Wolves vs Chelsea: Match Preview

Wolverhampton Wanderers will host Chelsea at Molineux Stadium on Sunday, August 25, 2024, with kickoff at 14:00 BST. Both teams are eager to secure their first points of the Premier League season after disappointing opening matches.

Match Details

• Date: August 25, 2024
• Time: 14:00 BST
• Venue: Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, England
• Competition: Premier League
• Current Standings: Wolves (18th), Chelsea (17th)

Recent Form

Wolves began their season with a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, where they struggled to create significant chances and failed to capitalize on their opportunities. Manager Gary O'Neil will be hoping for a stronger performance at home to kickstart their campaign.Chelsea also suffered a 2-0 loss in their opening match against Manchester City. Despite this setback, they managed to secure a 2-0 victory against Servette in the UEFA Conference League play-off, providing some optimism heading into this match.

Team News

Wolves will be without Nelson Semedo, who is serving a suspension from the previous season. They are also missing long-term absentees Enso Gonzalez and Sasa Kalajdzic. Matheus Cunha is expected to make his first start of the season after recovering from a pre-season injury. The predicted lineup for Wolves is a 4-2-3-1 formation:

• GK: Sa
• DEF: Doherty, Mosquera, Toti, Ait-Nouri
• MID: Lemina, J. Gomes
• FOR: Hwang, Cunha, R. Gomes, Larsen

Chelsea will be without Reece James, who is serving a suspension, while Cole Palmer is a doubt due to a hamstring issue. Manager Enzo Maresca is likely to field a similar team to the one that faced Arsenal. The expected lineup for Chelsea is also a 4-2-3-1 formation:

• GK: Sanchez
• DEF: Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella
• MID: Fernandez, Lavia
• FOR: Palmer, Nkunku, Neto, Jackson

Head-to-Head Record

Wolves have had recent success against Chelsea, winning three of their last five encounters, including a memorable 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge in February 2024. This history will provide them with confidence as they prepare to face the Blues.

Prediction

Given the current form and the need for both teams to secure points, this match is expected to be competitive. Chelsea is slightly favored to win, but Wolves will be looking to exploit their home advantage. A predicted scoreline of 1-1 reflects the potential for both teams to share the spoils.

Conclusion

This match promises to be an engaging contest as Wolves aim to capitalize on their home support, while Chelsea seeks to bounce back from their early-season struggles. Fans can expect an exciting game at Molineux Stadium as both teams vie for crucial points in the Premier League.