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AC Milan travel to the south coast of England looking to build on their recent improvement, while Bournemouth will be aiming to continue their impressive start to their first-ever European campaign.
The Cherries have collected maximum points from their opening two Europa League matches, putting them three points ahead of the seven-time European champions. Their early results have raised hopes that they can make a serious push for a place in the knockout stages.
Bournemouth began their European journey with a 2-1 away victory over Real Sociedad before recording a convincing 3-0 home win against Sturm Graz. The results have given Marco Rose’s side six points and plenty of confidence ahead of a meeting with one of Europe’s most decorated clubs.
They also returned to winning ways in the Premier League last weekend, beating Sunderland 2-0 at the Vitality Stadium. Evanilson scored his 100th career goal in the match, adding to the momentum building around the team after a difficult start to the domestic season.
AC Milan, meanwhile, have responded well to their opening European setback. Ruben Amorim’s side lost 2-0 at home to Benfica in their first Europa League fixture but bounced back with a commanding 4-0 away victory over Red Bull Salzburg.
Alphadjo Cisse was the standout performer against Salzburg, scoring a hat-trick to underline Milan’s attacking depth. The Italian giants followed that result with a 3-2 victory over Atalanta in Serie A, despite having to withstand late pressure after establishing a three-goal lead.
Milan currently sit fourth in the Italian top flight with 15 points, and their recent performances suggest they will arrive in England with confidence.
However, Bournemouth’s strong European start and home advantage make this a challenging assignment for the visitors. Both teams have shown that they can score goals, setting up an intriguing contest between an ambitious English side and an experienced Italian outfit.
Bournemouth will welcome AC Milan to the Vitality Stadium on Thursday, October 22, 2026, for a UEFA Europa League league-phase encounter.
Kick-off is scheduled for 10:00pm East Africa Time (EAT).
Bournemouth will be without midfielder Alex Scott, who is continuing his recovery from a thigh injury. Julian Araujo and Eli Junior Kroupi are also unavailable for the fixture.
Ben Gannon-Doak could be in contention for a starting role after being added to the Europa League squad following Kroupi’s ankle injury. His availability gives Rose another option in the attacking areas.
Rayan will also be hoping to feature after scoring as a substitute against Sturm Graz. The Brazilian youngster could make history by becoming one of the few players to score in an English club’s first three European matches.
Evanilson is expected to lead the attack after finding the net against Sunderland, while Marcus Tavernier and Justin Kluivert could provide support from the attacking midfield positions.
For AC Milan, Filippo Terracciano is suspended after being sent off in the victory over Salzburg. Matteo Gabbia and Alexis Saelemaekers are also sidelined with injuries.
Amorim is expected to rotate his squad as Milan prepare for a busy run of fixtures, including the upcoming Derby della Madonnina against Inter.
Teenage striker Francesco Camarda featured against Salzburg, while Cisse impressed with his hat-trick. However, Cisse will face competition for a starting place from Omari Hutchinson, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Diego Moreira and Christian Pulisic.
Loftus-Cheek and Hutchinson are among the options available to provide creativity behind the main striker, while Fikayo Tomori could feature in defence.
Milan will need to balance squad rotation with the importance of collecting points, particularly after losing their opening Europa League match.
Bournemouth: Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Silva, Truffert; Adams, Christie; Tavernier, Kluivert, Gannon-Doak; Evanilson.
AC Milan: Maignan; Tomori, De Winter, Pavlovic; Chukwueze, Musah, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Loftus-Cheek, Cisse; Ramos.
Bournemouth and AC Milan have met once before, in a friendly match played in 2016. Milan won that encounter 2-1.
Thursday’s Europa League fixture will mark their first competitive meeting, giving Bournemouth an opportunity to measure themselves against one of European football’s most successful clubs in a match that carries points in the league phase.
Milan have a rich history in European competition, but their record in England has often been difficult. The Italian side have won only two of their 22 European matches on English soil, losing 13 times.
Bournemouth have won two of their Europa League matches while AC Milan have one win and a loss. AC Milan however have won three matches, drew two and lost once in all competitions while Bournemouth have three wins, two losses and one draw
Bournemouth head into this fixture with confidence after winning their opening two Europa League matches and returning to domestic winning ways against Sunderland. Rose’s side have demonstrated that they can compete at this level, scoring five goals in their first two European outings.
Evanilson’s form will be particularly important for the hosts. His goal against Sunderland provided another boost, while the attacking support from Tavernier, Kluivert and Rayan gives Bournemouth several ways to trouble Milan.
The Cherries will also be encouraged by Milan’s historical struggles when playing European matches in England. However, they must remain organised against an opponent with considerable experience and attacking quality.
Milan have responded impressively to their defeat against Benfica, scoring four goals away to Salzburg before beating Atalanta in Serie A. Cisse’s hat-trick highlighted the depth of their attacking options, although Amorim’s expected squad rotation could influence their rhythm.
Both teams have demonstrated their ability to find the net, and the possibility of an open contest cannot be ruled out. Milan’s experience could help them recover if they fall behind, while Bournemouth have shown enough attacking confidence to trouble the visitors throughout the match.
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