Separated by just one place but seven points in the Premier League rankings, continental hopefuls Bournemouth and Aston Villa have plenty to play for in Saturday evening's showdown at the Vitality Stadium.
Andoni Iraola's men shocked Arsenal last weekend in a 2-1 comeback win, one that sees them enter gameweek 36 in eighth place in the table, which may suffice for a spot in the Conference League come the end of the season.
Meanwhile, the Lions have not given up on their Champions League dream and remain within touching distance of the top five thanks to last weekend's 1-0 success over Fulham, given to them by a Youri Tielemans goal.
Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between the two sides.
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Head-to-head record
Previous meetings: 14
Bournemouth wins: 5
Draws: 3
Aston Villa wins: 6
Only four times did Bournemouth and Aston Villa meet in the 20th century, but with clashes now becoming more frequent in the top flight, the two sides will lock horns for the 15th time in all competitions in May 2025.
Unsurprisingly, little can separate the Cherries and the Lions in the head-to-head column, as Villa boast six victories compared to a respectable five for Bournemouth, and another three scraps have ended in a share of the spoils.
However, the balance of power has shifted in recent years, as the Cherries won four straight Premier League games against Aston Villa between April 2016 and August 2022, but they have since failed to triumph in any of their last four.
Andoni Iraola's side were on the brink of defeat at Villa Park in October 2024, although Evanilson came up with an astonishing last-gasp leveller in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 draw for his side.
That point is just one of two that Bournemouth have collected in their last four with Villa, though, having lost 3-1 at Villa Park in April 2024 and 3-0 at the same venue in March 2023, either side of a 2-2 stalemate at the Vitality Stadium just before Christmas two years ago.
The first-ever Premier League clash between the two teams also went the way of the Lions, who won 1-0 away from home in August 2015 thanks to Rudy Gestede finish, several months after Villa also triumphed 2-1 in the 2014-15 FA Cup fourth round.
Long before the days of the Premier League, Aston Villa and Bournemouth collided in the 1987-88 Second Division, where the Lions held out for a 1-1 draw at home but prevailed 2-1 on the road.
Several years before, the two clubs' inaugural meetings were fought in the 1971-72 Third Division campaign, as a 3-0 home victory for Bournemouth preceded a 2-1 win for Villa on their own patch.
Last 14 meetings
Oct 26, 2024: Aston Villa 1-1 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Apr 21, 2024: Aston Villa 3-1 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Dec 03, 2023: Bournemouth 2-2 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Mar 18, 2023: Aston Villa 3-0 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Aug 06, 2022: Bournemouth 2-0 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Feb 01, 2020: Bournemouth 2-1 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Aug 17, 2019: Aston Villa 1-2 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Apr 09, 2016: Aston Villa 1-2 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Aug 08, 2015: Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Jan 25, 2015: Aston Villa 2-1 Bournemouth (FA Cup Fourth Round)
Mar 05, 1988: Bournemouth 1-2 Aston Villa (Second Division)
Oct 17, 1987: Aston Villa 1-1 Bournemouth (Second Division)
Feb 12, 1972: Aston Villa 2-1 Bournemouth (Third Division)
Oct 23, 1971: Bournemouth 3-0 Aston Villa (Third Division)
Last nine Premier League meetings
Oct 26, 2024: Aston Villa 1-1 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Apr 21, 2024: Aston Villa 3-1 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Dec 03, 2023: Bournemouth 2-2 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Mar 18, 2023: Aston Villa 3-0 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Aug 06, 2022: Bournemouth 2-0 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Feb 01, 2020: Bournemouth 2-1 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Aug 17, 2019: Aston Villa 1-2 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Apr 09, 2016: Aston Villa 1-2 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Aug 08, 2015: Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa (Premier League)
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Ben Knapton
