Bournemouth vs Chelsea Preview

• Draw or Chelsea win
• Jackson to score

Bournemouth Looking to Extend Positive Start

Bournemouth head into this clash on the back of an extraordinary comeback victory against Everton, where they became the first Premier League side to win despite trailing by two goals as late as the 87th minute.

Under new manager Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth have shown resilience and attacking intent, with Iraola receiving praise for his tactical substitutions, particularly in the dying moments of games.

Despite Iraola’s humble post-match comments that Everton “deserved to win,” Bournemouth’s belief and fighting spirit were evident.

The Cherries are now looking to build on this momentum, but history suggests it won’t be easy. Bournemouth have never started a Premier League campaign with four unbeaten games, and they have not defeated Chelsea in their last five head-to-head encounters (D2, L3).

However, their form at the Vitality Stadium should give them some confidence, having lost just once in their last eight Premier League home matches (W4, D3, L1), although defensive frailties remain a concern with just two clean sheets during that stretch.

Chelsea Aiming to Continue Unbeaten Run

Chelsea, after an opening-round loss to Manchester City, have since found their rhythm, scoring seven goals in their last two Premier League matches (W1, D1).

Manager Enzo Maresca has been working hard to instil his tactical philosophy during the international break, and he will be looking to build on their recent form.

The Blues have a strong record against Bournemouth, losing just one of their seven Premier League away head-to-heads (W4, D2).

Additionally, they are riding a wave of confidence from three consecutive away league wins, although they have been less than solid defensively, conceding five goals in those games.

Chelsea will be hoping to extend this winning run and avoid defensive lapses that could cost them points.

Key Players to Watch

Luis Sinisterra (Bournemouth)

Sinisterra played a crucial role in Bournemouth’s dramatic win over Everton, netting the late winner.

Known for his ability to score in key moments, four of his last seven goals have come in either first or second half stoppage time. Sinisterra’s knack for late heroics could prove vital in this match as Bournemouth look to maintain their positive start.

Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea)

Jackson has been in excellent form for Chelsea, opening the scoring in two of their three league games so far this season.

The Senegalese forward has an unbeaten record when scoring for Chelsea, stretching to 16 matches (W13, D3). His ability to get Chelsea off to strong starts could be critical, especially against a Bournemouth side that has shown resilience late in games.

Conclusion

Both Bournemouth and Chelsea come into this match with momentum, but history and squad strength favours Chelsea.

Bournemouth’s resilience under Iraola has been commendable, but their defensive issues could be a problem against a Chelsea side that has been scoring freely in recent matches.

Chelsea’s away form is strong, and if they can tighten up defensively, they’ll be confident of securing a fourth straight away league win.

Prediction: Chelsea to win, but Bournemouth’s late-game fight could make this a competitive and entertaining match.

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Bournemouth v Chelsea, 2024/25 | Premier League