As the 2025/26 Premier League season kicks off, Manchester City is heavily favored to win against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Despite Wolves’ improved form under Vitor Pereira, their historical struggles in August and Manchester City’s dominant head-to-head record suggest an away win. Key injuries for both sides and new signings add intrigue, but City’s attacking depth and Wolves’ defensive vulnerabilities make Guardiola’s team the likely victors.
As the 2025/26 Premier League season looms, anticipation builds for the clash between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City at Molineux. The circumstances surrounding these two teams couldn't be more contrasting, setting the stage for a compelling encounter. Manchester City, having relinquished their title last season and finishing a distant 13 points behind champions Liverpool, are hungry to reclaim their dominance. Meanwhile, Wolves endured a harrowing battle against relegation, narrowly escaping the drop zone with a 16th-place finish.
Wolverhampton Wanderers faced a turbulent start to the 2024/25 campaign, languishing with just one point from their initial eight matches and a mere 15 points from their first 23 under the stewardship of Gary O’Neil. However, a remarkable turnaround occurred with the arrival of Vitor Pereira. The relatively unknown Portuguese coach quickly became a beloved figure at Molineux, not only for improving results—securing 10 wins from 22 league games—but also for his genuine connection with the supporters, often joining them in local pubs post-match.
Despite the optimism, Wolves' pre-season form has been concerning, marked by a winless streak in five friendlies (D1 L4), culminating in a 1-0 defeat at home to Celta Vigo. The team is adapting to life without key players such as top scorer Matheus Cunha and the recently departed Rayan Ait-Nouri, who joined Manchester City. New additions like Jhon Arias, Fer Lopez, and David Moller Wolfe aim to bolster the squad, with expectations of further reinforcements before the transfer window closes.
Historically, August has been a challenging month for Wolves, with only one win in their last 20 league games (D9 L10). They have also lost their last four opening-day fixtures. Furthermore, Manchester City has dominated their head-to-head encounters, winning nine of the last 10 league meetings since Wolves’ surprising back-to-back victories in 2019.
Team News indicates that Leon Chiwone, Yerson Mosquera, and Fabio Silva are sidelined due to injury, with Silva potentially leaving before the deadline. Pereira is expected to maintain a 3-4-3 formation, featuring a back three of Matt Doherty, Emmanuel Agbadou, and Toti Gomes, shielding goalkeeper Jose Sa. Joao Gomes and Andre are likely to anchor the midfield, with Ki-Jana Hoever at right wing-back. In attack, Arias and Lopez could make their debuts, supporting striker Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Manchester City is eager to move past their disappointing 2024-25 season. Injuries and inconsistent form among key players resulted in a third-place finish and an end to their eight-year streak of winning at least one major trophy. Their summer began poorly with an early exit from the FIFA Club World Cup, but the unexpected break allowed Pep Guardiola’s squad a month of rest before resuming training in late July.
City's pre-season was deliberately low-key, consisting of just two matches: a narrow 1-0 win over Preston North End behind closed doors and a comfortable 3-0 victory against Palermo. Guardiola, now in his 10th year at the club, has overseen significant squad changes, with Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, and Jack Grealish departing. New signings include Tijjani Reijnders, playmaker Rayan Cherki, and goalkeeper James Trafford, all brought in under the guidance of new director of football Hugo Viana.
Manchester City traditionally starts strong on the road, having won seven of their last eight opening-day away fixtures, scoring 19 goals and conceding only twice. Team News reveals that Mateo Kovacic and Kalvin Phillips are out with Achilles injuries, and Rodri is also likely to miss the game. Phil Foden, Josko Gvardiol, and Claudio Echeverri face late fitness tests. Former Wolves players Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Nunes could feature as full-backs, while Reijnders is pushing for a debut alongside captain Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, or Nico Gonzalez. Tottenham target Savinho's participation is uncertain, but Erling Haaland, who has an impressive record of eight goals in five games against Wolves, is expected to lead the attack.
In conclusion, while Manchester City narrowly won both league meetings with Wolves last season, another tight encounter is anticipated this weekend. Nonetheless, Guardiola’s team remains the clear favorite, possessing the attacking prowess to exploit a Wolves defense that conceded 69 goals last season – the fourth-worst defensive record in the Premier League.