Wolverhampton Wanderers go welcome Manchester City to Molineux on Saturday evening as both teams start their 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
Last season, City lose their grip for the title as dem finish 13 points behind champions Liverpool, while Wolves struggle tire before dem manage survive with 16th place finish.
Match Preview
Wolves start last season badly – just one point from their first eight games, and only 15 from the next 23. Everything change when Vitor Pereira enter replace Gary O’Neil.
The Portuguese coach win 10 of the last 22 games and turn cult hero for Molineux, even dey chop drink with fans for local pubs after matches.
Still, pre-season no sweet for Wolves. Dem play five friendlies (D1 L4) and no win any, last one na 1-0 home loss to Celta Vigo. Pereira still dey re-arrange squad after Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri waka go, with Ait-Nouri sef join City.
New boys Jhon Arias, Fer Lopez and David Moller Wolfe don land, and more signings dey expected.
History dey against Wolves: dem don lose their last four Premier League openers, and only win one of their last 20 August league games. Worse, dem don lose nine of their last 10 against Man City since 2019.
City on the other side dey bounce back from one of their most frustrating seasons in years. Injuries and loss of form make dem finish third without trophy – first time in eight years.
Dem even comot early for Club World Cup, but that one give Guardiola team time to rest. City only play two friendlies: 1-0 vs Preston behind closed doors and 3-0 win over Palermo.
This summer na big change: De Bruyne, Walker and Grealish don comot, while Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and keeper James Trafford don join. New director of football Hugo Viana dey push fresh energy.
Guardiola dey start him 10th season, and history show say City dey love opening-day away matches – seven wins from their last eight (L1), 19 goals scored and only 2 conceded.
Wolves Pre-season Form:
L D L L L
Manchester City Pre-season Form:
W W
Team News
For Wolves, Leon Chiwone (knee) and Fabio Silva (thigh) go miss out. Fabio Silva sef fit still leave the club before window close. Yerson Mosquera dey back for bench after injury.
Pereira go likely stick to him 3-4-3: Doherty, Agbadou and Toti in defence, with Jose Sa for goal even though him get the worst save percentage (59.7%) last season. Joao Gomes and Andre hold midfield, Hoever fit start wing-back. Arias and Lopez fit debut in attack with Strand Larsen lead the line.
For City, Kovacic and Phillips dey out with Achilles injuries, while Gvardiol, Savinho and Ederson dey sidelined. Rodri still dey recover from big injury but fit make bench, Phil Foden don shake off ankle knock.
Trafford go likely debut in goal. Ex-Wolves boys Ait-Nouri and Matheus Nunes fit start, while Reijnders dey push for first start in midfield with Bernardo Silva and Gundogan. For attack, Haaland almost sure to lead the line – him don score eight goals in five games against Wolves.
Wolves Possible XI:
Sa; Doherty, Agbadou, Toti; Hoever, J. Gomes, Andre, Wolfe; Lopez, Arias; Strand Larsen
Man City Possible XI:
Trafford; Nunes, Dias, Ake, Ait-Nouri; Bernardo, Gundogan, Reijnders; Foden, Haaland, Marmoush
Prediction
Last season, City beat Wolves home and away with just one-goal margins. This one fit still tight, but City still get too much quality upfront and Wolves defence no too solid. Expect close game, but away win dey likely.
Our Pick: Wolves 1-2 Man City