Just 89 days after last playing each other in a rearranged final-day fixture, Bournemouth and Manchester United face off once again to kick off their 2016-17 campaigns.
The Red Devils came out on top in that match, staged after a bomb scare in the original match two days beforehand, but that proved to be the final league outing for doomed boss Louis van Gaal.
Bournemouth
© Getty Images
Bournemouth supporters have known for a long time that they have a real gem in manager Eddie Howe, but it arguably was not until last season that the rest of the footballing world sat up and took notice.
If further proof was needed of that, reports suggested earlier this summer that Howe - a part of the Cherries' playing and coaching set-up for the best part of two decades now - was a strong contender to replace Roy Hodgson as England boss.
That job would eventually go to Sam Allardyce, a manager at the opposite end of the spectrum to Howe in terms of top-level experience, although another solid campaign for the Cherries and some of the division's big-name sides may well come calling.
Right now the 38-year-old will merely be focused on avoiding that dreaded second-season syndrome that can so often plague clubs, with the south coast outfit never truly in danger of facing the drop in the latter stages of the last campaign.
Complacency surely will not be an issue, though, as Bournemouth did only finish seven points above the drop and know full well that even the slightest fall in performance levels, in what will surely be a more competitive bottom half this time around, could well prove costly.
Howe has moved to bring in Jordon Ibe and Brad Smith during the off-season, both men joining from Liverpool on permanent deals - and the former setting the Cherries back a club-record fee of £15m - while Nathan Ake will provide competition for a full-back spot on loan from Chelsea.
Many questioned Howe's reluctance to change things around at times last season, particularly heading into December after just two wins from 14 games left Bournemouth staring at an immediate return to the second tier, but stick with it the young boss did and results soon improved drastically.
The highlight arguably came around the festive period when recording a famous double over Man United and Chelsea in the space of a week, as Bournemouth proved that they fully deserved their place in the division despite the perception of them being lower-league minnows.
Now comes an even tougher test, with Howe needing to steer his side to a repeat performance of last season, although shoring up at the back will be vital after conceding 67 goals last time out - a tally only relegated Aston Villa could 'better'.
Pre-season form: WDDWDW
Manchester United
© Getty Images
While many felt it was the perfect match in the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013, supporters have been made to wait for the arrival of Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.
Successive disappointing campaigns under David Moyes and Van Gaal, albeit one that ended on a high for the Dutchman with success in the FA Cup, meant that United chiefs were finally forced to turn to one man that is known for his success.
Mourinho has won trophies wherever he has been, from Porto through to his second stint at Chelsea, although the way he departed Stamford Bridge last season, not to mention a frosty relationship with club ambassador Sir Bobby Charlton, ensures that this is a tenure that really could go either way.
The Portuguese has certainly not wasted time in making this squad his own, bringing in four star players - the latest in Paul Pogba being the best of the lot - as he aims to stop the rot at the Theatre of Dreams and finally bring back silverware on a consistent basis.
Supporters may have increased their expectation levels a notch or two following the record-breaking deal to sign Pogba from Juventus which, depending on which reports you believe, will set the club back somewhere between £89m to £120m in total.
There is no denying that Mourinho needs to push on and win at least one trophy in his maiden campaign at United, particularly for a manager that is now famous for his three-year cycles at clubs before completely imploding.
Mourinho also arrives at Old Trafford with a reputation as a manager who overlooks younger players, something which he looked to disprove when pointing out the chances given to the likes of Raphael Varane, Arjen Robben and "47 others" throughout his career to date.
Either way, it promises to be an eventful campaign at United this season, with the tried-and-trusted 4-2-3-1 formation sure to make a return - a set-up that will bring the best out of the likes of Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and the impressive Anthony Martial, who bagged 11 goals in his maiden campaign to keep the doubters quiet.
Then there is the small matter of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the scorer of 38 goals in 31 Ligue 1 games last term - bettered only by Luis Suarez across Europe's top leagues - and the emerging talent that is Marcus Rashford, both of whom could well prove to be the driving force behind the Red Devils' return to greatness.
Form in pre-season: WLWDW
Team News
© Getty Images
Two of Mourinho's new arrivals, Ibrahimovic and Eric Bailly, played throughout Sunday's 2-1 win over Leicester City in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium.
Both are likely to be given the nod once more this weekend by the seaside, while Mkhitaryan - a late replacement in controversial circumstances, as he came on for Juan Mata - is also in line to start in the three-man attacking midfield.
The big question mark regards Pogba, who has not featured throughout a disrupted and shortened pre-season following his exploits at Euro 2016 with beaten finalists France, but he is expected to at least be named in the travelling party.
As for Howe's home side, they will have Joshua King in their starting lineup fresh from signing a new long-term deal - a player that will no doubt be aiming to impress against his former team.
Injuries proved a big problem for Bournemouth last season, with Tyrone Mings featuring just once in the top flight before being ruled out and Callum Wilson also missing a large chunk of the campaign after bagging five goals in seven outings beforehand.
Wilson is now fit and raring to go, however, with attacking support being provided by King, summer signing Ibe and another injury victim of last season in Max Gradel.
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Boruc; Daniels, Cook, Francis, Smith; Surman, Arter; Gradel, King, Ibe; Wilson
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Shaw; Carrick, Fellaini; Mkhitaryan, Rooney, Martial, Ibrahimovic
Head To Head
Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last four home meetings with United in all competitions, winning two and drawing two of those games.
The Red Devils may have won the last encounter a little over three months ago, but they were dealt a real blow in their top-four challenge in December's defeat at Dean Court - a major scalp for the Cherries and one of just five home wins all term.
Four of United's five opening-day defeats have come on their travels, meanwhile, but Mourinho appears to have the magic touch having never lost on the opening day of a Premier League campaign.
We say: Bournemouth 1-3 Manchester United
A new season brings with it new hope for both of these sides, particularly United supporters who will be hoping to mount a title challenge this season following three years of underwhelming finishes. The top flight may boast some high-profile names this term but none are more experienced in this division than Mourinho, and he will begin his tenure as Red Devils boss with a straightforward victory by the seaside this weekend.
No Data Analysis info
