Bournemouth AFC 4-1 FC St. Pauli: Cherries cruise in pre-season friendly

Bournemouth AFC kicked off their 2026 summer preparations with a convincing 4-1 victory over German second-division side FC St. Pauli at the Vitality Stadium on 24 July. The international club friendly gave Andoni Iraola's side a chance to build match sharpness ahead of the new Premier League campaign, and the Cherries delivered an attacking display that delighted the home supporters.

Match overview

From the opening whistle, Bournemouth controlled possession and pressed high, forcing St. Pauli into defensive errors. The visitors, known for their organised shape under coach Fabian Hürzeler, struggled to contain the pace and movement of the home attack. The Cherries raced into a three-goal lead inside the first 35 minutes, effectively ending the contest before half-time. St. Pauli pulled one back through a scrappy set-piece finish just before the break, but Bournemouth restored their three-goal cushion early in the second half and coasted to a comfortable win.

Key moments

• 12' – Goal: Dominic Solanke latched onto a through ball from Ryan Christie and slotted past the St. Pauli goalkeeper to make it 1-0.
• 24' – Goal: New signing Luis Sinisterra curled a fine left-footed strike into the far corner after a quick counter-attack.
• 33' – Goal: Marcus Tavernier headed home from a Lloyd Kelly cross to make it 3-0.
• 41' – Goal (St. Pauli): A corner was not cleared, and St. Pauli defender Eric Smith stabbed the ball home from close range.
• 52' – Goal: Substitute Jaidon Anthony finished a well-worked team move to make the final score 4-1.

Tactical story

Bournemouth operated in their familiar 4-2-3-1 formation, emphasising quick transitions and overloads in wide areas. The full-backs, particularly Milos Kerkez on the left, overlapped constantly and stretched St. Pauli’s compact defensive unit. The visitors attempted to play out from the back but were often harried into mistakes, a hallmark of Iraola’s high-intensity philosophy. St. Pauli improved after the break by dropping their defensive line deeper, but Bournemouth’s quality on the ball proved decisive.

Standout performers

• Dominic Solanke: Led the line superbly, scoring one and holding up play effectively.
• Ryan Christie: Dictated the tempo from midfield with crisp passing and tireless pressing.
• Luis Sinisterra: A lively debut for the Colombian winger, looking sharp and direct.

Season impact

This friendly was the first of four scheduled pre-season matches for Bournemouth, who open their Premier League campaign against West Ham United on 13 August. The result offers encouraging signs, though Iraola will want his side to tighten up defensively after conceding from a set piece. St. Pauli, preparing for the new 2. Bundesliga season, will take lessons from the defeat, particularly in dealing with high pressing and maintaining concentration in the final third.