christie (groin) and Enes Unal (knee) will.
Speaking of attackers potentially sitting out the remainder of the campaign, that fate could befall on-loan Manchester United man Marcus Rashford, who recently picked up a thigh problem and jetted off to Dubai to complete part of his rehabilitation.
Rashford will certainly sit out Saturday's trip to the Vitality Stadium, and the visitors have also been dealt another significant blow with the news that Tielemans has suffered a muscular injury, but Emery stopped short of ruling him out for the season.
Up front, Ollie Watkins has scored just once in his previous Premier League starts against Bournemouth, but he has set up another four, providing more assists versus the Cherries than any other club in the competition.
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Kepa; Araujo, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Adams, Cook; Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier; Evanilson
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Onana; McGinn, Rogers, Ramsey; Watkins
We say: Bournemouth 2-2 Aston Villa
Saturday's evening kickoff should not be short of entertainment value, and we can envisage a high-scoring stalemate between two attack-minded teams desperately fighting for European football.
Do not be surprised by any late drama either; Bournemouth have scored eight goals in second-half stoppage time in the 2024-25 Premier League - more than any other team - while Villa have conceded an identical amount after the 90th minute, the second-most in the league behind relegated Southampton.
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Ben Knapton
