:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67439287/1190620874.jpg.0.jpg)
Manchester City travel to Wolves for their first game of the new season, and the blues will be looking for some form of revenge on the Midlands outfit.
Last season, Wolves did an unexpected double over City, winning 2-0 in Manchester in October, before completing the double with a 3-2 win at Molyneux in December, when they came back from 2-0 down to win in the final minute of the match.
Wolves won their first game of the season at Sheffield United, when Raul Jimenez and Romain Saiss put the visitors 2-0 up after just 6 minutes. However Wolves were brought back down to earth three days later as Championship side Stoke won 1-0 at Molyneux in the Carabao Cup to send Nuno Espirito Santo’s men crashed out at the first hurdle.
Signings and Departures
Wolves have brought in striker Fabio Silva from Porto for £35m, defender Marcal from Lyon for £2m, Vitinha on loan form Porto and Ki-Jana However for £9m from Liverpool.
On their way out of Molyneux are Mat Doherty, who joined Spurs for £14m, Helder Costa left for Leeds for £16m while Diogo Jota joined Liverpool for £41m. Sadly, Adama Traore, the bane of City last season, remains at the club.
Who Has Starred So Far
With only one game played, it’s difficult to highlight any exceptional performing players, but one that has jumped out immediately in Jiminez. The Mexican scored after just three minutes at Bramhall Lane, but during the game, he only managed to get five shots away, but only had a shot accuracy of 40%.
Wolves have two players who have been credited with assists, Daniel Podence and Pedro Neto and it is the latter who the blues should be wary of. One assist and a pass accuracy of 80% will give the blues midfield food for thought on Monday night.
The Future
Wolves enjoyed European football last season whilst not letting it disrupt their season, which is a feat in itself. This season, they will be without the distraction of the Europa League and many are expecting them to finish well into the top half of the table.
While Champions League qualification may be a little beyond them, they have a team more than capable of taking on the best in the league, and Monday night’s match will be a big test of City’s title credentials, even this early in the campaign.