At risk of seeing their Champions League hopes dissipate entirely, an out-of-sorts Bournemouth side host a Brentford outfit who have discovered that winning feeling in Premier League away matches.
The Cherries threw away a two-goal advantage in last weekend's 2-2 stalemate with Tottenham Hotspur, while the Bees' home woes continued in a painful 1-0 loss to Aston Villa.
Match preview
© Imago
Still basking in the post-FA Cup glow after reaching the quarter-finals of the prestigious competition, Bournemouth were also on their way to Premier League redemption when Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson sent the Cherries two goals ahead at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
However, one Pape Sarr strike and one Son Heung-min penalty later, Andoni Iraola's men dropped another two points in the heated fight for Champions League football, where they have fallen off the pace amid a disappointing three-match winless run.
On account of taking just the one point from nine on offer in that time, Bournemouth have slipped to ninth place in the Premier League rankings, but such is the congested nature of the top half that Iraola's side are still only five points back from Chelsea in fourth place.
Of course, a strong UEFA coefficient could also see fifth guarantee UCL football next term, but the Cherries are not the same eye-catching force they once were; after going 11 without defeat in the top flight from November 30 to January 25, they have now lost three of their last five.
In fact, only Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City - the bottom three sides - have taken fewer points than Bournemouth's four since the start of February, and the hosts could now lose three straight Premier League home games without scoring for the first time ever.
© Imago
Bournemouth's bid to avoid that unwanted slice of club history will not be helped by Brentford's unforeseen revival on the road of late, but the Bees' impressive away displays have come at a significant cost at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Formerly the most feared team in the land on their own patch, Thomas Frank's side have now gone eight without a win on home soil following last week's reverse to Villa, where Ollie Watkins inevitably struck the only goal against his former club.
As Bournemouth struggle to display their continental credentials, the European adventure will surely have to be put on hold for Saturday's visitors too, as they have slipped to 12th in the table and have an eight-point disadvantage to Brighton & Hove Albion in seventh spot.
However, for all of Brentford's misery on home soil of late, they have remarkably won each of their last four Premier League contests on the road; the last time they won five straight league games away from home, they were a League One side in the 2010-11 season.
During the autumnal era of thrilling Brentford home spectacles, Frank masterminded a 3-2 win over Bournemouth to make it eight league games unbeaten against the Cherries, who have never faced a team in the Premier League more times without winning than the Bees; coincidentally, Brentford have never played an opponent more times without losing in the competition.
Team News
© Imago
Injury was added to insult for Bournemouth against Tottenham last weekend, as Ryan Christie - who is managing a chronic groin injury - could not last the full 90, while Antoine Semenyo was also forced off the pitch in the closing stages.
However, the early indications are that the latter was simply suffering from cramp, meaning that he should not join Enes Unal (knee), Marcos Senesi (thigh), Adam Smith (calf) and Julian Araujo (thigh) on the sidelines this weekend.
On a brighter note, defensive rock Ilya Zabarnyi is available again following a three-game suspension, meaning that James Hill could shift over to right-back as Lewis Cook replaces Christie in midfield.
On Brentford's end, Frank has confirmed that Sepp van den Berg is on track to return from a knee problem in time for the weekend, but Michael Kayode (unspecified) is unlikely to make the cut.
None of the Bees' other long-term injury victims will be back yet, as Gustavo Nunes (back), Josh Dasilva (knee), Aaron Hickey (fitness), Rico Henry (thigh) and Igor Thiago (knee) are still missing and have been joined on the sidelines by Fabio Carvalho, who recently dislocated his shoulder.
In spite of last week's disappointment, Frank may elect to keep faith with the same lineup, as Yoane Wissa chases the two goal involvements that would see him hit 50 direct contributions in the Premier League; he currently sits on 39 goals and nine assists.
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Kepa; Hill, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Cook, Adams; Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier; Evanilson
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Flekken; Ajer, Collins, Pinnock, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Norgaard; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa
We say: Bournemouth 2-2 Brentford
Expect another high-octane encounter between two sides who love to attack with intensity, and Brentford's recent spate of away successes means that they have a brilliant chance of avoiding defeat.
An entertaining stalemate is seemingly the likeliest outcome, but do not be surprised to see this game go down to the wire; Bournemouth have scored a league-high eight goals in second-half added time in the 2024-25 Premier League, while Brentford have conceded six such strikes, the second-most behind Villa's seven.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
