Bournemouth's Yann Kermorgant celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates during a match against Middlesbrough in the Sky Bet Championship last March. (Photo : Reuters)
The opening week of the new Premier League season is underway and one of the first six games on Saturday includes this match pitting newly-promoted club AFC Bournemouth against Aston Villa FC at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth.
The Cherries are one of three teams promoted from the Sky Bet Championship, the second-tier professional football league in England, after being named champions of the tournament. The others two teams who will also join the Premier League this season are runners-up Watford FC and third placers Norwich City FC.
Bournemouth's last game was a 3-0 dumping of Charlton Athletic in the Football League last May 2, via SkySports.
For their first game in the primaries, Eddie Howe's boys will face an experienced team in Aston Villa, who are coached by esteemed manager Tim Sherwood.
However, the Villans are not as strong as they used to be, especially in the offensive end, with the transfer of notorious striker Christian Benteke to Liverpool FC.
The Lions' most recent game was a friendly against Primeira Liga club SC Braga on July 17. Benteke could only watch from the stands as Villa settled for a goalless draw against the Portuguese, as reported by Daily Mail Online.
Sherwood must find a suitable replacement for the Belgium international or his remaining forwards must step up to fill the scoring void.
The prediction is a close 1-0 win by the Cherries over the Lions. Villa is still adjusting with the loss of Benteke while Bournemouth is eager to show everyone that they belong in the big league.
Bournemouth starting lineup (4-4-1-1 formation): Boruc; Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels; Ritchie, Arter, Surman, Pugh; Kermorgant; Wilson
Aston Villa starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Guzan; Hutton, Richards, Clark, Amavi; Westwood, Gueye, Gil; Grealish, Ayew, Gestede
