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Analysis of the match between Chelsea and Bournemouth
Having collected just one point from a possible six in their last two league matches, Chelsea are in urgent need of a victory over Bournemouth to regain confidence in the race for a top-four finish this season. Although the Blues lost three of their first five home Premier League games against Bournemouth (winning two), they are now unbeaten in their last three meetings with the Cherries at Stamford Bridge (two wins, one draw).
This marks only the second time Chelsea have faced the same opponent twice within the same month in the Premier League, the previous instance being two draws against Manchester United in December 1998. There are also positive signs heading into this round.
Chelsea lost 0-2 to Ipswich in their final Premier League match of 2024, but they have not lost their last league game of a calendar year in consecutive years since the 1990/91 season, both times against Luton. Furthermore, when Chelsea play their final league match of the year at home, they have lost just once in their last 22 such games (13 wins, eight draws), a 1-3 defeat to Aston Villa in December 2011.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth have won their final Premier League match of the year only once in the past seven calendar years (one draw, five defeats), that victory being a 3-0 win over Cardiff in December 2021. In this match, the visitors will pin their hopes on Antoine Semenyo.
Semenyo has already scored away goals at Anfield and Old Trafford this season. If he finds the net again here, he would become just the fourth player to score away against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United in a single Premier League campaign, after Kevin Nolan (2001/02), Gabriel Agbonlahor (2006/07) and Robin van Persie (2011/12). Nevertheless, Bournemouth’s recent form remains poor, with five defeats and four draws in their last nine league matches, and four losses plus three draws in their last seven away games.
