Kluivert and Rayan on target as Bournemouth beat Real Sociedad 2-1 in San Sebastián

AFC Bournemouth beat Real Sociedad 2-1 at Anoeta in San Sebastián on a Thursday night in September 2026, securing victory in the club’s first-ever European match. Justin Kluivert and Rayan scored to put Bournemouth 2-0 up before Sergio Gómez reduced the deficit and Djordje Petrovic produced late saves to preserve the lead.

Anoeta revived a tradition from Real Sociedad’s old Atotxa ground in which a single flare is set off when the visitors score and two when the home team do, a ritual that announced Bournemouth’s breakthrough to those out on the Bay of Biscay. The first Bournemouth goal coincided with 21.41 on the stadium clock and prompted local resident Juan Iturralde to run into the street; Iturralde ran out into the night three times during the match. Around 2,000 Bournemouth supporters were high in Anoeta for the club’s milestone European occasion, held in the city where manager Andoni Iraola began his life.

Bournemouth’s opener arrived after 10 minutes and 43 seconds following a move that began with Evanilson and finished with Adrien Truffert, whose cross curled behind the defensive line for Justin Kluivert to score. The goal was initially flagged offside in the south-west corner but the video assistant referee overturned the decision, allowing the celebration to stand and prompting the first flare and street celebration.

The visitors doubled their lead after 20 minutes when Alex Scott’s long, looped, curling pass dropped into the path of Rayan, who headed in for 2-0. Bournemouth threatened repeatedly from set plays in the first half: Evanilson headed one effort onto the post, Antonio Silva headed another wide, and Orri Óskarsson cleared a third from his area, while Marcus Tavernier was frequently involved in the team’s attacking work.

Real Sociedad entered the second half with renewed purpose and forced a key save from Djordje Petrovic from Beñat Turrientes on 56 minutes. Almost immediately afterwards Sergio Gómez curled a cross past Bournemouth’s defenders into the far corner to make it 2-1 on 57, and Gonçalo Guedes had a chance pushed past the post by Petrovic following a move in which he elected to cut inside rather than shoot. Mikel Oyarzabal’s clipped attempt then struck the top of the bar as Sociedad pressed for an equaliser.

Chances continued to arrive late for the hosts: Luka Sucic fired wide on 81 minutes and Gómez set up Óskarsson for what looked a certain equaliser, only for Petrovic to deny him. In the final, dramatic minutes Petrovic produced two astonishing saves from Orri Óskarsson, including a stop from about five yards in the last minute, to preserve Bournemouth’s 2-1 advantage to the final whistle.

The victory provided Bournemouth with their first-ever European goal and win and began the club’s inaugural campaign in continental competition.