Bournemouth v AC Milan: Preview, predicted line-ups & team news
Bournemouth and AC Milan meet at the Vitality Stadium in Europa League league stage matchday three. The hosts have won both games so far, while the visitors are 16th after a win and a defeat.
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Bournemouth v AC Milan: the stakes
Bournemouth can move a step closer to the Europa League play-off places when they host AC Milan at the Vitality Stadium tonight.
The hosts have six points from two games and sit fifth in the 36-team table. Milan have three points and are 16th, which is inside the top 24 but only just. A second defeat of the campaign would leave them looking nervously at the cut-off.
The league phase has produced a crowded top ten. Ten sides are on six points, so goal difference already matters. Bournemouth are on plus four, Milan on plus two.
Bournemouth
AC MilanHow they got here
Bournemouth have won both games, 2-1 away at Real Sociedad on 17 September and 3-0 at home to Sturm Graz on 15 October. They have scored five and conceded one. Their recent-form numbers back that up: an average of 2.88 expected goals for and 0.37 against across the two matches, with 17 shots per game.
Milan started with a 2-0 home defeat to Benfica on 16 September, a game in which they failed to score. They bounced back with a 4-0 win away at Red Bull Salzburg on 15 October. The teenage forward A.
Rotation and selection
Domestic fixtures will shape both selections, but neither side has much room to experiment. Bournemouth are perfect and want to stay that way. Milan cannot afford a second slip, and their home form (nothing scored, two conceded) makes an away win something they badly need to prove they can repeat.
Bournemouth are well stocked in midfield but thin in attack, with Kroupi and Jebbison unavailable. Milan lose three forwards and a defender. Expect both sides to field close to their strongest available XI.
BournemouthAC Milan
Line-ups
Bournemouth4-4-2- 20GM. Di Gregorio
- 18DB. Diakité
- 5DJ. Hill
- 14DAntónio Silva
- 3DA. Truffert
- 16MM. Tavernier
- 10MR. Christie
- 12MT. Adams
- 11FB. Doak
- 9FEvanilson
- 19FJ. Kluivert
AC Milan3-4-2-1- 16GM. Maignan
- 23DF. Tomori
- 5DK. De Winter
- 31DS. Pavlović
- 20FO. Hutchinson
- 80MY. Musah
- 30MA. Jashari
- 2DP. Estupiñán
- 8MR. Loftus-Cheek
- 22DDiego Moreira
- 70FA. Cissè
Where to watch Bournemouth v AC Milan: TV and online streams
Kick-off is at 20:00 BST on Thursday 22 October. A UK broadcaster has not been confirmed for this fixture, and this page will be updated closer to kick-off.
This is a single league-phase match, not a two-legged tie. There is no extra time or penalty shoot-out, so if the game is level after 90 minutes the draw stands and a point goes to each side.
Stats for Bournemouth v AC Milan
- Bournemouth have won both Europa League games this season, scoring five and conceding one, with one clean sheet.
- Bournemouth have scored three goals in their only home game, a 3-0 win over Sturm Graz.
- Milan have scored four without reply away from home and none in their only home game, a 2-0 defeat by Benfica.
- Both of Bournemouth's games have gone over 1.5 goals, and one of the two has gone over 2.5.
Match Result: Bournemouth to win
Bournemouth have won both league-phase games, scoring 2.5 goals a match with an expected goals against average of 0.37. Milan have yet to score or win at home but carry a real threat on the break through A. The hosts' superior shot volume and home form should be enough to edge a tight contest, and 20/21 about a home win is fair.