Will the Blues end their crisis in the English South West?

Chelsea FC continues to be in crisis. Even a new coach and further restructuring in the summer have not yet borne fruit. With only four points out of a possible twelve, the Blues are currently twelfth in the table. Now they are looking for a turnaround against a still winless opponent. However, Bournemouth’s betting on the favored Londoners against Chelsea is certainly not under the best of omens.
Not only have the Pensioners won just two of their last 16 Premier League games (five draws, nine defeats), but their new coach Mauricio Pochettino is winless in 13 Premier League away games (three draws, ten defeats). Accordingly, it’s risky to predict that Bournemouth will turn things around against Chelsea away from home at Dean Court.

However, there is also not an overly strong case for AFC Bournemouth to record a home win against a club as highly decorated as Chelsea after eight straight winless Premier League games now. Especially since three of the previous four wins in the Premier League against the Pensioners have come away from Stamford Bridge. However, it is not out of the question that the Blues, who are in poor form, could disgrace themselves at Dean Court.

In any case, the fact is that both teams have a hard time scoring goals. Therefore, it is interesting to bet on a maximum of two goals regardless of the outcome of the match.

Bournemouth – statistics & current form

AFC Bournemouth returned to the Premier League in the summer of 2022 after a two-year absence. The club from the ceremonial county of Dorset in the southwest of England, which was once founded under the name Boscombe, already played here between 2015 and 2020 and would like to establish itself again sustainably.

The Cherries succeeded in their mission to stay in the league right from the start. In the end, they finished a comfortable five points clear of the first relegation spot, and new coach Andoni Iraola, who was hired in the summer, is now looking to build on this success.

Winless for eight Premier League games in a row

So far, however, the 41-year-old Spaniard has been unable to maneuver the club into calmer waters. Instead, the Cherries’ winless streak has been extended and they have now failed to pick up the full three points for a season-high eight Premier League games (two draws, six defeats).

Now, that very streak could end right where it began in May with a 3-1 home defeat to Chelsea FC, against whom Bournemouth have recorded their third most wins ever in the Premier League (four) behind Leicester and Everton (five each)

First four goals in four league games

However, when it comes to Bournemouth vs Chelsea, the betting odds are overwhelmingly against a home win for Boscombe. The glaring outsider role is due in particular to the closing weakness of the southwestern English, who draw attention to themselves in many areas with negative values. For example, no other club in the Premier League fired fewer shots from corners than the Cherries (just four).

The mere four goals scored are also unconvincing, especially since two goals and one assist can be attributed to ex-Chelsea player Dominic Solanke. That ultimately makes the underdogs just a touch too predictable.

Predicted Bournemouth lineup:

Bournemouth (Expected lineup) 4-2-3-1

Chelsea – statistics & current form

Chelsea FC, for which it went successively downhill after the surprising overall victory in the Champions League in the 2020/21 season, had not only imagined the messed-up 2022/23 season completely different, which ended only on a completely sobering twelfth place.

The new season under new coach Mauricio Pochettino was also supposed to be completely different, especially since huge sums were once again spent to strengthen the team. Players such as Kai Havertz and Mason Mount were sold. Nevertheless, those responsible spent around 460 million euros on transfer fees alone.

Won only two of the last 16 Premier League games

In total, the Pensioners’ 30-man senior squad brings in a market value of around €925 million, which is one of the top values in the Premier League. However, instead of playing for the title or at least being on course for Europe, Chelsea is once again only in twelfth place.

The Blues have collected just four points out of a possible twelve, and have won only two of their last 16 matches in the English top flight (five draws, nine defeats) – the aforementioned 3:1 at Bournemouth in May 2023 and a 3:0 victory over promoted Luton on August 25.

Pure disillusionment after 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham

Lately, the Londoners even lost a home match against Nottingham Forest with 0:1, but again the offense failed to produce a goal. Accordingly, a lot of risk is associated with betting on an away win for the highly favored Blues at Bournemouth against Chelsea, who obviously can’t get their horsepower on the road even under the new coach.

It is true that the capitals were able to take the full six points against Bournemouth even in the weak 2022/23 season. However, in fact, those were the only two wins among the last five Premier League games against the Cherries (one draw, two defeats)…

Predicted Chelsea lineup:

FC Chelsea (Expected lineup) 3-4-2-1

Bournemouth – Chelsea Direct comparison / H2H balance

Head to head: 5 – 1 – 13

There have been a total of 19 meetings between the two teams so far and with 13 wins, the Blues lead the direct comparison very clearly. Also last season Chelsea took the full six points against the Cherries. However, those were the Londoners’ only two wins from their last five competitive games against Bournemouth (one draw, two defeats).

Bournemouth – Chelsea Tip

The odds are clearly in favor of Bournemouth against Chelsea, who have won just two of their last 16 Premier League games (five draws, nine defeats). Accordingly, the favorite bet is risky, especially since the Blues have already failed against West Ham United (1:3) and Nottingham Forest (0:1) in the still young season and are anything but strong in form.

However, admittedly, the Cherries are also winless for eight Premier League games (two draws, six defeats), so it makes little sense to make a prediction on the match result for Bournemouth against Chelsea. Much more interesting in our eyes is the under bet, as both teams have struggled especially in the forward play.