Bournemouth fan Tom Harwood is expecting tonight to be an "emotional" night.

He said: "I don't think there will be many dry eyes in there, especially when that music comes on, the lights come on and the players walk out."

Harwood said his girlfriend back in Bournemouth, who is 31 weeks pregnant, was "probably too pregnant for me to be here right now", but added: "She's good as gold. She loves Bournemouth just as much as I do."

Image source, Tom Harwood

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Bournemouth boss Marco Rose says that he can "feel how special this moment is" for the supporters.

"This is a huge achievement and everyone deserved it," he said.

"We're going to have 2,000 fans here 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."

Rose signed a three-year contract in April to replace current Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, who had guided Bournemouth to Europe.

The German reached the semi-finals of this competition with Salzburg in 2017-18.

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Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook says there are "new memories" to be made as the Cherries prepare for their first European campaign.

"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 Sociedad reached the round of 16 in their most recent season in European competition, the 2024-25 Europa League.

On home soil, the La Liga side are unbeaten in their previous five matches - four wins and one draw.

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Bournemouth will have to pay plenty of attention to Mikel Oyarzabal tonight.

The World Cup-winning forward certainly knows where the net is after netting 15 goals in the league last season.

He also scored the winning goal for Spain in the Euro 2024 final against England.

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This is a tough welcome to European football for Bournemouth as they take on Real Sociedad.

After finishing 10th in La Liga last season, Real Sociedad qualified for the Europa League by beating Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey final.

This will be a great occasion tonight.

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Tonight is history for Bournemouth.

In the 127 years since they were founded, the Cherries have never played in European competition - until now.

Make the most of it, this is something to savour.

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Lech Poznan have played English teams four times in Europe, losing three of them.

But they did win their last one... against Manchester City in the 2010-11 Europa League.

That game is most notable for City fans adapting 'the Poznan' from Lech fans where supporters face away from the pitch.

Lech Poznan, managed by Dane Niels Frederiksen, are the Polish champions.

They have won five of their opening seven league games.

In their Champions League second qualifying round tie, they won 4-1 in Denmark against AGF but lost the home leg by the same score and went out on penalties.

They got past KI and Thun in huge aggregate wins (6-0 and 9-2 respectively) in the Europa qualifiers.

Crystal Palace have only won two games so far this season - against Fulham in the league and Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup - since Pierre Sage replaced Oliver Glasner.

They have lost their other three Premier League matches.

Bournemouth fans have made the trip to San Sebastian for tonight's historic Europa League game.

After a lifetime of supporting the club, which 30 years ago was on the brink of financial collapse, many say they can hardly believe their luck.

Liam Baker, from Bournemouth, said: "I wouldn't miss it for the world. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, and for everyone. It's unbelievable to be here."

Seth Hemmingway, who travelled with Baker, said: "In 2011, I got a free coach to Carlisle to the FA Cup and I thought 'surely this is the longest journey I'm ever going to take to watch Bournemouth' but here we are.

"We got a car, we got a train, we got a bus, we got a plane. It's a long way but it's worth it.

"You are only going to have one first European game ever and this is it."

Image source, Seth Hemmingway

Bournemouth manager Marco Rose expects a "tough challenge" when they play Spanish side Real Sociedad.

La Real are currently 12th in La Liga after six games played, three points off of the top six.

"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," Rose said.

"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."

Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage: "We watched seven of Lech's matches this season.

"We know they started quite early and had to pick themselves up after the defeat in the Champions League qualifiers. It's never easy.

"I see a team that's developing from match to match. We need to stay very focused so as not to get caught off guard."

Drink it in, Bournemouth fans, you're about to play in the Europa League.

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Crystal Palace captain Dean Henderson has asked fans to "park the negativity" after a slow start to the season.

The 29-year-old goalkeeper, who is currently injured, signed a new contract until 2030 this week.

"When we talk about that day out at Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup, obviously the lads were outstanding to a man but the supporters were incredible as well," he said.

"I don't think you will ever hear Wembley Stadium that loud again. They were right in our corner every step of the way, kicking every ball when the lads were tired.

"They deserve this period of success more than anyone.

"Selhurst Park is a big thing for us. It needs to become a fortress going forward.

"We need the fans more than ever in this transition period. Obviously, it has been a little bit of a difficult period with the lads getting back late and new ideas coming in.

"I'm so certain that we are going to have a really good season, so we need to park the negativity and all be as one. Together, we will be stronger."

Before tonight's game, Bournemouth manager Marco Rose had a message to Cherries fans landing in San Sebastian in his press conference: "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."

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Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton says the club's aim is to win the Europa League.

He said: "Last year it was a new step for the club and we all embraced it.

"Obviously we were very successful. I think it can be the same this year.

"I don't see why we can't go very far, and try and win it. That's the aim."

But he added: "I think the expectation last year was probably to get further than it is this year, with it being a step up.

"But I think we can take our experience from last year and use it to our advantage."

No pressure on Crystal Palace but they have never played in Europe without winning the tournament.

That is because last season's time in the Conference League was their European debut.

We're not counting the 1998 Intertoto Cup, we're just not.

Bournemouth's fans are going on a European journey thanks to their stunning sixth-place finish in the Premier League season.

They may be embarking on this adventure without Andoni Iraola at the helm, but Marco Rose will guide the Cherries in what is one of their greatest achievements.

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A year later than they initially expected, Crystal Palace make their Europa League debut today.

They qualified for the tournament last year but Uefa booted them down to the Conference League because of then co-owner John Textor also being involved with Lyon.

But Palace then went on to win the Conference League, which gave them a place back in the Europa League again.

There were no issues this time as Textor has sold his stake in Palace - and funnily their next game in the competition is away to Lyon.