Wolves vs Man City: Football Previews & Free Football Betting Tips

The Premier League’s 2025/26 season kicks off with a blockbuster at Molineux as Wolverhampton Wanderers take on Manchester City on August 16, 2025. This early clash is a chance for both sides to lay down a marker. Wolves, under Vitor Pereira’s dynamic leadership, are riding the wave of last season’s resurgence, while Pep Guardiola’s Man City aim to reclaim their throne after a challenging 2024/25. Expect a raucous atmosphere with Wolves’ loyal fans packing Molineux and City’s travelling support bringing the noise. Tactically, Wolves will likely deploy their 3-4-2-1 to absorb pressure and hit on the break, while City’s fluid 4-3-3 will aim to dominate possession and exploit gaps with their trademark passing. It’s grit versus flair in this season opener.

Wolves: Pereira’s 3-4-2-1 will see Jorgen Strand Larsen spearheading the attack, with Jhon Arias pushing for a space in the line up to create from the No. 10 role.

Man City: Erling Haaland is fully fit and will lead the line in Pep’s 4-3-3, with Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan anchoring the midfield.

Key Roles: For Wolves, Strand Larsen will be the focal point, using his height and movement to challenge City’s defence. For City, Haaland’s lethal finishing will test Wolves’ backline, while Silva’s vision will aim to unlock Pereira’s compact setup.

Wolves: In their last 10 competitive matches (Premier League, FA Cup), Wolves have notched 6 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses, scoring 16 goals and conceding 12, with 3 clean sheets. That’s 1.6 goals scored and 1.2 conceded per game. They’ve been in fair form, and will hope that continues into the new season.

Man City: City have been close to their clinical best at times, with 7 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in their last 10 competitive matches (Premier League, FA Cup, Club World Cup), scoring 24 goals and conceding 8, with 6 clean sheets. That’s 2.4 goals scored and 0.8 conceded per game. Their attack, led by Haaland, has been relentless, though injuries have forced Pep to shuffle his pack.

Stat	Wolves	Man City
Possession %	48%	68%
Corners per Game	4.2	6.8
Yellow Cards per Game	2.1	1.9

Wolves (Home): Across their last 10 home games (Premier League, FA Cup), Wolves have won 6, drawn 2, and lost 2, scoring 18 goals (1.8 per game) and conceding 10 (1.0 per game), with 4 clean sheets. Molineux has been a fortress, with early goals and crowd energy driving their success.

Man City (Away): City’s last 10 away games (Premier League, Club World Cup) show 6 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses, with 18 goals scored (1.8 per game) and 6 conceded (0.6 per game), keeping 6 clean sheets. They’ve been dominant on the road, controlling games but occasionally exposed to quick counters.

Wolves:

• Jorgen Strand Larsen: The Norwegian striker has been showing quality, scoring 6 goals in his last 6 games. His aerial threat and clinical finishing make him Wolves’ go-to man.
• Jhon Arias: The Fluminense signing brings flair and creativity, with 31 Colombia caps. His ability to drift into dangerous areas will test City’s midfield.

Man City:

• Erling Haaland: The goal machine is back to full fitness. His physicality and finishing will be a nightmare for Wolves.
• Bernardo Silva: The Portuguese maestro’s work rate and vision (12 assists last season) will be key in controlling the game and feeding Haaland.

Key Duel: Jorgen Strand Larsen vs Ruben Dias. Larsen’s aerial prowess and movement will challenge Dias, City’s defensive linchpin, who’ll need to be at his best to keep Wolves at bay.

This is set to be a belter, Molineux will be electric. City, with Haaland back and firing, have the firepower to dominate, and City’s 68% possession and 2.4 goals per game give them the edge. Wolves’ home form suggests they’ll fight hard, but they should come up short. We’re backing a 0-3 away win for Man City, with Haaland’s clinical edge and Silva’s creativity proving decisive in a high-scoring affair.

Main Pick: Man City to win. City’s attacking prowess (2.4 goals per game) and historical dominance over Wolves (7 wins in last 10 meetings) make them strong favorites, even away from home.

Value Bet: Erling Haaland to score anytime. Haaland’s return to fitness makes him a good bet to find the net against Wolves’ defence.