Sabasports Match Preview
UEFA Champions League: Wolves vs Chelsea
Kickoff Time: 2024-08-25 21:00(HKT)
Source: REUTERS/Matthew Childs
In the first round of the league, Wolves lost 0-2 away to Arsenal, suffering a disappointing start to the season. This summer, Wolves let go of several key players while also bringing in a number of new signings. Among them, the departure of Max Kilman has sparked some controversy, but his replacement, Colombian center-back Yerson Mosquera, despite the debate, had a commendable performance with three tackles and three successful aerial duels. However, the two new signings, Jorgen Strand Larsen and Rodrigo Gomes, both had poor debuts and seem unable to fill the role of Pedro Lomba Neto. Wolves primarily play in a 4-2-3-1 formation, relying on breakthroughs from the wings to initiate counterattacks, but with changes to the main lineup, the players still need time to adapt.
In the midweek UEFA Europa Conference League match, Chelsea comfortably defeated Servette 2-0 at home, marking their first victory of the new season. This summer, Chelsea continued to spend heavily on new players, and the first team now boasts over 40 players. With such an oversized squad, head coach Enzo Maresca is still searching for the most suitable lineup. Chelsea also plays in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with the double pivot of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo serving as the hub for the team’s transition between attack and defense. The attacking trio of Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer, and Nicolas Jackson is Chelsea’s biggest weapon in front of goal, tasked with scoring responsibilities.
On paper, Chelsea’s strength far surpasses that of Wolves. Both teams have undergone significant changes this season and are still in the process of finding their rhythm. Although Chelsea lost 0-2 to Manchester City in their opening match, their performance was commendable and overall better than that of Wolves. Furthermore, with Chelsea’s depth in the squad, they do not need to worry about fitness issues even with a busy schedule. Overall, the powerful Chelsea remains a team worth backing.
Wolves’ Last 5 Games: LLWLW
24-08-17 Arsenal 2-0 Wolves
24-08-10 Wolves 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
24-08-04 Wolves 3-0 RB Leipzig
24-08-01 Crystal Palace 3-1 Wolves
24-07-28 West Ham United 1-3 Wolves
Chelsea’s Last 5 Games: WLDLL
24-08-23 Chelsea 2-0 Servette
24-08-18 Chelsea 0-2 Manchester City
24-08-11 Chelsea 1-1 Inter
24-08-07 Real Madrid 2-1 Chelsea
24-08-04 Manchester City 4-2 Chelsea
Head To Head Record:
24-02-04 Chelsea 2-4 Wolves
23-12-24 Wolves 2-1 Chelsea
23-04-08 Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
22-10-08 Chelsea 3-0 Wolves
22-05-07 Chelsea 2-2 Wolves
Prediction: Chelsea to win