- Home form: Bournemouth are winless in three home matches in the Premier League 2026/2027 (D2, L1).
- Away form: Sunderland are without a win in three away from home in the Premier League 2026/2027 (D1, L2), but have scored five goals on the road.
- Recent play: Bournemouth have played more positively than the Black Cats in recent weeks.
Cherries and Black Cats are both struggling
Bournemouth and Sunderland will look to put the other in the relegation zone when they matchup at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday. Bournemouth sit 17th in the Premier League 2026/2027 table with three points from six matches, while Sunderland are 16th with four points from the same number of games.
The Cherries have had a mixed start to the campaign, but two successive defeats to Liverpool and Chelsea aren't anything to be ashamed of. They have been a little more positive in the last couple of games, so it's interesting to compare their tactics with Sunderland's, who have also had a patchy start to the season and are coming off back-to-back defeats against Manchester City and Brighton.
Sunderland are sitting deep against the bigger teams
Pressing and width
Marco Rose's side plays a fairly narrow Red-Bull style press with fast vertical breaks and full-backs providing the width. The Bournemouth boss has Evanilson as the creative spark behind three assists in five matches for the Cherries.
Compact structure
Sunderland set up in a more disciplined 4-2-3-1 with a trigger-based press, but a more structured passing game on the whole. Régis Le Bris' side will stay compact, using structured possession.
Black Cats can get on the scoresheet
Both teams to score looks live at 1.67, with Over 2.5 goals at 1.8 also appealing.
Sunderland can get on the board, but Bournemouth should have enough to get all three points.
The odds suggest a close game is expected, so I'm siding with a 2-1 victory for Bournemouth.
- The Black Cats have scored five away goals, and Brian Brobbey has been their main man with three Premier League 2026/2027 goals in five matches.
- Bournemouth have been a bit more positive recently, with Ryan Christie getting off the mark for the season with his three Premier League 2026/2027 strikes in five games.
- Bournemouth are 1.97 favorites for the win, with Sunderland 3.55 and the draw also 3.55.
- Marcus Tavernier has three Premier League 2026/2027 goals in five matches and will be the main finisher for Bournemouth.
- Bournemouth drew the last clash at Vitality Stadium 1-1 seven months ago and Sunderland have taken one of the last two head-to-heads since.
