Manchester City will begin their quest to reclaim the Premier League title on Saturday when they travel to Molineux to face Wolverhampton Wanderers in their opening match of the 2025–26 season.
After a frustrating campaign last season that saw them surrender their domestic crown to Liverpool and finish third, Pep Guardiola’s side are determined to make a fast and dominant start to the new season. They have been busy in the transfer market over the summer, refreshing their squad by allowing several experienced veterans to depart.
City’s preparations for this opening fixture have been handed a massive and unexpected boost. Star midfielder Rodri, who was initially expected to be sidelined until September with a muscular injury setback, has recovered well ahead of schedule. Guardiola has confirmed that the Spanish international will be part of the matchday squad, although his level of involvement remains to be seen.
The City lineup is expected to feature a number of new faces making their competitive debuts. Goalkeeper James Trafford is likely to start between the sticks, while left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri is almost certain to make his first official appearance against the very club he left this summer.
Wolves, on the other hand, face an immense challenge. They are coming off a difficult and winless pre-season campaign and have lost key players like Matheus Cunha and Rayan Aït-Nouri in the transfer window. Their recent head-to-head record against City is also dreadful, having lost nine of their last ten meetings.
Predicted Lineups
- Wolves Predicted Lineup (3-4-2-1): Sá; Doherty, Agbadou, Toti; Hoever, André, J. Gomes, Wolfe; Munetsi, López; Strand Larsen.
- Man City Predicted Lineup (4-1-4-1): Trafford; Nunes, Dias, Akanji, Aït-Nouri; González; Cherki, Reijnders, Silva, Marmoush; Haaland.
Score Prediction Even with some key players still sidelined with injury, Manchester City’s overwhelming quality and the surprise return of their midfield anchor Rodri to the squad should be far too much for a struggling Wolves side. Expect the visitors to start their new campaign with a dominant and convincing victory at Molineux.
Prediction: Wolves 0–3 Manchester City