Bournemouth vs AC Milan Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

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Bournemouth

vs

AC Milan

KickoffThursday 22 October 2026, 8:00pm

VenueVitality Stadium

CompetitionUEFA Europa League

Six points from six in the Europa League. Not bad for a club playing in European competition for the very first time in 127 years of existence. Bournemouth have been nothing short of remarkable in this continental debut, beating Real Sociedad away from home on matchday one before dispatching Austrian champions Sturm Graz 3-0 at the Vitality Stadium. Now they face what is undoubtedly their biggest test yet, and the biggest occasion in their history: AC Milan at home.

That perfect European record means the Cherries actually sit three points above their visitors in the Europa League table. Read that sentence again. A club that had never played a competitive European match before this season is outperforming a club that has won the competition seven times. Football is genuinely brilliant sometimes.

Bournemouth vs AC Milan Match Details

This Europa League group stage fixture takes place at the Vitality Stadium on the south coast, as Bournemouth round off a remarkable run of three home games in just eight days. It is a landmark occasion for the club and for the competition, and the ground is sure to be bouncing.

Team News

Both managers have selection decisions to make, with rotation expected from the Milan camp in particular given their busy October schedule. Here is where things stand going into this one.

• Alex Scott remains absent for Bournemouth with a thigh injury, a real blow given the England midfielder’s quality in the middle of the park
• Julian Araujo and Eli Junior Kroupi are also unavailable for the Cherries
• Ben Gannon-Doak was drafted into the Europa League squad as cover after Kroupi’s ankle injury and is now pushing for a start
• Rayan came off the bench to score against Sturm Graz and will be keen for more minutes
• Filippo Terracciano is suspended for Milan after a needless red card on matchday two
• Matteo Gabbia and Alexis Saelemaekers are both ruled out through injury for the Rossoneri
• Ruben Amorim is expected to rotate with a Derby della Madonnina against Inter still to come later in October

Predicted Lineups

Marco Rose has a fairly settled setup at this point and will likely stick with the shape that has served them well in Europe. Evanilson leads the line after bagging his 100th career goal against Sunderland at the weekend, and Kluivert will continue to be a real threat from wide areas.

Bournemouth: Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Silva, Truffert; Adams, Christie; Tavernier, Kluivert, Gannon-Doak; Evanilson

Amorim, as mentioned, will shuffle his pack. Young Francesco Camarda deputised up front in Salzburg, but Ramos looks set to come back into the starting eleven. The exciting Alphadjo Cisse will be pushing hard for inclusion after his stunning hat trick last week, and the likes of Tomori and Loftus-Cheek, who featured in Austria, could keep their places.

AC Milan: Maignan; Tomori, De Winter, Pavlovic; Chukwueze, Musah, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Loftus-Cheek, Cisse; Ramos

Recent Form

Bournemouth went into the Europa League on the back of a tricky start to the Premier League season under Rose, but things are starting to click. The win over Sunderland at the weekend was genuinely important, not just for the three points but for the confidence boost it brought. Evanilson’s 100th career goal was the moment that sealed it, and you could sense what it meant to the squad. They are a team finding their feet and their belief at exactly the right time.

In Europe they have been outstanding. Away to Real Sociedad in San Sebastian and then routing Sturm Graz 3-0 at home, with Evanilson, Rayan and Alvaro Rodriguez all on the scoresheet in that second game. The Vitality is becoming a fortress in this competition and the players clearly love playing in it.

Milan arrive in decent shape themselves. They thumped Salzburg 4-0 last week, with Cisse stealing the show with that stunning hat trick, one with each foot and one with his head. At the weekend they edged Atalanta 3-2 in a nervy finish at San Siro, having led 3-0. Amorim has been beaten just once since taking charge, and he became the first Milan manager since 1963 to go unbeaten through his first seven top-flight games in Italy. The only blot was that opening day 2-0 home defeat to Benfica in Europe, and he has clearly put that right since.

Head-to-Head Record

These two sides have only met once before in any form of competition. It was a pre-season friendly back in 2016, which Milan won 2-1. That is essentially the sum total of the head-to-head record, so there is very little to go on in terms of pattern or history between the clubs.

What is worth flagging, though, is Milan’s record in England generally in European competition. They have won just two of 22 European matches on English soil, losing 13 times along the way. That is a genuinely extraordinary record for a club of their stature, and it is the kind of stat that should give Bournemouth real encouragement heading into this one. English clubs and English atmospheres clearly do not suit the Rossoneri.

Key Stats

• Bournemouth have won both of their Europa League matches so far, scoring five and conceding one
• AC Milan have won just two of 22 European matches in England, losing 13 of them
• Amorim failed to beat Bournemouth in any of his three attempts as Manchester United manager, most recently drawing 4-4 in a chaotic encounter

Bournemouth vs AC Milan Betting Tips

This fixture has goals written all over it. Bournemouth are flying in Europe, the Vitality crowd will be electric, and Milan have not exactly been defensively tight in recent weeks despite their positive results. Throw in Amorim’s rotation plans and there is every reason to expect an open, entertaining game with plenty happening at both ends.

Both Teams To Score (BTTS) Prediction

Yes, both teams to score. Bournemouth have scored in both European games and Milan have been putting them away freely too, while defensively neither side has looked completely watertight. With Evanilson in form and Cisse buzzing after his hat trick, expect the net to ripple at both ends.

Correct Score Prediction

Given the open nature this game looks set to take and the form both sides carry into it, a 2-2 draw feels like a very realistic outcome. Bournemouth have the home crowd and the momentum, Milan have the class to respond, and Amorim’s record against the Cherries suggests he will not be winning this one easily.

First Goalscorer Prediction

Evanilson is the standout pick here. The Brazilian striker has scored in both Europa League games this season, just bagged his 100th career goal at the weekend, and is clearly the focal point of everything Bournemouth do going forward. He is in the kind of form where you would back him to score in almost any game right now.

Corners Prediction

Back over 9.5 corners. This is a game where both sides will be pushing for something, Bournemouth to maintain their perfect European record and Milan to stay in the hunt. An open, attacking contest between two sides with quality wide players on both flanks should generate plenty of set piece moments. Over 9.5 looks well within reach.

Cards Prediction

Over 3.5 cards is worth considering. Amorim’s sides tend to press with intensity and Bournemouth will not lie down at home in what is the biggest game in their history. The competitive edge should make this a feisty affair, and European nights with this much riding on them have a habit of generating a few bookings along the way.

Over and Under Goals Prediction

Over 2.5 goals. Neither side has kept things tight in recent weeks, Bournemouth have scored five in two European outings and Milan put four past Salzburg without reply. The attacking quality available to both managers means goals are coming in this one.

Bet Builder Tip

Evanilson scoring in a high-scoring game where both sides find the net fits the overall picture of this fixture perfectly and aligns with his brilliant run of European form.

Final Match Prediction

Bournemouth have surprised everyone this season in Europe, but facing AC Milan is a genuine step up in class regardless of the rotation Amorim plans to make. That said, the Cherries have real quality, the Vitality will be rocking, and history tells us Milan simply do not travel well to England in European competition.

Rose’s side have the belief and the crowd behind them to make this very uncomfortable for the visitors. Amorim knows these opponents well from his time in England and has never managed to beat them. We are going with a 2-2 draw: Bournemouth more than hold their own, extend their unbeaten European run at home, but Milan show enough class to avoid defeat on the road.

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