Tottenham Hotspur welcomes AFC Bournemouth for what promises to be an exciting Premier League clash, featuring teams placed 13th and seventh in the league table.
Nolan James Mar 9
Andoni Iraola’s side secured a 1-0 victory over Tottenham in their last meeting on December 5th. Spanish defender Dean Huijsen netted the decisive goal in the 17th minute, sealing a crucial win for Bournemouth.
Spurs have endured a disappointing campaign, currently trailing ten points behind Bournemouth. Their hopes of salvaging the season now rest on ending a 17-year trophy drought with a Europa League triumph.
Their League Cup journey ended in the semi-finals after a 4-1 aggregate defeat to Liverpool, despite earlier wins against Manchester United and Manchester City. The FA Cup also brought disappointment, with a fourth-round exit to Aston Villa (2-1).
In the Europa League, Tottenham finished fourth in the group stage but managed to advance to the Round of 16. However, their knockout hopes took a hit with a 1-0 first-leg loss to AZ Alkmaar.
Under Iraola, Bournemouth have built on last season’s strong showing, currently sitting seventh in the league with 43 points from 27 matches. They are just five points behind third-placed Nottingham Forest, highlighting their progress.
The Cherries have also made waves in the FA Cup, reaching the quarter-finals, where they will face Manchester City. Their journey included victories over West Brom (5-1), Everton (2-0), and Wolves (via penalties after a 1-1 draw).
However, their League Cup run was short-lived, as they suffered a second-round exit to West Ham, losing 1-0.
Spurs suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar in midweek, courtesy of an own goal by Lucas Bergvall in the 18th minute.
Leading up to that game, Tottenham fell 1-0 to Manchester City in the league, following back-to-back wins over Ipswich Town (4-1) and Manchester United (1-0). Their FA Cup campaign ended with a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa.
Bournemouth reached the FA Cup quarter-finals by edging past Wolves on penalties. Evanilson’s 30th-minute opener was canceled out by a stunning Matheus Cunha strike, but the Cherries held their nerve in the shootout.
Before that, they suffered back-to-back league defeats to Brighton (2-1) and Wolves (1-0) but had previously secured victories over Southampton (3-1) and Everton (2-0).
This fixture has produced plenty of entertainment, with 17 goals scored in the last five meetings. Tottenham have won three of those encounters, while Bournemouth have claimed two victories, including their 1-0 win in December.
Despite Spurs ranking 15th in home form with just 17 points from 14 matches, their matches are rarely dull, scoring 28 and conceding 24 at home. Similarly, Bournemouth have netted 28 and conceded 22 in away fixtures.
Given these attacking tendencies, a score draw seems a likely outcome in what promises to be an exciting contest.
