Bournemouth dismantled Genoa 10-2 in a friendly that veered into the absurd, delivering twelve goals and a glimpse of attacking intent that will have delighted the home crowd if not the visiting defence.
The scoreline sits somewhere between exhibition and execution. Genoa, for their part, managed two consolations in a match that never threatened to be competitive once the floodgates opened. Whether this reflects Bournemouth's sharpness ahead of the new campaign or simply a mismatch in preparation remains to be seen, but the Cherries will take the confidence all the same.
Pre-season friendlies can produce peculiar results, and this one belongs in that category. Ten goals for the hosts suggests either ruthless finishing, generous defending, or both. Genoa will not want the tape studied too closely, though friendly defeats rarely carry lasting weight once the serious business begins.
For Bournemouth, the challenge now is translating this kind of output into competitive fixtures where margins are tighter and opponents less obliging. Still, there are worse ways to spend an afternoon than watching your team score ten.