It's a clash of European ambitions at the Vitality Stadium this Sunday as Bournemouth host Crystal Palace, with both sides eyeing continental glory next season.
The Cherries are riding an incredible wave of form. Andoni Iraola's farewell tour is turning into a history-making campaign, with Bournemouth aiming to stretch their unbeaten Premier League run to 15 matches—the longest active streak in the top flight. That kind of consistency usually guarantees European football. In fact, only two teams in Premier League history have gone 14+ games unbeaten in a single season and still finished outside the top six: Wimbledon in 1996-97 and Chelsea in 2015-16 (the same club reportedly circling for Iraola).
If there's one gripe for Bournemouth fans, it's the number of draws—seven in their last ten league games, with their past five at home all ending level. Still, they'll fancy their chances against a Palace side they haven't lost to in five Premier League meetings (three draws, two wins).
Like Iraola, Palace boss Oliver Glasner is also preparing for a summer exit. But while Iraola's parting gift looks set to be Bournemouth's first-ever European qualification, Glasner has his sights set on something even bigger: bringing home major continental silverware. The Eagles' visit to the south coast comes right between their two Conference League semi-final legs against Shakhtar Donetsk, and they're in prime position after a commanding 3-1 away win in the first leg on Thursday.
That victory was a welcome relief on the road, especially after back-to-back away defeats—including a frustrating 3-1 loss at Liverpool where Palace actually had more shots and more efforts on target. Overall, the Eagles have lost seven of their last 13 Premier League away games, matching their entire away defeat tally from Glasner's first 28 matches in charge.
History offers some comfort, though: Palace have kept clean sheets in five of their eight league visits to Bournemouth. They'll need that defensive solidity again if they're to keep pace with the Cherries' remarkable run.