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As it happenedended

Wolves vs Manchester City – as it happened: Hosts hold on for point in hard-fought draw against the champions

Re-live all the action from Molineux Stadium

Kishan Vaghela
Saturday 25 August 2018 06:50 EDT
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Wolves celebrate equalising against Manchester City
Wolves celebrate equalising against Manchester City (Getty)

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Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City visit Wolves in the day’s early kick-off in their bid to continue their 100% record after their victories against Arsenal and Huddersfield Town.

The champions have scored eight goals altogether in their victories at the Emirates and at home to the Terriers, and will look to add to that figure when they face the newly-promoted side to set the benchmark for their title rivals.

Wolves demonstrated the quintessential staunch resistance of promoted sides at home when they secured a 2-2 draw against Everton on the opening weekend. Nuno will hope that spirit will return after their ill-fated defeat at Leicester last weekend, where they hit the woodwork on two occasions.

Follow all the action below with our live blog:



What time does it start?

Wolves vs Manchester City kicks off at 12:30pm (BST).

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on Sky Sports’ Premier League and Main Event channels. Sky Sports subscribers can also stream the match via the SkyGo app.

Highlights will be shown at 10:30pm on BBC One.

It’s a big game for…

Helder Costa: The 24-year-old Portuguese was hugely impressive in pre-season, but has so far been unable to replicate those displays in the Premier League. The winger failed to exploit gaps in the opposition defences against Everton and Leicester with his undeniable pace, and seems to be suffering from a lack of self-belief. The former Monaco man will be key in Wolves’ counter-attacking plan this weekend and will need to step up his performances in order to trouble the City defence.

One: Wolves have won just two of the 12 encounters with Manchester City this century, with their victories coming in October 2003 and October 2010, both of which were at Molineux.

Remember when…

The most famous encounter between the two sides probably occurred all the way back in March 1974, when the teams faced each other in the League Cup final. Wolves’ Kenny Hibbitt had given his side the lead a minute before the break, but Colin Bell equalised a minute before the hour mark. The game was decided by John Richards five minutes from time after he rifled home a deflected cut-back.

Player to watch…

Sergio Aguero – The Argentinian was hailed this week by Alan Shearer as the best foreign import the league has ever seen after he scored the ninth Premier League hat-trick of his Manchester City career against Huddersfield. The 30-year-old faces fierce competition at City but it seems that the threat is bringing out his best form, which is an ominous sign for the Molineux faithful.

(Getty
(Getty (Getty)

Past three-meetings…

Manchester City 0 Wolves 0 (Manchester City won 4-1 on penalties), League Cup, October 2017

Wolves 0 Manchester City 2 (Aguero, Nasri), Premier League, April 2012

Manchester City 3 (Dzeko, Kolarov, Johnson) Wolves 1 (Hunt pen), Premier League, October 2011

Form guide…

Wolves: DL

Manchester City: WWW

Odds…

Wolves to win: 10/1

Manchester City to win: 1/4

Draw: 27/5

(Odds provided by 888 Sport)

17 min: ​A half-chance at best for Wolves' man-of-the-moment Ruben Neves, but he blazes high and wide after Kompany's clearance from a corner.

Vithushan Ehantharajah25 August 2018 12:47

19 min: GOAL! NO! It's been given offside

Diogo Jota's deflected effort falls to Raul Jimenez, who taps home, but the offside flag cuts short the home side's celebrations.

Vithushan Ehantharajah25 August 2018 12:51

21 min: Two efforts against the woodwork in as many minutes from the visitors!

Sergio Aguero saw his effort from Bernardo Silva's cross smack against the post, before Raheem Sterling latched onto a poor clearance and saw his effort tipped onto and cannon off the bar. Ominous signs for Wolves.

Vithushan Ehantharajah25 August 2018 12:53

Sterling and Aguero had other ideas.....

Vithushan Ehantharajah25 August 2018 12:56

Min 29: City are getting a lot of joy on the right-hand side and it almost produces their first goal.

Bernardo Silva slides a wonderful ball through to Aguero, who chops onto his left and looks set to bury it, only for Boly to put in a recovering slide tackle.

Vithushan Ehantharajah25 August 2018 12:59

When joy turns to agony in seconds...

Vithushan Ehantharajah25 August 2018 13:03

Min 33: Another chance for Guardiola's side, and it comes from another under-hit clearance. 

It falls to Fernandinho this time, but he drags his shot just wide of the post.

Vithushan Ehantharajah25 August 2018 13:04

Min 36: Wolves have been restricted to their own half in the last ten minutes, but they manage to break out this time.

The ball is played to Neves, who has had a quiet game so far, but his shot was always heading wide.

Vithushan Ehantharajah25 August 2018 13:07

Min 40: Wolves have had a mini-revival in the last five minutes, pressing the Man City defence into mistakes.

Raul Jimenez's shot on the turn from a corner is the closest they have come, though.

Vithushan Ehantharajah25 August 2018 13:10

Min 41: Another chance for Aguero! 

Mendy sends a ball over from the left which is parried to the Argentinian by Patricio, but he struggles to get the ball out of his feet and his shot is easily saved by the Portuguese goalkeeper.

Vithushan Ehantharajah25 August 2018 13:12

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