Kluivert and Rayan sink Sociedad in Bournemouth's Euro bow

Bournemouth won their first match in European competition on Thursday, beating Real Sociedad 2-1 at Anoeta in the opening round of the Europa League.

Justin Kluivert put the Cherries ahead in the 11th minute, converting Adrien Truffert's cross from the left. Rayan doubled the lead nine minutes later, heading in from Alex Scott's looping through ball. Bournemouth held on, Petrovic making a string of saves in the closing stages, including two from Orri Óskarsson.

His finish came inside 11 minutes of Bournemouth's first-ever European fixture, a game the club waited 127 years for.

Alex Scott's display drew particular attention. Thomas Tuchel is due to name his Nations League squad and has been linked with recalling Scott to the England set-up.

António Tavares, the defender who joined Bournemouth in August 2026, has yet to score for the club but was part of the side that held out for the win.

If Scott continues in this form, the question over his lack of European experience — raised when Chelsea and Manchester United were credited with interest in him over the summer — looks harder to sustain.