Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw
Best Odds: 11/2
Bournemouth and Chelsea will face each other in the Premier League this coming weekend. The match between the Cherries and the Blues will be held at the Vitality Stadium and is scheduled to kick off at 3pm UK time on Saturday.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth are more or less safe from relegation to the Championship at the end of the season. For much of the campaign, it looked like the Cherries were going to end up in the bottom of the Premier League table, but under manager Gary O’Neil, they are on the verge of achieving a miracle.
The Cherries are 13th in the Premier League table at the moment with 39 points from 34 matches. Bournemouth are as many as nine points above the relegation zone. They have won four of their last five Premier League games, and that seems to have done the trick.
Bournemouth will head into the Premier League match against Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium on the back of a 4-1 victory over Leeds United at home in the league. It came after a 1-0 victory over Southampton away from home at St. Mary’s Stadium in the Premier League and followed a 4-0 hammering at the hands of West Ham United in the league.
Team News:
Bournemouth are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Chelsea. Former Liverpool striker Solanke will lead the line for the Cherries. Ouattara, Billing and Christie will be behind him in a three-man attacking midfield.
Chelsea
Chelsea are really struggling at the moment and have been dire all season. Once expected to challenge for the Premier League title, the Blues could now end the season in the bottom half of the table. There is even a small chance that they could become embroiled in a relegation fight.
The former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners are 12th in the Premier League table at the moment with 39 points from 33 matches. Frank Lampard’s side are nine points above the bottom three and have lost their last four league games.
Chelsea will head into the Premier League game against Bournemouth this coming weekend on the back of a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the London derby. It came after a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Brentford at Stamford Bridge in another London derby and followed a 2-0 loss to Real Madrid at home in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie.
Team News:
Chelsea are likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is likely to lead the line, with Raheem Sterling and Madueke on either flank. Enzo Fernandes will start in midfield again.
Key Factors to Consider
- Bournemouth have won 4 of their last 5 Premier League matches.
- Chelsea have lost 4 of their last 6 Premier League matches.
- Bournemouth have scored 36 goals in 34 Premier League games.
- Chelsea have scored 31 goals in 33 Premier League games.
- Bournemouth have won 11 Premier League matches, while Chelsea have won 10 league games.
Conclusion
Bournemouth are in much better form now and appear to be safe from relegation to the Championship at the end of the season. While Chelsea do have a better team, the former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners have lost all of their competitive matches under interim-manager Frank Lampard. It is hard to see the Blues win against an in-form Bournemouth team. A draw is the most likely outcome.
Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw
Best Odds: 11/2
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