West Ham United and Bournemouth will face off in the EFL Cup second round on Wednesday, August 27, at the London Stadium. 

Both teams have made solid starts to their Premier League campaigns and will be eager to continue their momentum in this domestic cup clash.

West Ham, UEFA Conference League champions two seasons ago under sacked manager David Moyes, aims to make a strong statement in domestic competitions under new manager Julen Lopetegui.

Bournemouth, on the other hand, are looking to capitalize on a promising start to yet another season under Andoni Iraola, making this a thrilling encounter between two in-form teams.

West Ham Look to Build Momentum Under New Boss | Home Win = 2.11

West Ham come into this fixture on the back of a 2-0 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace, which marked Lopetegui's first win in charge. Goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen ensured the Hammers bounced back from an opening-day defeat to Aston Villa.

With a strong defensive performance at Selhurst Park, Lopetegui will be aiming for back-to-back wins to keep the positive momentum going. Historically, West Ham has a decent record in the EFL Cup, reaching the quarter-finals six times since 2011.

However, they have never won the competition and have not reached the final since 1981. Lopetegui will hope to break this trend and deliver more silverware to the club, especially after their successful European campaign last year.

Bournemouth Aim for an Upset | Away Win = 3.14

Bournemouth have started their Premier League campaign with two consecutive 1-1 draws, showing resilience against tough opposition. The Cherries were unfortunate not to claim victory against Newcastle United, with a late winner disallowed by VAR for handball.

Manager, Andoni Iraola expressed his frustration at the decision, but the team’s performance provided a glimpse of their potential. Bournemouth will look to build on their promising start and take advantage of West Ham’s possible squad rotation.

With a strong cup tradition, the Cherries have only been eliminated early by eventual finalists or champions in recent years. Iraola will be keen to continue this fighting spirit and advance further in the competition.

Key Players & Team News:

West Ham might rotate their squad to give opportunities to new signings. Niclas Fullkrug could start up front, while Crysencio Summerville may feature beside him on the flanks.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jean-Clair Todibo are expected to make their debuts in defence, as Bowen and Lucas Paqueta might be rested after their involvement in the win against Crystal Palace.

For Bournemouth, recent signing Evanilson is expected to lead the line again after a lively debut against Newcastle alongside Semenyo and Tavernier.

With Enes Unal, Tyler Adams, and David Brooks still out injured, Iraola might rotate the squad, bringing in Dango Ouattara, Alex Scott, and Luis Sinisterra. New defender Dean Huijsen could also get his first start.

Match Stats & Betting Odds | Draw = 3.74

West Ham has a strong recent record against Bournemouth in their recent meetings, beating them twice (2) and drawing them twice (2) in their last five (5) encounters in all competitions. | Specials Market: Home/Draw & Over 2.5 = 2.40 

Bournemouth are the most in-form of the two teams going into this game, having won two (2) games, drew two (2) games and lost just one game in their last five (5) competitive matches. | Specials Market: Draw/Away & Over 1.5 = 2.08

Both West Ham and Bournemouth have scored at least one (1) goal in their last five (5) games in all competitions and have seen goal-goal (GG) in three (3) of their last five (5) encounters. | Main Market: Over 2.5 = 1.69.

You can follow and bet on the EFL Cup game, West Ham vs Bournemouth, on MSport here.

 

Atletico Madrid will host Girona on Sunday, August 25, at the Civitas Metropolitano, aiming to secure their first win of the 2024-25 La Liga season.

Both teams, who finished in the top four last season,  come into this match having drawn their opening fixtures, setting the stage for a compelling encounter between two of last season’s top-four finishers.

Atletico Madrid Eyeing Home Victory | Home Win = 1.59

Atletico Madrid's season began with a 2-2 draw against Villarreal, where they showed resilience by equalizing twice through Marcos Llorente and Alexander Sorloth.

Historically strong at home, Atletico have lost only two of their last 19 La Liga matches at the Civitas Metropolitano. Diego Simeone's side will be keen to leverage their home advantage and build on their solid performance in the opening game.

The team has been a formidable force at home, winning four of their last five league meetings with Girona, including three home victories. Despite missing Conor Gallagher, who is sidelined with an injury, Atletico’s depth and home form make them the favorites for this match.

Girona Looking to Continue Strong Form | Away Win = 5.65

Girona started the season with a 1-1 draw against Real Betis, despite dominating possession. Gabriel Misehouy’s equalizer highlighted their ability to compete at a high level.

Girona's strong finish to last season, where they lost only one of their last eight La Liga matches, underscores their potential to challenge top teams.

While Girona had an impressive campaign last year, finishing fifth and scoring 85 goals, their away form against top teams could be a concern. They have lost four of their last five league encounters with Atletico, suggesting a challenging outing.

Key Players & Team News:

Atletico Madrid will be without Conor Gallagher due to injury, limiting their midfield options. However, with a strong squad depth and a solid home record, they are well-positioned to put up a strong performance.

Girona will miss Ricard Artero, Valery, Garcia Jastin, and Viktor Tsygankov due to injury. Despite these absences, Girona’s recent form and attacking prowess provide hope for a competitive match against Atletico.

Match Stats & Betting Odds | Draw = 4.46

Atletico Madrid have a favorable head-to-head record against Girona, having won four of their last five encounters. | Specials Market: Home & Over 2.5 Goals = 2.13

Girona have scored 5 goals in their last 5 matches while they have also scored all their previous two meetings against Atletico. | Specials Market: Over 2.5 Goals & Yes = 2.00

The past meetings between Atletico and Girona have often been high-scoring, with 19 goals combined in their last six La Liga games (3.2 goals per game). | Main Market: Over 3.5 Goals = 2.53

 

You can follow and bet on the La Liga game, Atletico Madrid vs Girona, on MSport here.