Bournemouth's Europa League opener against Real Sociedad is fast approaching.
BBC Radio Solent's Jordan Clark has been sampling the atmosphere in San Sebastian along with Bournemouth supporters, and has also spoken to Spanish journalist Jorge Serrano to get the lowdown on the Cherries' opponents.
Lots more preview material can be found on the dedicated Bournemouth page on BBC Sounds.
Bournemouth fan Glen Cox has been reflecting on the Winter Gardens emergency bucket collection in 1997 and explaining its significance for the club's present success, as the Cherries prepare for Europa League football.
The club's hierarchy organised the collection in a last-ditch attempt to avoid financial ruin.
"I get quite emotional when I think back to it," Cox told BBC Radio Solent. "It didn't feel like it at the time, but it was such a momentous day in Bournemouth's history.
"I can remember all of my mates getting together and it was literally a case of us all putting in as much as we could afford. I can remember a guy getting out his week's wages and dumping it in the bucket.
"The club had made it clear that if the evening didn't result in a few quid being raised instantly, to say the least, then there was a very real chance we wouldn't have a club anymore.
"Everyone realised the severity of the situation, so they stepped up and did all they could to save the club.
"Looking at where we are right now, it is all quite incredible really. It feels like a dream, like something out of a movie I guess."
Club historian Neil Vacher first went to watch Bournemouth in 1963 and has been discussing how the club has transformed, what playing in Europe means and the various roles he has held over the years - from PA announcer to club secretary.
He told BBC Radio Solent: "It's quite some story isn't it? If you tried to write it, people would say 'no this couldn't happen, you're in the realms of fantasy' - but it has happened and it is absolutely amazing.
"I think it's fair to say it's the result of an awful lot of hard work over the last 125 years - from the people who at one stage tried to keep the football club alive, right through to the current owner Bill Foley and what he is doing to advance the club."
Hear the interview below or listen on BBC Sounds
Image source, Getty ImagesThe draw for the Carabao Cup fourth round has been made. Here is a list of all the ties in the order they were drawn.
Fleetwood Town v Arsenal
Manchester City/Norwich v Brighton
Everton v Newcastle
Sunderland v Brentford
Liverpool v Chelsea
Bradford v Peterborough
Fulham v Crystal Palace
Bournemouth v Aston Villa
The matches will be played in the week commencing 26 October.
Image source, Getty ImagesBournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook, says there are "new memories" to be made as the Cherries prepare for their first European campaign.
Marco Rose's side face Real Socidead on Thursday, and vice-captain Cook has reflected on the "journey" that has got Bournemouth to this moment.
"I was thinking back to when I first joined. It was 10 years ago now, when the club was in a different position - a good position - and then I think where it is now, it's amazing. It's been a journey," said Cook.
"There's been lots of people who have got us to this point and I think in the past few seasons we've really kicked on and are looking forward to the challenge of competing in this great competition.
"There's been a lot of excitement building around Bournemouth in the past few weeks and months and it's exciting for us as players, as staff and for a club as well. But, I feel like it gets to a point where the excitement has to stop, there has to be new memories made and we're coming here and we're going to try to compete as well as we can against a tough opposition."
Real Socidead were knocked out by Rose's Red Bull Salzburg outfit in 2017-18 in the last 32, but have reached the last 16 in their two most recent Europa League campaigns - 2022-23 and 2024-25.
Cook said: "They're a strong team, have technically got a lot of good players and they're in a very competitive league. They've got experience in this competition as well so I think it's going to be a tough game.
"The atmosphere is going to great for the fans here and it will be something we need to look forward to and challenge ourselves against opposition, different to the Premier League, but it will be a good game.
"We are very fortunate to have a manager who has experienced this a lot and we can lean on him in certain moments definitely."
Melissa Edwards
BBC Sport journalist
Bournemouth boss Marco Rose has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League opener against Real Sociedad at Estadio Municipal de Anoeta (kick-off 20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Bournemouth are playing European football for the first time in the club's history and Rose said he can "feel how special this moment is" for the supporters.
He added: "This is a huge achievement and everyone deserved it. We're going to have 2,000 fans here tomorrow so it shows how big the club is and how the club grew the past couple of years. I'm really thankful to be the coach in this situation, even though I was not in the club last season. But I really appreciate getting this moment together with the lads, with the fans and with all the guys here from the staff."
Ben Gannon-Doak replaced the injured Eli Junior Kroupi in Bournemouth's Europa League squad this week. Rose said it was "tough" to leave the Scotland winger out initially, but he now has the opportunity to give them something "they don't have in the squad" already.
Rose also said they will go into the game "as strong as possible" but that fans can expect substitutions earlier in matches, as they begin to manage the workload increase of playing in an extra competition.
The German reached the semi-finals of this competition with Red Bull Salzburg in 2017-18 and he said the most important part of having a successful campaign is first "having a good start".
On Real Sociedad: "A strong team, high individual quality, a high intense team. It's going to be a tough challenge for us and Pellegrino [Matarazzo] is a really top coach. He stabilised the team and won the cup - that's why they are playing in this competition. He's well known in Germany for improving and developing teams. You can see he is the coach of this team when you see them playing. So, it's going to be a tough challenge but we feel we're in a good spot, we are quite confident and we are looking forward to starting this competition."
Rose's message to Cherries fans landing in San Sebastian on Wednesday: "Enjoy the evening, have some beers - but not too much because I think tomorrow morning the sunrise is very nice and you should see it. So, don't sleep too long because it's a special day tomorrow for everyone, especially for the guys here. To the guys at home, we are here and we are really proud to be here as a team and we're going to try to make the day and the evening special tomorrow for the club and for everyone who is a fan of Bournemouth."
Got a question about Bournemouth? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts
Bournemouth legend Steve Fletcher says seeing the Cherries make their European bow will be be a "very emotional" occasion.
He told BBC Radio Solent: "This is just something beyond anyone's imagination. I'm sure I speak for every Bournemouth fan, every generation past and present, it's going to be one of the most historic, momentous occasions in Bournemouth football club history - in 127 years.
"I've been on the south coast for 34 years, been involved with the football club for nearly 33 of those, so it'll be very emotional and I'm sure it will be for all our fans who have been through thick and thin, seen the ups and the downs and been there for many, many decades.
"There will be fans listening and maybe at the game who are in their 70s and maybe 80s if they can make it - they never thought we'd get out of League One, never mind be playing in Europe.
"Words are beyond belief for this occasion."
Hear the full interview below or listen on BBC Sounds
Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesSporting records are like piecrust: made to be broken. Aren't they?
As Bournemouth rose through the divisions, former manager Eddie Howe would make sure his squad were aware of when new landmarks were being set.
Before the Bolton game in 2015 which secured promotion to the Premier League, he showed his players a video of the club's history to that point, inspiring them to take that final step to the big time.
A decade later, Andoni Iraola would take great pride as his Cherries side eclipsed Howe's records of their highest top-flight points tallies and league placings, with a sixth-placed finish last term unlocking the door to Europe.
When Marco Rose's Cherries kick off against Real Sociedad in the Europa League in the Basque Country on Thursday evening, a record will be broken, San Sebastian overtaking Blyth as the furthest Bournemouth have ever travelled for a competitive match.
"Blyth Spartans" are two words which still strike terror into long-standing Cherries supporters, evoking memories of 16 December 2008, one of the darkest nights in the club's history.
In an FA Cup replay broadcast live to the nation on Setanta Sports, the Dorset side lost captain Shaun Cooper to injury after nine minutes, lost substitute Brett Pitman to a straight red card five minutes after he came on, and lost the game to a late goal by Blyth substitute Ged Dalton, a student who did not even train full-time with the Conference North giant-killers.
Blyth is north of Newcastle and further from Bournemouth than Carlisle, and it was a long journey back for the away supporters whose side at the time was teetering on the brink of relegation to non-league football, and/or potential financial oblivion.
Thankfully for those who kept the faith, AFC Bournemouth are now largely unrecognisable as a club from those days - and rather than planning trips to Blyth or Carlisle, their Europa away games will take them to Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague, Celta Vigo and Lillestrom.
Fans have had the novelty of scrambling to book overseas travel and accommodation, with the 74th San Sebastian International Film Festival, external (which begins on Friday) exacerbating the battle to find hotel rooms.
But even the rain forecast for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will surely not dampen the spirits of those travelling Cherries.
To paraphrase Peter Pan: to play in Europe, will be an awfully big adventure.
Marc Webber
Final Score reporter at Vitality Stadium
Image source, Getty ImagesThe next seven days will bring the biggest moments so far in Bournemouth's 127-year history.
Some 2,000 fans are on their way to see their side play in their first Europa League match in San Sebastian on Thursday.
And Sunday sees the return of the man that got them into Europe, as Andoni Iraola brings his Liverpool side to Vitality Stadium.
Right now, as a result of Bournemouth failing again at the weekend to pick up a league win, it is hard to choose which one of those games is the most important for the club.
But there is no sense of an early season panic after the latest draw.
Sitting in Marco Rose's post-match news conference on Saturday gave me Bob Marley vibes - because, despite missing out on Bournemouth's first Premier League win under his tenure at the fourth time of asking, the theme was much "every little thing is gonna be alright" in terms of them eventually converting draws into victories.
There was no fretting over the dropped points and a staunch defence of keeper Djordje Petrovic, whose erratic clearance straight into the path of Brentford's Kevin Schade 56 minutes in allowed him to take away the lead which Bournemouth regained in the second half.
And while number nine Evanilson has yet to contribute with goals, the manager was keen to highlight his new role as assist king.
The way he settled the ball and then fed Marcus Tavernier for Bournemouth's second was impressive. It was Evanilson's third assist in four games.
Rose's calm belief that wins will come was shared by Justin Kluivert in BBC Radio Solent's post-match interview, so there is a strong sense of unity coming out of the club.
While many Bournemouth fans will be excited about their Europa League debut, experienced European football manager Rose may actually feel more at home in Thursday's game than playing Sunday in the Premier League, which he admits he is still getting a feel for.
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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Brentford and Bournemouth.
Here are some of your comments:
Brentford fans
Brahams: First of all, lucky to get a point. Defensively, I think maybe having a changing back four (can't be helped through injuries) is causing us some headaches. Potentially in midfield as well. Just feels like we need some stability. But, I know we will be a very dangerous team this season.
Stanley: We need to start turning draws into wins if we want to qualify for Europe, but we were actually lucky to steal a point. It has still been a good start to the season, but just not very convincing.
Sampson: A fair result in the end. I'm happy with most of the performances, but a bit worried about our centre-back problem. I think we should have signed one in the summer.
Rob: We were very fortunate to come away with a point. I struggle to understand some of our substitutions. Thiago is not in good form and should have been benched for Wilson if we were going for the three points. The like-for-like subs are really annoying when we should be looking for tactical subs to change the game.
Bournemouth fans
Kirsi: The players are doing amazingly with Rose's tactics and our style of play has been really good and entertaining in these past few fixtures. Only problem is we aren't efficient enough and are wasting way too much shots on target. It could have easily been our first win versus Brentford in years, but the wait will unfortunately extend into 2027.
Terry: If Marco wants to thrive in charge of Bournemouth he needs to find the courage to give our finishers more time. Against Lincoln they had 12-plus minutes and helped turn 2-0 into 4-0. Against Brentford he only gave them eight-plus minutes. Those late chances before the subs came on might have been converted with fresh legs and sharp minds.
Sid: Some of the build-up play is the most exciting ever from Bournemouth. Unfortunately, the finishing is so poor and there are too many individual defensive errors so far.
Paul: Encouraging performance in terms of chances created but still not putting them away. Missing a natural goalscorer like Eli Junior Kroupi up front. I would think about giving Alvaro Rodriguez an extended run to see what he can do.
Image source, Getty ImagesBournemouth winger Justin Kluivert, speaking to BBC Radio Solent on Saturday's 2-2 home draw against Brentford: "Definitely you could say frustrated on the one side, but on the other side is also the chances that we create.
"It's a lot and we draw a lot - it's a bit frustrating. But, on the other side, I am happy that we are the team that creates a lot and eventually we will score three goals, four goals in a game and it will kill the game.
"We just need to focus on conceding and the mistake at the 2-2, that won't happen every game. We had a lot of chances also with Rayan today - next game they will go in because I know the quality he has.
"I am happy we are front-footed and we are creating those chances. Without the chances you won't score so let's keep making the chances and we will score eventually."
Listen to the full chat by pressing play below or on BBC Sounds here
For all the reaction to Bournemouth's 2-2 draw against Brentford on Saturday, listen to the latest episode of the Cherries: Unpicked podcast on BBC Sounds.
BBC Radio Solent's Jordan Clark and former Bournemouth defender Joe Partington break down the point earned against the Bees, the chances squandered, and preview the club's European bow on Thursday against Real Sociedad.
Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.
Explore all Bournemouth content on BBC Sounds
Liverpool could break their transfer record to sign 20-year-old Bournemouth forward Rayan next summer, should they choose to meet his £130m release clause which will become active in 2027. (Football Insider), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column
Adwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesMarco Rose will be wondering what he must do to get that first league win on the board.
Bournemouth were the first to score in each of their opening three league fixtures but still arrived at this game searching for a victory under their new head coach.
Tuesday's 4-0 win against Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup finally handed the German his first win as the Cherries boss and was a performance that raised hopes they could carry the momentum into the weekend.
However, they had to battle their way to a point after going behind.
And the hosts will feel they had done enough to win as they passed up a number of gilt-edged chances over the 90 minutes.
Silva's free header went wide early on, while Rayan failed to hit the target from the rebound after Caoimhin Kelleher's save shortly after Brentford opened the scoring.
Alex Scott also ballooned an effort over after excellent work from Evanilson and then Ben Gannon-Doak couldn't find that last-gasp winner.
Bournemouth's attention will now turn to their continental debut at Real Sociedad in their Europa League opener on Thursday.
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Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.
Have your say on Bournemouth's performance
What did you make of Brentford's display?
Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer England striker Ellen White on Final Score: "The momentum ebbed and flowed. I think Bournemouth will be frustrated not to have gotten the three points. It was obviously a bit of a calamity at the back.
"Bournemouth had a lot more chances in that second half to obviously get the three points, so Brentford probably feel lucky to come out with a point."
Bournemouth manager Marco Rose speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We were behind for the first time this season, we reacted well, and lucky me, we didn't concede a late goal. We had more chances, more possession, we were the best team.
"Brentford is a tough opponent, they are good for second balls and have quite big guys and ballers as well. I liked how we competed, the way we defended in most situations. I like the way we attacked, our attitude. We were unlucky in a couple of situations, so we just get a point."
On goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic's mistake for the Brentford equaliser: "It is about how we react. We are a team, we do mistakes together. Even at 2-2, I think we can win the game. So now we go for Thursday [in the Europa League], that is a big thing for the club."
Did you know?
Bournemouth became the first team to have led in each of their first four games of a Premier League season and fail to win any of them (D3 L1).
Marcus Tavernier scored his 21st goal in the Premier League for Bournemouth, making him just the sixth player to score more than 20 in the competition for the Cherries, after Joshua King, Callum Wilson, Antoine Semenyo, Dominic Solanke, and Justin Kluivert.
There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest
Bournemouth v Brentford
Chelsea v Hull City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2
Crystal Palace v Ipswich Town
Liverpool v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Tottenham v Everton (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Sunderland v Arsenal (20:00)
Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated.
Follow all of the action and reaction here
How to follow the Premier League weekend across the BBC
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Image source, BBC SportNew this season: Match of the Day Predictor
Simply predict the outcome of the six fixtures we've selected from across domestic and European competitions every week.
Players can join at any time, get involved with the latest round and start building a streak.
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To say Bournemouth keep on throwing it away is a bit harsh, but they have been ahead in all three of their league games so far and not won any of them.
Will they see this one through? I am not sure, but I like the way Cherries boss Marco Rose talks when he has been interviewed after games. He is a bright guy and he will get things right.
I was spot on with my prediction for Brentford's 1-1 draw with Sunderland last week, but the Bees were actually lucky to get a point in the end.
Brentford will play on the counter-attack here and Bournemouth will have a go at them, so this smells like a draw to me.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Sophie Brown
BBC Sport journalist
Bournemouth are looking for a first Premier League victory over Brentford.
The Cherries have led in all three of their league games this season, yet failed to win any of them.
Two points from three matches so far probably isn't a fair reflection on how Marco Rose's side have played, but they have developed a habit of crumbling late on in games. Four of the five goals they have conceded have been after the 84th minute, with two of those coming in stoppage time.
In contrast, all of the four league goals scored by Bournemouth have come in the first half. Against Newcastle last weekend, they had 13 shots in the first half, with five on target; after the break, they had four shots, none of which were on target.
"In the second half, we dropped a bit in everything," admitted head coach Rose after Bournemouth were pegged back from 2-0 up by an 88th-minute equaliser.
They started to put that right in midweek, with three second-half goals from a much rotated line-up giving them a 4-0 League Cup win over Lincoln City, which was Rose's first competitive win in charge.
But now Bournemouth need to transfer that to the Premier League, where they have lost seven points from winning positions this season, more than any other team – and 29 since the start of 2025-26, the joint-highest in the division.
Brentford are unbeaten this season but have also been struggling to kill off games in the league, having let a lead slip in their past two top-flight matches.
The Bees have drawn nine of their past 13 Premier League games (W2, L2), and have amassed 11 draws in 2026 - second only to Bournemouth, who have drawn 12.
The latest concession of a lead came last weekend when Sunderland grabbed a draw through an Enzo le Fee penalty in the 82nd minute.
Giving away penalties has also been something of an Achilles heel for Brentford in recent times. They have conceded more than any other Premier League side since the beginning of last season, with six goals coming from the nine spot-kicks they have given up.
On the flip side, they have earned more than any other side in that time, but they are the only team in this Premier League campaign to miss a penalty – that happened in the opening match of the season when Igor Thiago hit the post with his against Tottenham.
Bournemouth boss Marco Rose has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brentford (15:00 BST.)
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Rose said Bournemouth must "continue to perform well" after their dominant win over Lincoln, adding that they were good in their first three league games despite conceding late goals.
He said the side must take confidence from their cup performance into the weekend: "We should use this result and the performance, it was really impressive, never mind that we played a Championship club."
On injuries, Rose said Veljko Milosavljevic is "most likely" to return first, followed by Amine Adli. Junior Kroupi is expected back at the beginning of November, while Julian Araujo is also expected to return that month, but later than Kroupi.
Rose said he has been "really impressed" with new signing Antonio Silva, adding that the centre-back looks as though he has played in the Premier League for "multiple years" despite only arriving at Bournemouth in the summer.
Rose, whose birthday is on Friday, said he would celebrate with his "football family" in Bournemouth and that a win against Brentford would be a good way to start it.
On Brentford's main threats, Rose said: "They defend well as a team, their high pressing is good. Their transition, they have fast players. Igor Thiago is a good target player, Mikkel Damsgaard is a good number 10. They have quality everywhere on the pitch, and every situation."
"I have 21 competitive players and I have some difficult decisions," he said when asked about team selection. "Better to do it like this than to have issues."
Rose said he remains positive about Bournemouth's chances of beating Brentford: "We just have to take the challenge and be confident. Be aware of the quality of Brentford but I'm quite positive we are in a spot where we're able to win this game."
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