Bournemouth nonetheless have one thing to combat for within the Premier League this season, with European qualification in attain, as they host a struggling Manchester United aspect.
The race for the Champions League locations is tight, however Bournemouth nonetheless have an out of doors likelihood of reserving a spot in one of many different European competitions as they lead the remainder of the chasing pack.
In the meantime, United sit within the backside half of the desk, with little to shout about within the Premier League.
Nonetheless, they do have one vibrant spark left of their season, with a Europa League semi-final in opposition to Athletic Bilbao on the horizon – a tie that Ruben Amorim will doubtless have already got one eye on.
It doesn’t matter what, United look consigned to their lowest-ever Premier League end and factors tally, as they sit 14th with 38 factors.
In the event that they wish to salvage some pleasure within the remaining 5 video games, they should rack up factors quick, however Bournemouth have the higher of their current conferences, that means United have work to do in the event that they wish to keep away from a 3rd consecutive defeat within the prime flight.
Utilizing Opta knowledge, we delve into the important thing insights forward of Sunday’s conflict on the Vitality Stadium.
What’s anticipated?
Bournemouth haven’t shied away of their conferences with United over the previous few seasons, and given their benefit over them within the desk as nicely, they’re anticipated to come back out on prime.
The Cherries are unbeaten of their final three Premier League video games in opposition to United (W2 D1), together with a complete 3-0 victory at Outdated Trafford in December.
In truth, they’ve picked up as many factors in these video games (seven) as they’d of their first 12 in opposition to the Crimson Devils (W2 D1 L9).
One other win on Sunday would see them change into the sixth completely different aspect to finish the league double over United this time period, probably the most in a single marketing campaign since 1933-34 (six), and most in a top-flight season since 1930-31 (9).
And United have struggled to include Bournemouth’s attacking energy not too long ago. They’ve conceded eight targets of their final three Premier League video games in opposition to them, as many as they’d of their earlier 11 in opposition to the Cherries.
So, the Opta supercomputer offers Bournemouth a 54.9% likelihood of taking all three factors on the Vitality on Sunday.
United, in the meantime, have only a 22.6% likelihood of popping out on prime, that means it’s just about as doubtless that this match shall be a draw (22.5%).
The gulf between these groups this season has been staggering, and the mannequin’s forecast displays that.
Bournemouth closing in on half-century
With the title race and relegation battle just about performed and dusted earlier than the tip of April, the race for European soccer is about to make for an thrilling end to the season.
A spot in Europe subsequent season could be the cherry on the cake for Andoni Iraola’s males, who’ve already hit new heights this marketing campaign.
Their irritating 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace final weekend noticed them attain 49 factors within the Premier League this season, their highest ever tally in a marketing campaign within the competitors, surpassing their 48 in 2023-24.
They may change into the fortieth completely different aspect to realize a 50+ level season within the competitors, with the final group to succeed in that tally for the primary time being Brentford in 2022-23 (59).
Iraola felt Bournemouth ought to have received that match in opposition to 10-man Palace, although. They’d 15 photographs, with 4 of these heading in the right direction. Nonetheless, whereas they didn’t let the Eagles have a single effort heading in the right direction, their makes an attempt have been solely price 0,72 anticipated targets (xG).
Bournemouth have bounced again from their stumble in February and March, helped partly by their staunch defence in current weeks.
They want to report three consecutive Premier League clear sheets for the primary time since November 2019, with the third sport again then being a 1-0 house win in opposition to United.
The Cherries’ 1-0 win over Fulham of their final house sport noticed them finish a run of 4 consecutive defeats on house soil, and Iraola shall be hoping they will construct on that consequence to remain forward within the European race.
Can United discover their innovative in entrance of aim?
Issues are wanting pretty bleak for Amorim’s aspect within the Premier League, as their 1-0 defeat to Wolves final day out was their fifteenth loss within the top-flight this season – their most ever in a single marketing campaign within the competitors.
Their profligacy was on present once more throughout that sport, as they managed 12 photographs, price 1.32 xG, however solely hit the goal with two of them.
Amorim got here out in defence of Rasmus Hojlund after that match, with the striker managing only one shot in 70 minutes on the sector, a sixth consecutive sport with out scoring, noting how the remainder of the group have been additionally struggling.
It has been an everyday function of their season, as they’ve failed to attain in 13 completely different Premier League video games this season, with solely Leicester Metropolis (15) and Everton (14) doing so extra.
United final failed to attain in additional league video games in a single marketing campaign in 1989-90 (16), a report they are going to be hoping to keep away from by the tip of the season.
General, they’ve managed simply 36 targets within the Premier League this time period, with Bruno Fernandes their prime scorer with eight targets within the competitors. Amad Diallo, who has not performed since February, is second on that listing with six.
Their haul has come from 439 photographs, and 44.2 xG, that means they’ve underperformed in entrance of aim, although these struggles have been on present even earlier than Amorim took over from Erik ten Hag.
Given their league place means they’ve little to play for within the top-flight, the Amorim could decide to maintain his aspect recent with one eye on that last-four conflict, which is their final hope of salvaging their season.
United have received as many matches within the Europa League underneath Amorim (six wins in eight video games) as they’ve in 22 Premier League matches underneath him (W6 D5 L11), one other report he shall be eager to enhance.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bournemouth – Antoine Semenyo
No participant has had extra photographs within the Premier League this season than Semenyo (116, stage with Mohamed Salah).
Certainly, it’s the most photographs a Bournemouth participant has ever had in a single top-flight marketing campaign.
He has had a minimum of 53 extra photographs than any of his team-mates and has additionally racked up probably the most efforts heading in the right direction (37).
The winger has netted eight targets, his joint-best-ever return from a single marketing campaign (stage along with his tally for the Cherries final season and 2021-22 with Bristol Metropolis), and Semenyo’s shows this season have little question alerted the highest golf equipment.
Manchester United – Bruno Fernandes
Solely Cole Palmer (78) has created extra possibilities within the Premier League this season than Fernandes (77).
The United captain additionally has 9 assists this time period, solely reaching double figures in 2020-21 (12).
He didn’t play from the beginning in opposition to Wolves – it was the primary time he has come off the bench within the Premier League since January 2022 – and with the Europa League semi-final simply 4 days after this match, Amorim might nicely be cautious along with his talisman but once more.
The Crimson Devils have didn’t win every of their final six league video games with out Fernandes within the beginning lineup (D1 L5), although, in order that would definitely be a threat.