In a highly anticipated match, Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe returns to familiar surroundings as his Magpies side head south to meet Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in the Premier League.
The visitors triumphed over Southampton 1-0 on the opening weekend despite being reduced to 10 men early on. Meanwhile, the Cherries salvaged a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest.
However, the on-field action took a backseat to a horrific ankle injury sustained by Forest midfielder Danilo, leaving a somber mood. Bournemouth now look to bounce back at home for their first Premier League match of the 2024-25 season.
Bournemouth had a strong record at home from November 2023 onwards, only suffering three losses against top-tier teams like Liverpool and Manchester City. In their last home game of the previous season, they fell 2-1 to Brentford.
The Vitality Stadium hasn’t been kind to Bournemouth in August, as they have failed to win their last eight Premier League matches in the month. With only three goals scored and 23 conceded in that period, the Cherries will look to turn things around.
On the other hand, Newcastle managed to secure a 1-0 victory over Southampton in their opening fixture, with Joelinton’s goal proving to be decisive. This win marked the end of a six-game streak without a clean sheet in the top flight.
Shutting out Russell Martin’s men at St James’ Park was a positive sign for Newcastle, but a clean sheet at the Vitality seems unlikely. The Magpies were involved in high-scoring games last season, with 76 goals scored in their 19 away matches.
Newcastle will be looking to avenge a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth at the Vitality last November, where they struggled to break down their opponents. The Magpies have also gone four games without a win against the Cherries, with their last victory in this fixture coming in 2020 when Howe was still in charge on the South Coast.
