Chelsea in desparate race for 5th place in season finale against Cherries.
Chelsea vs
AFC Bournemouth
Chelsea aims to secure a fifth successive win and a potential fifth-place finish as they face Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge in the season's final showdown.
Chelsea
Chelsea have continued to fan the flames of their remarkable season-end turnaround, moving up to 6th place after a midweek 2-1 win over Brighton, despite being down to ten men. The Blues scored four minutes after the half-hour mark with a fabulous header from Cole Palmer [34’].
Another goal from Christopher Nkunku [64’] gave Chelsea a two-goal lead before the Seagulls' spirited fightback netted a late goal from Danny Welbeck [90’+7]. The win extended Chelsea's winning streak to four games [DWWWW], giving them 60 points [17W, 9D, & 11L] and leaving a mathematically possible 5th-place finish.
It has been an unprecedented season which has largely seen Chelsea in the mid-table spots. The Blues are only three points behind Tottenham, who currently occupy 5th place. Chelsea will face Bournemouth in the final game of the season, and they are on a four-game unbeaten run against the visitors [2W, 2D, 0L].
A victory against the Cherries could see Chelsea leapfrog Spurs, who play against already-relegated Sheffield United. Mauricio Pochettino's 4-2-3-1 formation will feature Nicolas Jackson in attack, while Reece James is suspended after picking up a red card against the Seagulls in the midweek clash.
AFC Bournemouth
Bournemouth, with 48 points (13W, 9D, and 15L), are positioned 11th on the Premier League table after suffering back-to-back defeats. The Cherries lost 2-1 to Brentford last weekend and have very little to play for except a 10th-place finish ahead of Brighton, who currently occupy the spot.
The Cherries have won 50% of their Premier League away games against Chelsea (3/6), which is the best win rate by a visiting side at Stamford Bridge. They have alternated between winning (3) and losing (3) their final game in the last six seasons, losing 1-0 to Everton last term.
Manager Andoni Iraola would like to see this trend continue when his side makes the trip to Stamford Bridge for the season’s finale, having shared a goalless draw in the reverse fixture. A 4-2-3-1 formation with Dominic Solanke in attack is expected, as Solanke has impressed with 19 goals and three assists, accounting for 42% of Bournemouth’s 53 goals this season.
