Premier League
WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers1Man CityManchester City3

Wolves 1-3 Manchester City: Pep Guardiola's side start with away win

By Simon StoneBBC Sport
Manchester City players celebrate
Phil Foden has been directly involved in 22 goals in 33 starts for Manchester City (12 goals, 10 assists)

Manchester City held off a second-half Wolves fightback to begin their quest to regain the Premier League title with a win at Molineux.

City did the damage in a superb first half as Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden, playing for the first time since being sent home from England duty in disgrace, both found the net.

At that stage it seemed a case of how many the visitors would get, with Foden and Raheem Sterling both going close and Wolves keeper Rui Patricio making two decent saves.

However, City ran out of steam after the break.

Daniel Podence twice went close for the hosts and Kyle Walker hacked a scuffed Ruben Neves shot off the line, before Raul Jimenez, scorer of 27 goals last season, netted 12 minutes from time to give Wolves hope.

However, they were unable to repeat last term's exploits, when they came back from 2-0 down to win this fixture, and Gabriel Jesus' injury-time effort sealed victory for Pep Guardiola's side.

De Bruyne and Foden shine

De Bruyne was superb in the number 10 role as City made light of the absence of seven senior players.

In opening the scoring from the penalty spot, after he had been fouled by Romain Saiss, the Belgian extended his record of being involved in more goals than any other player since the start of the 2019-20 league campaign.

While it was those attributes that led to him winning the PFA prize despite playing for a team that finished the season 18 points behind champions Liverpool, it was De Bruyne's tenacious streak that came to the fore in the second period on Monday, when City had to be on their toes defensively and new £40m centre-back Nathan Ake showed his class.

But if De Bruyne was the standout City player, it was also a good night for Foden.

The 20-year-old England midfielder has been shielded to an extent by City since that breach of coronavirus quarantine guidelines in Iceland, for which he has apologised. Whatever lessons Foden needs to learn off the field, he is evidently a very able student when it comes to matters on it.

His goal was a thing of beauty, as he firmly finished off a move he started from Sterling's cutback. Foden also nearly scored a sensational second with a floated effort that went narrowly wide of the far post.

Wolves pay for slow start

Wolves players react
Raul Jimenez's 78th-minute header was Wolves' first attempt on target in the match

In signing his three-year contract extension, Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo has set himself the task of reshaping his team.

Matt Doherty, who has gone to Tottenham, is yet to be replaced in the right wing-back role. Nelson Semedo is earmarked for that job but a £30m deal is still to be completed.

In the meantime, Adama Traore is being asked to fill in. However, the Spaniard does not have a defender's instinct and can fail to read opponents' runs, and using him in that position blunts him as an attacking force.

On the other side, with Jonny on the long-term injured list, Nuno brought in Marcal from Lyon for £3m. Unfortunately for the hosts, the game was barely five minutes old when the Brazilian wandered over to his manager to tell him he had to come off.

It weakened Wolves on both flanks and, in trying to cover, they were carved up down the middle.

By half-time, they were in big trouble. Coming back from 2-0 down to win the corresponding fixture 3-2 was one of the Premier League highlights of last season. With no fans in the stadium on Monday, the hosts had to try to generate their own momentum.

They rallied after the break and Podence crashed an effort off the frame of the goal before Neves' tame shot was turned away by City defender Walker. Podence's attempt to chip Ederson when clean through ended up on the roof of the net and Jimenez sent a good chance wide before the Mexico striker did eventually find the net, heading in after Podence had cleverly nutmegged De Bruyne.

But Wolves lost their way and City had the game under control before Jesus administered the final blow.

'I expect us to suffer in moments' - what they said

Wolves 1-3 Manchester City: Wolves must strengthen squad, says Nuno Espirito Santo

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo to Sky Sports: "The first half we didn't start very well. Manchester City moved the ball well and created a lot of problems for us. We conceded the penalty and from then on it become much harder. In the second half we improved. We created a lot of moments and chances we could score from. We knew one moment could change everything.

"We changed and tried to adapt. We blocked City's possession through the middle. We were able to press and recover the ball. We had a lot of things to change and work out. Too bad we didn't finish with a different end to the game."

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola to Sky Sports: "It was a good performance. We know how difficult it is. Sometimes the opening is good and sometimes we need more time to get our best conditions - but the start was good.

"The period that we are in and the situation that we had in these past two weeks, I expected that in some moments we would suffer, but in general we controlled the game."

Taking all three points was 'so important' - Guardiola

10 openers in a row - the best of the stats

  • Wolves have lost two of their past four Premier League home games, as many defeats as in their previous 13 at Molineux.
  • City have become the first team to win 10 opening Premier League games in a row.
  • It was Jimenez's sixth headed goal in the league since the start of last season - no player has scored more in that time.
  • City have won six Premier League games in a row for the first time since August 2019 (a run of 15).
  • In 2020, Manchester City have won more penalties than any other side in the English top flight (eight, scoring four).
  • Since the start of last season, De Bruyne has been directly involved in more Premier League goals (35 - 14 goals, 21 assists) than any other player - three ahead of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah.
  • Since the 2019-20 season restarted in June, Raheem Sterling has had a hand in 13 goals in 14 appearances for City (11 goals, two assists), with only Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Abameyang registering more in that time (14).

What's next?

Wolves travel to London Stadium to take on West Ham United on Sunday (19:00 BST kick-off).

Manchester City host Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup third round on Thursday (19:45), before taking on Leicester City at Etihad Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday (16:30).

Player of the match

De BruyneKevin De Bruyne

with an average of 8.09

Wolverhampton Wanderers

  1. Squad number9Player nameJiménez
    Average rating

    6.56

  2. Squad number10Player nameDaniel Podence
    Average rating

    6.45

  3. Squad number11Player nameRui Patrício
    Average rating

    6.36

  4. Squad number37Player nameTraoré
    Average rating

    6.30

  5. Squad number8Player nameRúben Neves
    Average rating

    5.88

  6. Squad number7Player namePedro Neto
    Average rating

    5.80

  7. Squad number16Player nameCoady
    Average rating

    5.73

  8. Squad number15Player nameBoly
    Average rating

    5.53

  9. Squad number28Player nameJoão Moutinho
    Average rating

    5.51

  10. Squad number29Player nameRúben Vinagre
    Average rating

    5.44

  11. Squad number32Player nameDendoncker
    Average rating

    5.30

  12. Squad number17Player nameFábio Silva
    Average rating

    5.26

  13. Squad number27Player nameSaïss
    Average rating

    5.17

  14. Squad number5Player nameMarçal
    Average rating

    4.78

Manchester City

  1. Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne
    Average rating

    8.09

  2. Squad number47Player nameFoden
    Average rating

    7.09

  3. Squad number6Player nameAké
    Average rating

    6.76

  4. Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus
    Average rating

    6.61

  5. Squad number7Player nameSterling
    Average rating

    6.61

  6. Squad number25Player nameFernandinho
    Average rating

    6.58

  7. Squad number16Player nameRodri
    Average rating

    6.41

  8. Squad number31Player nameEderson
    Average rating

    6.40

  9. Squad number2Player nameWalker
    Average rating

    6.33

  10. Squad number5Player nameStones
    Average rating

    5.94

  11. Squad number21Player nameF Torres
    Average rating

    5.89

  12. Squad number22Player nameMendy
    Average rating

    5.56

Line-ups

Wolves

Formation 5-3-2

  • 11Rui Patrício
  • 37Traoré
  • 15Boly
  • 16Coady
  • 27Saïss
  • 5MarçalSubstituted forVinagreat 8'minutes
  • 28João MoutinhoSubstituted forDendonckerat 78'minutes
  • 8Neves
  • 7NetoSubstituted forFábio Silvaat 78'minutes
  • 9Jiménez
  • 10Podence

Substitutes

  • 17Fábio Silva
  • 20Vitinha
  • 21Ruddy
  • 29Vinagre
  • 32Dendoncker
  • 49Kilman
  • 59Buur

Man City

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 31Ederson
  • 2Walker
  • 5Stones
  • 6Aké
  • 22MendyBooked at 35mins
  • 25Fernandinho
  • 16RodriBooked at 86mins
  • 47Foden
  • 17De Bruyne
  • 7SterlingSubstituted forF Torresat 82'minutes
  • 9Gabriel JesusBooked at 35mins

Substitutes

  • 13Steffen
  • 21F Torres
  • 26Mahrez
  • 30Otamendi
  • 48Delap
  • 69Doyle
  • 82Bernabé
Referee:
Andre Marriner

Match Stats

Home TeamWolvesAway TeamMan City
Possession
Home35%
Away65%
Shots
Home10
Away14
Shots on Target
Home1
Away9
Corners
Home4
Away6
Fouls
Home7
Away8

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Manchester City 3.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Manchester City 3.

  3. Goal!

    Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Manchester City 3. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.

  4. Post update

    Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Rui Patrício.

  5. Post update

    Attempt saved. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.

  6. Post update

    Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Conor Coady.

  7. Post update

    Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Fernandinho.

  8. Post update

    Foul by Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City).

  9. Post update

    Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  10. Post update

    Attempt missed. Willy Boly (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Rúben Neves following a set piece situation.

  11. Booking

    Rodrigo (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Rodrigo (Manchester City).

  13. Post update

    Raúl Jiménez (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  14. Substitution

    Substitution, Manchester City. Ferran Torres replaces Raheem Sterling.

  15. Post update

    Attempt saved. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the bottom left corner.

  16. Post update

    Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  17. Post update

    Foul by Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

  18. Post update

    Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Willy Boly (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

  20. Goal!

    Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Manchester City 2. Raúl Jiménez (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Daniel Podence with a cross following a corner.

Around the BBC - SoundsAround the BBC footer - Sounds

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

743 comments

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Leicester22007256
2Everton22006246
3Arsenal22005146
4Liverpool22006336
5Crystal Palace22004136
6Tottenham21015323
7Man City11003123
8Brighton21014313
9Aston Villa11001013
10Leeds21017703
11Chelsea21013303
12Wolves21013303
13Newcastle210123-13
14Burnley100124-20
15Man Utd100113-20
16West Ham200214-30
17Sheff Utd200203-30
18Fulham200237-40
19Southampton200226-40
20West Brom200228-60
View full Premier League table