Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 4/7
Bookmaker: Dachbet
Two camps who will sign off their respective summer adventures on Sunday night, Bournemouth and West Ham will meet in Atlanta.
Bournemouth
Starting with Bournemouth, missing out on the chance to collect a heavyweight scalp earlier in the week as they eventually fell to a 4-1 drumming at the hands of Manchester United, Andoni Iraola’s camp are seeking an immediate response on Sunday night. However, getting their summer tour of the United States underway with a routine 3-0 victory against Everton in New York last weekend, the former Rayo Vallecano boss has seen his squad gain a string of plaudits over the past 12 months. Despite falling short in the race to book an iconic European ticket last season, the Cherries did clinch just a second top-half finish among England’s elite. Despite showing some extended defensive issues on either side of the summer break, Bournemouth will be confident of signing off their pre-season preparations with a flurry in Atlanta.
Bournemouth Team News
Completing a permanent switch from Chelsea this summer, Serbian goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic will start between the sticks on Sunday night. Likewise, fellow new recruit Adrien Truffert should make a full return at left-back.
Expected to complete a big-money move to French giants PSG this month, it remains to be seen if Ilya Zabarnyi will play any part. With Iraola once again expected to make a string of alterations here, the likes of David Brooks and USA international Tyler Adams could be handed full recalls.
West Ham
As for West Ham, making an eye-catching comeback against Everton earlier in the week as they claimed a 2-1 victory in Chicago, the Hammers should take plenty of positives away from a largely dominant performance on Wednesday night. Looking to find some crucial stability under Graham Potter this time around, the former Chelsea boss has plenty of exceptions on his shoulders. Although West Ham might have suffered just a single defeat from any of their final four Premier League appearances this season, Potter’s side are searching for their own defensive steel. Getting their summer tour of the United States underway with a 2-1 defeat against Manchester United last weekend, they did muster just a sole clean sheet from any of their final 11 top-flight matchups.
West Ham Team News
Not featuring since the end of January and still recovering from a long-term hamstring injury, former Leeds talisman Crysencio Summerville has not travelled over to the United States this summer.
Coming off the bench and bagging the winner against Everton earlier in the week, German international marksman Niclas Fullkrug should be handed a full recall. Making a real impact this summer, academy graduate Freddie Potts should keep his spot in the middle of the park.
Bournemouth vs West Ham Key Factors to Consider
- Bournemouth and West Ham played out a pair of Premier League stalemates when they met last season.
- In fact, four of the last five meetings between Sunday’s opponents have finished in a draw.
- West Ham are unbeaten in all of their previous seven meetings against Bournemouth (three wins, four draws).
- The Hammers mustered just a single clean sheet from any of their final 11 Premier League appearances last season.
- Likewise, continuing on from their summer preparations, Bournemouth have registered just a sole clean sheet from their last nine outings.
Conclusion
Watching Bournemouth and West Ham play out a thrilling 2-2 stalemate when they last met back in April, neutrals will be hoping for for another thriller on Sunday night. Two camps who have failed to find any real defensive stability on either side of the summer break, chances could come thick and fast in Atlanta. It should be highlighted, with the two Premier League outfits seeing four of their previous five meetings finish with both teams finding the net, we are expecting a similar outcome this weekend.
Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 4/7
Bookmaker: Dachbet