English debutants can stop the favorites: Bournemouth vs Milan prediction
The third-round league-phase clash between Bournemouth and Milan will take place on October 22, 2026, at the Vitality Stadium. The English club have won both of their opening matches and collected six points, while the Italians have one win and one defeat. The hosts are gradually finding their form after a difficult start to the season, while Milan head into the game in good shape — although their historical record away to English sides remains poor.
Bournemouth: European debut going perfectly
Marco Rose's team are competing in European football for the first time in their history and have so far completed the task without dropping a point. In the opening round, Bournemouth beat Real Sociedad 2-1 away from home before thrashing Sturm 3-0 in their first European home match. Evanilson, Ryan and Alvaro Rodriguez got on the scoresheet, while the team collected the maximum six points from their first two games.
Their domestic results are also gradually improving. After defeats to Liverpool and Chelsea, the team responded with two consecutive victories — against Sturm and Sunderland, both by a 2-0 scoreline. Evanilson scored the 100th goal of his career, while Marco Rose finally secured his first Premier League win. Bournemouth will nevertheless still be without Alex Scott, Julian Araujo and Eli Junior Kroupi.
Milan: a strong spell, but England remains an uncomfortable destination
Ruben Amorim's side lost 0-2 to Benfica in the opening round, but quickly bounced back with a 4-0 thrashing of Salzburg. The standout performer was Alfadjo Cisse, who scored a hat-trick. Milan have also hit a good run of form in Serie A, beating Atalanta 3-2 in their last match, although they allowed their opponents back into the game after taking a three-goal lead.
Amorim is likely to rotate his squad again, given the congested schedule and the upcoming derby against Inter. Terracciano is suspended, while Gabbia and Saelemaekers are injured, so some regular starters may be rested. Milan's extremely poor record in England is also worth noting: they have won just two of their 22 European matches on English soil and lost 13 times.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Bournemouth have won both of their opening Europa League matches.
- Milan have won just two of their 22 European matches in England.
- The English club head into the match on the back of two consecutive wins in all competitions.
Hosts can hold Milan: Bournemouth vs Milan prediction
Milan have greater international experience and a deeper squad, but the rotation factor and their poor record away to English teams make their advantage far from clear-cut. Bournemouth have already shown that they are not afraid of big-name opponents and can make the most of their opportunities.
The hosts have found a good rhythm, while Evanilson and the attacking unit are consistently creating danger. Milan are also in good form, however, and possess enough quality to score at least one or two goals. In this situation, the most logical outcome looks like an entertaining match without a clear winner.
