As the race for European football in the Premier League intensifies, Brighton & Hove Albion are set to host Bournemouth at the Amex Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Seagulls trounced Southampton 4-0 on Saturday and are in ninth place with 40 points, three points behind sixth-placed Bournemouth, who were beaten 1-0 by Wolverhampton Wanderers on February 22.
Match preview
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Brighton were outstanding against Southampton, with the victors creating nearly four xG, producing 10 big chances and attempting 15 shots from inside the box.
Boss Fabian Hurzeler will be pleased by his side's response to their 7-0 thrashing at the hands of Nottingham Forest on February 1 given his team have only conceded once in their three games since while scoring nine times.
The Seagulls sneaked their way into the 2023-24 edition of the Europa League – the first time they had qualified for Europe in their history – and there is every chance that they claim a place on the continent again considering just four points separate them from fourth-placed Manchester City.
Hurzeler will hope that his team can repeat their performance against Bournemouth from earlier in the season on November 23 when his side emerged as 2-1 winners despite Carlos Baleba's 59th-minute red card.
Brighton have won six of their last eight matches – losing two - while keeping four clean sheets, and their tally of 12 points in their past six league games is only bettered by Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton.
The hosts beat Chelsea in both of their two most recent home fixtures, but they did fail to win their previous five at the Amex, drawing three and losing two.
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Opponents Bournemouth lost 1-0 against relegation-threatened Wolves and produced just 0.62 xG, their second-lowest tally in any Premier League match this campaign.
The nature of their performance can be mitigated by the fact they were reduced to 10 men in the 31st minute, and it should also be pointed out that only Chelsea and Liverpool have created more xG in the top flight this term.
Manager Andoni Iraola has implemented a very direct style of play, but his team's defensive performances have perhaps gone under the radar given only Liverpool and Arsenal have conceded fewer goals per match.
The Cherries achieved their highest ever points total in 2023-24 (48) but are on track to record to comfortably surpass that figure (63), and their projected total would have been enough to qualify for Europe last season.
Bournemouth's form in recent weeks has been outstanding considering they have triumphed in 10 of their last 16 in all competitions, drawing four and losing two in that time.
The visitors are also unbeaten away from home in their past eight games – achieving victory in six matches – and scored 22 goals and conceded on nine occasions in that period.
Team News
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Brighton are set to be without centre-backs Lewis Dunk and Igor, as well as goalkeeper Jason Steele, and their absences could lead Hurzeler to start Adam Webster and Jan Paul van Hecke in front of Bart Verbruggen.
Jack Hinshelwood and Pervis Estupinan are candidates to appear on the right and left of a back four respectively given full-back Ferdi Kadioglu's toe injury will likely keep him from the pitch until the middle of March.
James Milner is still sidelined by a hamstring injury, and that could mean Carlos Baleba and Yasin Ayari will retain their places in midfield following their strong showing against Southampton.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth will not be able to select centre-back Illia Zabarnyi, who was sent off against Wolves, as well as Marcos Senesi as a result of injury.
Full-backs Adam Smith and Julian Araujo are also unavailable, so expect to see a back four featuring James Hill, Lewis Cook, Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez.
Given striker Enes Unal has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a cruciate ligament injury, Dango Ouattara will almost certainly be supported by attackers Marcus Tavernier, Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo.
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Hinshelwood, Webster, Van Hecke, Estupinan; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Pedro
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Arrizabalaga; Hill, Cook, Huijsen, Kerkez; Adams, Christie; Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo; Ouattara
We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-3 Bournemouth
Bournemouth's defence will undoubtedly be tested given Zabarnyi's dismissal last time out, and the hosts could create several opportunities in front of goal.
However, the Cherries' form on the road is outstanding, and they will feel they can regularly threaten Brighton during counter-attacks.
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Lewis Nolan
