AFC Bournemouth will host Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, February 22, 2025, with kickoff set for 15:00 GMT (10:00 ET). The match promises to be intriguing, as Bournemouth sits 5th on the Premier League table, eyeing Champions League qualification, unlike Wolves, who are languishing near the relegation zone.
The home side has had an impressive season under managerial guidance from Andoni Iraola, having lost just once since late November. Their last match saw them triumph over Southampton with a scoreline of 3-1, where standout performances from Dango Ouattara and Ryan Christie proved pivotal. Currently, Bournemouth has 43 points from 25 matches and has the joint-third best defensive record with only 29 goals conceded.
Meanwhile, Wolverhampton, currently placed 17th, has found the going tough this season, with only 19 points accrued from their matches. A difficult fixture against league leaders Liverpool resulted in another defeat, yet the team showed promise during the second half, indicating potential for improvement under manager Vítor Pereira. Nonetheless, they need to find consistency if they wish to avoid relegation.
This clash marks their latest encounter, and historically, Bournemouth has had the upper hand, winning three of the last five matchups, with the most recent game ending 4-2 in favor of the Cherries last November.
Despite their strong form and home advantage, Bournemouth will be missing several key players, including Evanilson and Enes Ünal due to injury. Marcus Tavernier might step up to strengthen the attacking line after his impactful substitute appearance last week. Similarly, Wolves will have to cope without key attackers such as Hwang Hee-chan and Sasa Kalajdzic, compounding their challenges on their trip to the south coast.
The match referee will be Michael Salisbury, with VAR officiated by Stuart Attwell, overseeing fan and team expectations at the Vitality Stadium.
Considering the current form and overall league standings, Bournemouth enters this match as the clear favorite. They have been scoring goals consistently, leading to predictions of another solid performance against Wolves, who are grappling with injuries and inconsistent form. Betting odds reflect this likelihood, favoring Bournemouth's victory.
For those unable to attend, live commentary will be available on BBC Radio Solent or through streaming services like Peacock for those located outside of the UK.
With Bournemouth's confident display and Wolves’ struggle, many expect this fixture to result in another win for the Cherries, solidifying their quest for European competition next season.