1 Nottingham Forest vs 1 AFC Bournemouth
'We know Bournemouth' Nottingham boss Nuno says ahead of weekend opener.
Nottingham Forest kick off their season against Bournemouth at City Ground this Saturday at 15:00 [GMT+1], with both teams looking for a strong start following contrasting pre-seasons and summer transfer activities.
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest will face Bournemouth at home for the season opener this Saturday. Having finished just four points above the relegation zone last season, Forest boss Nuno Espírito Santo will be aiming for a much better campaign this term.
An impressive pre-season saw the Tricky Trees lose just once, against Elche [0-1], despite participating in six club friendlies. "It was one of the main objectives we had, to go away in pre-season and work on things we don’t usually have time for, tactically, mentally, and physically," Nuno said, summarizing the tour as a success.
However, a less-than-stellar record against the visitors may dampen spirits at City Ground ahead of Saturday’s opener. The hosts have remained winless in their last eight league games against Bournemouth [0W, 3D, 5L], and Nottingham have lost their opening game in the last five seasons.
"We know that Bournemouth have a strong squad; Dominic Solanke is a good player who is not going to be involved in the game [following his departure], but they have quality players all over the pitch," Nuno added in his pre-match press conference before speaking about Nottingham's new signings. He is expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation with Chris Wood in attack.
AFC Bournemouth
Bournemouth, on the other hand, finished just one point outside the top ten last season. This term, they will be looking to finish further up the table following recent additions to the club.
The Cherries secured the signature of Luis Sinisterra from Leeds United, while Enes Ünal joined the club from Getafe for €16 million. Right back Julián Araujo also made the switch from Barcelona after €10 million changed hands.
The Cherries will be facing Nottingham Forest for the second time in an opening league match, following a goalless draw in a League One opener back in 2007–08. This weekend, they will be looking to extend their unbeaten four-game run, having gone without defeat in the last four-season openers.
Andoni Iraola will be without prized asset Dominic Solanke, who made the switch to Tottenham for a mouth-watering offer of €64 million. Nevertheless, the 42-year-old is expected to deploy a 4—2—3—1 with Semenyo in attack for Saturday’s trip to City Ground.
As many as three players, including new arrival Enes Ünal, will not be available for the Cherries when they face Forest.
Team form
Showing the latest five games—giving you a quick look at recent performance trends. Teams in good form tend to do well in the next match.
Team Comparison
Side-by-side assessment of team statistics, including goals, attacks, and more. This allows you to directly compare key performance metrics. Analyzing these stats can reveal patterns and strengths that might influence the outcome.