45
22:03
Mid-term conclusion:
At the break, Manchester City lead 3-1 at Molineux Stadium at Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Sky Blues pressed the accelerator right from the start and were able to take the lead after just a few minutes. Because the Guardiola team then wanted to force the preliminary decision a bit too brutely, City ran into a well-played Wolves counterattack shortly afterwards, which led to the equaliser. The luck of the home team was short-lived. The Citizens rallied quickly, took the lead again just five minutes later after a goalkeeper error by José Sá and then even increased it to 3-1. All three goals were scored by Kevin De Bruyne, who has been outstanding so far. The Wanderers have to come up with something. The troop from the West Midlands recently had little success offensively.
45
22:02
Meanwhile, the Wolves counterattack again, during which Fernandinho clears for a corner. The Wanderers want to have seen a handball, but neither the referee nor the VAR address it. The corner then fizzles out again.
45
22:01
Jonny takes the ball from De Bruyne, who would have several chances to finish. Instead, he puts it across to Sterling, who has two opponents at his side and cannot maintain the pass.
45
22:00
Official injury time (minutes): 2
44
22:00
The league leaders want to take the two-goal lead into the break. City continues to run, but puts the handbrake on again. A counterattack and a goal before the break would now be poison.
41
21:56
Chiquinho captured the ball against Zinchenko with strong counter-pressing and was able to fuel up the right wing. The flat cross into the sixteen goes too close to the goal. Ederson is there and can grab it safely.
38
21:52
The Citizens continue to make life difficult for the West Midlands team. Wolverhampton would like to free themselves playfully, but can hardly hold the ball against the aggressive and high pressing of the Guardiola team. The ball is always gone after a few passes.
35
21:50
The VAR also looks at the scene again and confirms the referee not to award a penalty. Meanwhile, the Wolves corner ball from the right fizzles out in the city defense.
34
21:50
Rayan Aït Nouri plays a wonderful pass into Chiquinho’s run, which enters the penalty area on the right. However, Oleksandr Zinchenko is on it and catches the Wolves player with a tackle that also involves a light touch. However, because Chiquinho takes off too theatrically, the referee immediately decides on a corner kick.
32
21:46
Things could go quickly after winning the ball, but Raúl Jiménez started too early and was caught offside on a pass from the Wolves third.
30
21:44
Far from being relentless in pace, Manchester City controlled the ball and pinned Wolves deep in their own half. There is little to be seen of the hosts, who after winning the ball against the high counter-pressing can hardly hold their own.
27
21:42
With high counter-pressing, İlkay Gündoğan works the ball in the opponent’s third and then puts it across for Rodri, who simply tries to hit it from 25 meters. The shot is not bad, but narrowly misses the Wanderers box. Kick off Wolverhampton.
24
21:39
Tooor for Manchester City, 1: 3 by Kevin De Bruyne
The Citizens make it 3-1 and it’s Kevin De Bruyne again who scores the hat trick. After a Cancelo throw-in, Sterling holds the ball against Aït Nouri and puts it through to the Belgian, who picks up the leather, pulls in on the sixteen, leaves Coady and Jonny and then shoots flat with his left hand from 16 meters to the bottom left corner. This is exactly where the extremely strong conclusion hits with a perfect fit.
22
21:37
The ball runs very well with the guests through their own ranks. The Wanderers just follow and can hardly get out of their passivity.
19
21:34
As after the first goal, the Sky Blues are now back again. However, the visor is far less open. Defensive coverage is left behind, leaving Wolves, who continue to lurk on the counter, out of the game for the moment.
16
21:31
Tooor for Manchester City, 1:2 by Kevin De Bruyne
The Citizens slow down for a moment, but then pick it up again at the right moment, which immediately leads to the 2-0. Zinchenko served De Bruyne, who volleyed a flamboyant chip down Sterling’s run. However, José Sá comes out and is there in time. But instead of resolutely batting the ball away, he stumbles it into Kevin De Bruyne’s feet. Of course, he doesn’t need to be asked twice and nails the ball from 14 meters in the top left corner. The Wanderers keeper has to take credit for the goal.
14
21:29
Since the goal conceded, the Sky Blues are visibly lower. City brings some calm back into the game and collects.
11
21:26
Tooor for Wolverhampton Wanderers, 1-1 by Leander Dendoncker
Manchester City wants the early preliminary decision, presses on the second goal and promptly runs into a counterattack that leads to 1-1. Raúl Jiménez waits a long time in the center and then passes it on to Pedro Neto, who doesn’t finish hastily in the penalty area, but has an eye for Leander Dendoncker, who is moving up. The pass to the backcourt works and the Belgian slams the ball flat and places it into the net from 14 meters. Nothing to do for Ederson.
10
21:25
After a Zinchenko advance on the left, the ball lands on Bernardo Silva, who tries it directly from a very acute angle. However, the shot rushes clearly over the box.
8th
21:24
Almost the answer of the Wolves: After a long ball from his own third, Chiquinho refuels in a running duel into the box. However, Laporte is still there and prevents a conclusion with a perfectly timed tackle. Start defended.
7
21:21
Tooor for Manchester City, 0-1 by Kevin De Bruyne
With an almost perfect move, the Citizens take a 1-0 lead early on. After a weak Sá kick, the switching game rolls out. Bernardo Silva then puts through to Kevin De Bruyne at the perfect moment, who just has to keep his nerve free from José Sá. He confidently sinks the left-hand shot from twelve meters in the lower right corner.
4
21:19
The Wolves’ first foray, meanwhile, isn’t too dangerous. Rayan Aït Nouri hits a weak cross from the left half-field towards the back post, where only Oleksandr Zinchenko is standing. Certainly he returns the ball to Ederson with a head.
2
21:17
The Sky Blues play bravely forward. Sterling puts through for De Bruyne, whose low cross comes in sharply in the box. A little too sharp for Foden, who narrowly misses.
1
21:15
The ball is rolling in the West Midlands. The hosts will compete in their usual gold jerseys over black shorts. The guests from Manchester are dressed all in white. Here we go.
20:50
The two teams have faced each other a total of 125 times so far and the record is remarkably balanced. With 51 wins, Manchester City is only just ahead (25 draws, 49 defeats). In the end, however, the Citizens dominated the duel. After the Sky Blues suffered three defeats in three competitive games in 2019, the last three clashes all went to Pep Guardiola’s selection, who also won the first leg 1-0 in December.
20:44
On Sunday, the Sky Blues finished off Newcastle United in great form in the Premier League. In the end it was 5:0. However, Pep Guardiola keeps an eye on the load control and rotates to three positions: Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Fernandinho start for Gabriel Jesus, Jack Grealish (both bench) and Rúben Dias (thigh injury).
20:39
Manchester City recently suffered a bitter defeat in the Champions League semifinals and in the FA Cup semifinals. At least in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s men are still the measure of all things. The Citizens have not lost for nine league games in a row (seven wins, two draws). The last away defeat in the Premier League dates back to August 15, 2021 (0-1 at Tottenham).
20:33
After three games in a row without a win and without scoring themselves, Wolves fought back to a 2-2 draw at Chelsea FC on Saturday. Compared to this game, Bruno Lage consequently sees little reason for changes. There is only one change: Chiquinho starts today for Romain Saïss (not in the squad).
20:27
Wolverhampton haven’t been in very good shape lately. Wolves have lost four of their last six league games (1 win, 1 draw) and have been without a win in four consecutive games. In the final sprint of the season, the Wanderers have thus taken a step back from the battle for international starting places. With a home win over Sky Blues, however, the eighth side could reduce the gap to West Ham United to two points.
20:22
In the long-distance duel with Liverpool FC for the national championship, Manchester City could restore the old distance today. The Reds beat Aston Villa 2-1 yesterday, leaving both the Sky Blues and Liverpool up to 86 points. With an away win at Wolves, the Citizens of Jürgen Klopp’s team could again rush by three points.
20:15
Good evening and welcome from Molineux Stadium. Here at 21:15 today, Wolverhampton Wanderers host Manchester City in the Premier League match day 33 catch-up game.