Bournemouth will look to maintain their 100% start to the league phase of the Europa League on Thursday night as they travel to the Czech capital to take on Sparta Prague.
Bournemouth’s fine run of form continued at the weekend, as they defeated Leeds United 2-0 at home in the Premier League.
After failing to win any of his opening six Premier League fixtures, Marco Rose has seen his side win each of their next three – as well as each of their previous six in all competitions – moving them up into eighth position.
The Cherries have also won their opening three league-phase fixtures, including a 1-2 away win at Real Sociedad and back-to-back 3-0 home wins over Sturm Graz and Milan.
Sparta Prague took four points from their opening two league phase matches, but suffered defeat on MD3, losing 1-0 in Piraeus to Olympiakos.
Brian Priske’s hosts were held to a goalless draw away at Bohemians at the weekend, meaning the Rudi have won just one of their previous six matches in all competitions (W1-D3-L2) – failing to score in four of their past five.
How the bookies view it: Bournemouth favourites
Bournemouth are favourites to maintain their 100% start to the league phase, with bet365 pricing a Cherries win at 1/2.
Sparta Prague are 11/2 underdogs to claim all three points, whilst the draw is 10/3.
Head to head: First-ever meeting
Unsurprisingly, Thursday’s clash in Prague will be the first-ever meeting between these two clubs.
Players to watch:
Evanilson continued his fine run of form at the weekend, as he gave Bournemouth the lead in their 2-0 win over Leeds United.
The Brazilian has now scored in five of his previous six appearances for the Cherries – including one on MD2 against Sturm Graz – and is priced at 21/20 at bet365 to Score Anytime.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Predicted line-ups:
Sparta Prague: Surovcik, Hoever, Guddal, Zeleny, Suchomel, Macek, Sochurek, Eneme, Jurasek, Alcocer, Vojta
AFC Bournemouth: Petrovic, Smith, Hill, Silva, Truffert, Adams, Christie, Rayan, Kluivert, Tavernier, Evanilson
Anything else catch the eye?
Bournemouth come into this clash off the back of six straight wins in all competitions and should extend that winning run against their out-of-form hosts.
All six of those victories have featured fewer than five goals, and a repeat pays an appealing 10/11 at bet365.
The Cherries have also remarkably kept clean sheets in each of those six straight wins, and a repeat pays a juicier 7/4 at bet365.
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