Sabasports Match Preview
Premier League: AFC Bournemouth vs Wolves
Kickoff Time: 2025-08-23 22:00 (HKT)
Source: REUTERS/Peter Powell
Last season, AFC Bournemouth finished in ninth place, just nine points away from the European qualification zone. After the summer transfer window opened, the team rebuilt their defense, with key defenders Ilya Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, and left-back Milos Kerkez all leaving. To replace them, Bournemouth signed central defender Bafode Diakite from Lille, left-back Adrien Truffert from Rennes, winger Ben Doak from Liverpool, winger Amine Adli from Bayer Leverkusen, and goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea. From the first match of the season, although they lost to Liverpool, they scored two goals, and their overall performance can be considered acceptable. Forward Antoine Semenyo scored twice, showing great form. Last season, he was the team’s key player, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists in the league.
Thanks to the general poor performance of the promoted teams last season, Wolves managed to avoid relegation without much pressure. After the summer transfer window opened, they also sold several key players: forward Matheus Cunha, who contributed 15 goals and six assists, forward Goncalo Guedes (two goals, four assists), winger Pablo Sarabia (three goals, two assists), left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri (37 starts, four goals, seven assists), and right-back Nelson Semedo (32 starts, four assists). The team changed both flanks. In terms of signings, Wolves’ strategy seems a bit confusing – they’ve brought in relatively unknown young players such as winger Fer Lopez from Celta Vigo, winger Jhon Arias from Brazilian Serie A, defender Jackson Tchatchoua from Verona, and full-back David Moller Wolfe from AZ Alkmaar. Compared to last season, their attacking and defensive strength has significantly decreased. In their first match of the season, Wolves suffered a 4-0 defeat at home against Manchester City. Including pre-season friendly matches, Wolves has now gone five games without a win. It’s clear that their preparation for the new season has been inadequate.
From the first match, Wolves played without any organization, making as many as 14 mistakes. In contrast, Bournemouth played more cohesively, with only four mistakes. Although both teams lost several key players, Bournemouth’s squad has shown better chemistry than Wolves. Considering this is Bournemouth’s first home game of the new season, the home team is likely to be more motivated and eager to reward their fans with a victory. Facing a poorly integrated Wolves side, Bournemouth will not miss the chance to take all three points.
AFC Bournemouth‘s Last 5 Games: LLLWW
25-08-16 Liverpool 4-2 AFC Bournemouth
25-08-04 AFC Bournemouth 0-2 West Ham United
25-07-31 Manchester United 4-1 AFC Bournemouth
25-07-27 Everton 0-3 AFC Bournemouth
25-05-25 AFC Bournemouth 2-0 Leicester City
Wolves’ Last 5 Games: LLDLL
25-08-17 Wolves 0-4 Manchester City
25-08-09 Wolves 0-1 Celta Vigo
25-05-25 Wolves 1-1 Brentford
25-05-21 Crystal Palace 4-2 Wolves
25-05-10 Wolves 0-2 Brighton
Head-To-Head Record
25-03-01 AFC Bournemouth 1-1 Wolves (AET 0-0 PEN 5-4)
25-02-22 AFC Bournemouth 0-1 Wolves
24-11-30 Wolves 2-4 AFC Bournemouth
24-04-25 Wolves 0-1 AFC Bournemouth
23-10-21 AFC Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves
Prediction: AFC Bournemouth to win