Manchester City are up against newly promoted Wolves, as the reigning Premier League champions will be looking to extend their winning run.
Manchester City travel to the Molineux to face newly promoted Wolves in the Premier League. The Champions have two wins already in their first two games this season beating Arsenal on the opening weekend at the Emirates and last weekend crushed Huddersfield 6-1 to reign supreme at the top of the table.
But against Wolves, Pep Guardiola will coming up against a strange opposition, but it is widely expected to deal with the threat of Wolves and ease their way to victory. In Wolves, they face a team who are determined, fresh and raring to make their mark with the first three points of their season.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will be facing their biggest test of this season so far. But the Premier League newcomers have no reason to be in a pessimistic mood ahead of City’s visit, and the manager would want his side to show the spirit they showed against Everton in the opening weekend.
Wolves have taken a single point from their two games so far, having lost 2-0 to ten-man Leicester the last time around. But against Everton during the Premier League’s opening weekend, they showed incredible resilience to finish the game 2-2.
Team News & Tactics
Wolves
Nuno Espirito Santo has a full-strength squad at his disposal, as well as the addition of Adama Traore. The player is also Wolves’ record signing, who came on at half-time against Leicester and could make his full debut against City.
The player Traore might replace is Helder Costa, as Nuno Espirito Santo looks to have an attacking approach when they take on City. The attacking style is something the manager mentioned in the pre-match discussion because after taking a defensive one, they lost last weekend to Leicester.
That effectively means that Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho and Raul Jimenez will be the torch bearers for an attacking display against City. Rui Patricio is expected to start in goal, and Espirito Santo will stick to a three-man defence, despite their loss to Leicester with such a formation.
Probable Starting-XI (3-4-2-1) – Patricio; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Moutinho, Neves, Jonny; Traore, Jota; Jimenez
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola has fielded changed sides for the first two Premier League games so far this season and is expected to ring more into his team to face Wolves.
Guardiola has no fresh injury worries ahead of the Wolves game, however, second choice goalkeeper, Claudio Bravo suffered a ruptured achilles injury which rules him out for most of the season. So City have recalled goalkeeper Aro Muric from his loan at NAC Breda and will likely be named the team’s No.2 behind Ederson.
Midfielder Fernandinho is a doubt, despite recovering from a minor knock, but Kevin De Bruyne is out for the next three months. Right back Danilo is back in training but is not expected to be back in the squad for the next one month.
Guardiola is set to name a three-man defence behind a three-man midfield. Last weekend’s hat-trick hero Sergio Aguero will be leading the line, alongside Gabriel Jesus for the reigning Champions against Wolves.
Probable Starting-XI (3-5-2) – Ederson; Stones, Kompany, Laporte; Walker, Gundogan, B.Silva, D.Silva, Mendy; Jesus, Aguero
Key Stats
- In the last two seasons when Championship winners have faced Premier League winners, the former has been victorious.
- City have won their last seven Premier League away games.
- Manchester City could also match Manchester United of 2011/12 by winning their third game of the season as reigning Champions
- Wolves, last season were only one of two teams not to let Manchester City score in regular time.
- Gabriel Jesus is yet to lose when he has scored, and that has happened on 18 occasions already.
Player To Watch
Sergio Aguero
Despite there being enough competition from both teams to feature on the ‘Player to Watch’ section, Sergio Aguero clearly is the choice. For the striker announced his intentions for the season rather early with a hat-trick against Huddersfield last weekend, which was also the Argentine’s ninth in the Premier League.
Aguero will be in focus and tasked with leading the line for City and will naturally look to exploit the Premier League newcomers’ relative lack of experience and rustiness to score his goals. Another inspiring performance could further go on to help City get a grip on top o the table.
Prediction
Wolves 1-3 Manchester City
If Manchester City played and exploited defences as they did against Huddersfield, the score could be a lot more than what we have predicted. However, Wolves are inspired by their return to the Premier League and have experienced stars in the side. Furthermore, they have already experienced this Manchester City side from last season and will likely use their experience from there.
But City’s unmistakable quality and form will likely ensure they take all three points from Midlands. Wolves also have the attacking quality to hurt defences and could end up scoring themselves. In the end, it’s City who are predicted to come out as comfortable winners against Wolves.