Premier League 26/27 · Round 7 ·
AFC Bournemouth vs Sunderland AFC preview: Bournemouth host Sunderland with both sides chasing a first away win
Bournemouth welcome Sunderland to Vitality Stadium with both clubs sitting just above the relegation zone and still searching for a first away victory. The most important finding is that Sunderland's away attack has been far more productive than Bournemouth's home attack, scoring 1.7 goals per match on the road against Bournemouth's 1.0 at home.
By 10xSharp · Published
This preview was published before kickoff. The match has finished: see the result and full stats. Read the match report.
Key absences hit both attacks
Bournemouth are without six players, including midfielders Justin Kluivert and Alex Scott. Those two have scored 2 goals between them, 29% of the side's goals in this competition. Sunderland's list is shorter but sharper: striker Brian Brobbey, who has scored 3 goals, 50% of the side's goals in this competition, is unavailable. Midfielder Habib Diarra is also out. Wilson Isidor becomes Sunderland's leading available scorer with 1 goal.
Tavernier carries Bournemouth, Isidor steps up
Marcus Tavernier is Bournemouth's top scorer with 3 goals in 6 matches, 43% of the team's goals in this competition. He is sixth in the scoring chart. Evanilson has provided 3 assists. For Sunderland, Brian Brobbey's 3 goals are unavailable, leaving Wilson Isidor and Nilson Angulo as the main threats with 1 goal each. Angulo also has 1 assist.
Sunderland edge the form table
Sunderland arrive in better form, taking 4 points from their last six matches versus 3 for Bournemouth. Bournemouth's last six record is 0 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses, while Sunderland's is 1 win, 1 draw and 4 losses. Both teams lost their most recent match. Sunderland are winless in their last 3 away matches. Both sides have had 8 days since their last match.
Two points separate struggling sides
Sunderland sit 17th with 4 points, one place and one point above Bournemouth in 18th with 3 points. Bournemouth's home record is 0 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss. Sunderland's away record is 0 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses. Bournemouth have a goal difference of -1 at home, while Sunderland's away goal difference is -3.
History is evenly split
Across 6 meetings, Bournemouth have won 2, Sunderland have won 2, and there have been 2 draws. Bournemouth have scored 8 goals to Sunderland's 7. The most recent meeting ended 1-1 in February 2026. Both teams scored in 67% of these matches. The average total goals is 2.5.
Sunderland's away attack is sharper
Sunderland hold a large attacking edge. They score 1.7 goals per away match, better than the league average for an away side on the road. Bournemouth manage 1.0 goals per home match, worse than the league average for a home side at home. Bournemouth's home figure comes across 3 home matches, Sunderland's away figure across 3 away matches.
Bournemouth's home defense is tighter
Bournemouth hold a large defensive edge. They concede 1.3 goals per home match, level with the league average conceded by a home side at home. Sunderland concede 2.7 goals per away match, worse than the league average conceded by an away side on the road. Bournemouth's home figure comes across 3 home matches, Sunderland's away figure across 3 away matches.
Bournemouth test the keeper more
Bournemouth average 5.17 shots on target per match, compared to Sunderland's 3.5. Sunderland see more of their shots blocked, averaging 4.5 blocked shots per match against Bournemouth's 3.17. Bournemouth also average more shots off target, 4.17 to Sunderland's 3.67.
Bournemouth start fast, both leak late
Bournemouth score 43% of their goals in the 31-45 minute window, their peak scoring band. They concede 31% of their goals in the 76-90 minute window, against 0% of the goals they score in that window. Sunderland's peak scoring band is also 31-45, with 33% of their goals. Sunderland concede 33% of their goals in each of the 76-90 and 46-60 windows, against 17% and 17% of the goals they score in those windows respectively.
Bournemouth's matches trend higher
67% of Bournemouth's matches this season have gone over 2.5 goals, compared to 33% of Sunderland's. Bournemouth's home matches are lower-scoring: 33% of their home matches have gone over 2.5 goals, against 100% of their away matches. Sunderland's away matches are higher-scoring: 0% of their home matches have gone over 2.5 goals, against 67% of their away matches.
A tight match with contrasting strengths
Sunderland's away attack gives them a clear edge going forward, while Bournemouth's home defense is the more solid unit. Bournemouth's higher shot volume and fast starts suggest they will create chances, but their late-game vulnerability is a concern. Sunderland's away matches have been higher-scoring, and their defense has been leaky on the road. The market prices the total at 2.75 goals, with a slight lean to the under.