Bournemouth win 2-1 at Real Sociedad on historic European debut

AFC Bournemouth beat Real Sociedad 2-1 on their European debut after a 127-year wait.

The win came at Anoeta in San Sebastian on 17 September 2026. It was Matchday 1 of the UEFA Europa League league phase, Europe's second-tier club competition, where 36 teams each play eight games to reach the knockouts UEFA.

Bournemouth led after just 10 minutes and 43 seconds. Evanilson fed Adrien Truffert down the left. Truffert crossed low. Justin Kluivert finished first time.

That was the club's first-ever goal in Europe The Guardian. Kluivert had been named in Bournemouth's league phase squad earlier in September. So had provider Truffert's fellow full-back options and midfielders including Alex Scott.

The second goal came from that same generation. Scott swung in the cross. Rayan met it with a header to make it 2-0.

Rayan is Brazilian. He was 19 in May, when he scored in Bournemouth's 3-0 win over Palace that pushed the club towards a European place Reuters. Four months later he was scoring on the club's first night on the continent.

Sociedad hit back. Sergio Gomez scored to cut the lead to 2-1. The home side pressed for an equaliser.

Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic held the win. He made two late saves from substitute Orri Oskarsson in the final minutes. Both were firm stops. Both kept history intact.

Andoni Iraola led Bournemouth on the night. The Spaniard returned to his home country as a manager taking his team into Europe for the first time. Kick-off was 21:00 local time at Anoeta Real Sociedad.

What makes this stand out is the speed of it. One early punch. One second goal from a teenager. Then a backs-to-the-wall finish. For supporters who waited more than a century, those last minutes will have felt the longest.

Bournemouth now have three points from one game. Seven league-phase matches remain.