With just one week to go until their Premier League comeback begins, Bournemouth welcome Real Sociedad to the Vitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
While the hosts will be making their final preparations for the 2022-23 campaign, La Real arrive on the South Coast with a fortnight remaining before they kick off in Cadiz.
Match preview
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After Bournemouth put in an underwhelming performance in their 1-0 home defeat to Bristol City last time out, they now prepare for the toughest test of their pre-season schedule in need of a morale-boosting result.
The Premier League newcomers were also beaten by Braga last week, as they concluded their training camp in Portugal with a 2-1 loss, and following successive reverses, manager Scott Parker has demanded significant improvement.
In their final friendly before opening the Premier League season against Aston Villa next Saturday, the Cherries will therefore aim for a first victory since they got their summer programme off to a winning start against League One side Sheffield Wednesday.
Following their runners-up finish in the Championship last term, Bournemouth are expected to face a fight for survival this season, and have been slow to move in the transfer market during the summer.
As Parker continues bolstering his squad in readiness for the unremitting demands of the top flight - Marcus Tavernier is soon to be confirmed as his third signing of the current window - he will be targeting a win on home soil, where the Dorset club were beaten just three times in 23 league games last season.
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Following a promising start last year, Real Sociedad secured sixth spot in La Liga, finishing eight points behind fourth-placed Sevilla, which earns them another shot at the Europa League.
Although the Basque club tailed off somewhat, and exited Europe at the first knockout stage, they remain among Spain's top teams; harbouring ambitions of another challenge for the top four in the coming campaign.
Imanol Alguacil's side had already lost to Toulouse and drawn at Borussia Monchengladbach in their opening warm-ups for the 2022-23 season, before securing a first pre-season victory on Wednesday.
Beating fellow Primera Division outfit Osasuna provides La Real with a shot in the arm before their trip to England, and Imanol will certainly be looking for more positive signs, given a tough start to their schedule in the league.
Set to face both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the course of their first four fixtures, Los Txuri-Urdin will certainly have their work cut out to establish themselves among the early pace-setters.
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Team News
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Though Marcus Tavernier has yet to formalise his move to the South Coast, Bournemouth boss Scott Parker should include both Joe Rothwell and Ryan Fredericks in his squad on Saturday.
The Cherries' two recruits so far this summer arrived on free transfers, and the latter will now hope to start after missing out last weekend with a calf problem. Captain Lloyd Kelly was also sidelined against Bristol City, but should overcome a knock.
Goals from Lewis Cook and Dominic Solanke earned a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday earlier this month, before a defeat to Braga in which Solanke netted again, and the former Liverpool striker is set to lead the line up front.
Meanwhile, Real Sociedad have added to their attacking options by signing Take Kubo from Real Madrid and French youth international forward Mohamed Ali Cho from Ligue 1 club Angers.
Imanol Alguacil has also secured the future of in-demand defender Robin Le Normand and goalkeeper Alex Remiro, who have both penned contract extensions at the San Sebastian club.
All four should feature on Saturday, with Manchester city legend David Silva also in line to play a part on his return to English soil.
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Travers; Smith, Mepham, Kelly, Zemura; Lerma, Cook; Stanislas, Billing, Christie; Solanke
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Gorosabel, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Rico; Merino, Illarramendi; Kubo, Silva, Cho; Isak
We say: Bournemouth 1-2 Real Sociedad
As preparations for their Premier League return have not gone as smoothly as desired - both in terms of results and recruitment - Bournemouth could be caught out again this weekend. A visiting side packed with European experience should therefore seal successive friendly wins.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
