The second matchday of the 2024/25 Premier League season sees Wolves hosting Chelsea at Molineux.
Both teams are eager to get their league campaigns on track after differing results in their opening fixtures.
Wolves put up a strong fight but ultimately fell 2-0 to Arsenal, while Chelsea are looking to bounce back from a disappointing home defeat to Manchester City.
Wolves Recent Form :
Wolves enter this match with a point to prove after their opening weekend loss to Arsenal.
Despite the defeat, they showed resilience and determination, and now, they’ll be aiming to replicate their success from last season against Chelsea.
Wolves were the only team to do the league double over Chelsea in the 2023/24 season, securing a 2-1 win at Molineux and a 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge.
Their recent record against the Blues has been impressive, with just one loss in their last eight encounters (W4, D3).
Additionally, Wolves are unbeaten in their last four home meetings with Chelsea (W3, D1).
Chelsea’s Recent Form :
Chelsea’s start to the season has been anything but smooth.
A 2-0 loss to Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend has put pressure on new head coach Enzo Maresca.
The Italian manager publicly stated that big-name player Raheem Sterling is not in his plans moving forward, adding to the turmoil in the Chelsea camp.
However, the Blues did manage to secure a 2-0 win against Swiss side Servette in the UEFA Conference League playoffs, with Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke finding the back of the net.
Chelsea must now avoid losing their first two Premier League games for the first time in their history.
Key Players :
Wolves: Matheus Cunha will be the player to watch for Wolves. The Brazilian forward made history the last time these two teams met by scoring a hat trick away at Stamford Bridge.
Cunha will be looking to continue his strong form against the Blues and lead Wolves to their first league win of the season.
Chelsea: Christopher Nkunku will be a key figure for Chelsea. The French forward was one of Chelsea’s top scorers during preseason and has already opened his account for the season with a goal against Servette.
Nkunku also scored his first Chelsea goal in last season’s encounter against Wolves at Molineux, making him a player Wolves will need to keep a close eye on.
Potential Lineups:
Wolves: Sa, Doherty, Mosquera, Toti; Gomes, Sarabia, Lemina, Cunha, Ait-Nouti; Hwang, Larsen.
Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella, Lavia, Enzo, Madueke, Palmer, Neto, Nkunku.
Score Prediction: Wolves 1-3 Chelsea
Where to watch:
United States: NBCSN
Canada: Fubo Sports Network
India: Star Sports Select HD
Australia: Optus Sport
Nigeria: SuperSports.
Conclusion :
This match promises to be an intriguing battle between two teams with different motivations.
Wolves will be aiming to secure their first win of the season and build on their strong record against Chelsea, while the Blues are desperate to avoid back-to-back Premier League losses and begin their ascent up the table.
With both teams having something to prove, this encounter at Molineux is set to be a closely contested affair.