Aston Villa vs Wolves Preview

• Draw or Villa win
• Tielemans to score or assist

Aston Villa’s Continued Strong Start

Aston Villa’s excellent start to the season showed no signs of slowing down as they secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Young Boys in their first UEFA Champions League/European Cup appearance since the 1980s.

 This victory followed a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over Everton last weekend, positioning Villa fans in high spirits, even topping the early Champions League table for a brief moment.

Despite their success on the pitch, it has been an emotional week for the club as they mourned the loss of Gary Shaw, one of the heroes of their 1980s league and European Cup-winning side.

Villa manager Unai Emery dedicated their midweek victory to Shaw and his family, and tributes will be paid ahead of this weekend’s clash with local rivals Wolves.

Aston Villa will aim for back-to-back home league wins for the first time in 2024, adding to what has been a strong start to their campaign.

Wolves’ Struggles and Hopes for a Derby Revival

Wolves, on the other hand, have endured a disappointing start to their season. Their 2-1 loss to Newcastle, where they squandered a lead, marked their worst start in their first four games since returning to the Premier League in 2018 (D1, L3).

Manager Gary O’Neil faces mounting pressure to turn things around as Wolves sit perilously near the bottom of the table.

Despite their poor start, Wolves may take confidence from their recent head-to-head (H2H) record against Villa. Wolves have lost just one of the last seven meetings (W3, D3), with the only defeat coming in a 2-0 loss at Villa Park last season.

However, that loss highlighted how the balance of power in the Midlands has shifted, with Villa now the clear top dogs.

Wolves’ poor away form remains a concern, with the team winless in their last eight Premier League road games (D3, L5), underscoring the challenge they face at Villa Park.

Key Players to Watch

Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa)

Tielemans has been in excellent form, scoring and assisting in Villa’s midweek win in Switzerland. The Belgian midfielder is having a standout September, having also found the net for his national side against Israel.

Notably, each of Tielemans’ last ten club goals has come before half-time, making him a key player to watch for early action in this fixture.

Mario Lemina (Wolves):

Lemina has been central to Wolves’ midfield in recent games, scoring, assisting, and picking up a booking in their last two Premier League matches.

Interestingly, his last four goals have all opened the scoring, underlining his ability to strike first in key moments. Wolves will need Lemina at his best if they are to trouble Villa.

Aston Villa’s Home Strength and Wolves’ Away Struggles

• Aston Villa’s recent form: Villa are looking for back-to-back home league wins for the first time in 2024, following a strong start to their Premier League and European campaigns.
• Wolves’ away form: Wolves are winless in their last eight Premier League away games (D3, L5), with their last road win coming last season.

Head-to-Head and Derby Tensions

• Recent H2H record: Wolves have lost just one of the last seven meetings with Aston Villa (W3, D3).
• Last season’s result at Villa Park: Aston Villa won 2-0, signalling the shift in power in the Midlands rivalry.

Conclusion

Aston Villa head into this derby clash with Wolves full of confidence after a stellar start to the season both domestically and in Europe. Wolves, however, are in desperate need of a turnaround after their worst start to a Premier League season since 2018.

While Wolves have had some success in recent derby encounters, Villa’s current form and Wolves’ away struggles suggest that the hosts are favourites to claim victory.

Prediction: Aston Villa to win, with Youri Tielemans continuing his excellent run of form and Wolves’ away troubles continuing.

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Aston Villa v Wolves, 2024/25 | Premier League