Bournemouth vs Sunderland Premier League preview, team news and prediction

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Unbeaten in the league since early January, Bournemouth host a struggling Sunderland side sitting four places below them in the Premier League table, looking to secure a win in Saturday’s gameweek 28 clash. Sunderland arrive on the back of three consecutive defeats—matching their total losses from the previous 12 games—highlighting the tough task ahead for Regis Le Bris’s side against one of the division’s in-form teams.

Bournemouth have drawn 11 times this season, including a recent goalless stalemate with West Ham, more than any other team in the 2025-26 campaign. This has left Andoni Iraola’s men seven points behind fifth-placed Chelsea, despite their strong form. While a top-five finish remains a long shot, Bournemouth’s unbeaten run is keeping their European hopes alive, with only Manchester City and Manchester United picking up more points (13) than the Cherries’ 11 over the past five gameweeks.

At home, Bournemouth have taken seven points from their last three matches at the Vitality Stadium, including 3-2 wins over Tottenham and Liverpool and a draw with Aston Villa. They now aim to go four home games unbeaten for the second time this season, a likely prospect given Sunderland’s current struggles.

Despite Granit Xhaka’s return, Sunderland have suffered three straight losses—their worst run since returning to the top flight. However, with an 11-point cushion over the relegation zone, their Premier League safety looks all but assured. With little pressure, Le Bris will focus on ending their losing streak, though Sunderland’s away form is a concern: just two wins from 13 away games, with a league-low six goals scored and 20 conceded. After three straight away defeats, the Black Cats are hoping for their first road victory since beating Chelsea 2-1 in October.

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Tyler Adams made his first start since December 2 without issue and could be in line to start again when Sunderland visit, having scored in the reverse fixture—a 3-2 defeat for Bournemouth in November. Although Bournemouth emerged from last weekend without any new injury concerns, Andoni Iraola’s side remain without Justin Kluivert (knee), Ben Gannon-Doak (thigh), and Julio Soler, while Lewis Cook’s hamstring will be assessed before the match.

After recording their third goalless draw of the season—only Crystal Palace and Newcastle United have more—Eli Junior Kroupi will be eager to return to scoring form, having netted eight league goals from just 26 shots this season. Rayan, who missed the chance to become the first teenager to score or assist in each of his first four league appearances, is expected to start on Saturday, looking to add to his two goals and one assist since joining last month.

For Sunderland, manager Régis Le Bris faces a decision on captain Xhaka, who was only fit enough for a second-half cameo last weekend. The team’s injury woes deepened with in-game knocks to Nordi Mukiele, Jocelin Ta Bi, and Brian Brobbey, all of whom will be assessed ahead of Saturday. If they are ruled out, Sunderland could be missing up to six players, with Romaine Mundle (thigh), Dennis Cirkin (thigh), and Reinildo Mandava (knee) already expected to be sidelined.

Brobbey’s potential absence would be a major setback, as he has scored two of Sunderland’s six away goals this season—accounting for a third of their total on the road.

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