Champions League chasing Manchester City welcome Wolves, on a six-game winning streak, at the Etihad on Friday night.
MCI vs WOL Match Details
Date: Friday, 2 May 2025 / Saturday, 3 May 2025
Time: 20:00 (BST), 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
MCI vs WOL Match Preview
Manchester City secured a 2-0 semifinal win against fellow Champions League chaser Nottingham Forest to reach the 2024/25 FA Cup final. That is the only trophy left to play for the Citizens in the season, aside from the new Club World Cup hosted in June. Having also been in the running for the Champions League, Pep Guardiola’s side could still end the campaign on a decent note if both the FA Cup and top-tier continental football are achieved. City are placed fourth on the league table, a point better than sixth-place Nottingham Forest and four points better than Aston Villa in seventh, with four games left. Despite the top five qualifying for the League Phase of the Champions League next season, due to teams from England going further in all three European competitions this term, boosting coefficient rankings, the race is a close one with the former league winners not wanting any more setbacks, having lost the domestic hold to Liverpool without a proper challenge. City aims to temporarily rise to third on the table by achieving their fourth consecutive league win, something they haven't accomplished since starting the season with four straight victories. Despite injuries and other fragilities of the squad, the team has found rhythm lately, looking to continue it this weekend in the penultimate home game of the season, having won eight of their last nine meetings with Wolves at Etihad.
However, the visitors in excellent form cannot be underestimated, having not lost a single game since the end of February and currently on a six-game winning streak. Wolves were flirting with relegation only weeks ago, but have now been a completely transformed outfit. It seems manager Vitor Pereira is finally getting the best out of his players after taking charge of the team towards the end of November last year. The side has nothing to play for other than the motive of trying to finish in the top 10, which is less likely, sitting 13th on the table above the likes of West Ham, Spurs, Everton and Manchester United, defeating three of the four in their glossy winning run. With no pressure to handle for the campaign, Wolves are playing without expectation and picking up some fascinating results on the way, like the 3-0 win over the relegated Leicester City the previous weekend. However, playing at City at home will throw their winning streak into a challenge despite the opposition dropping from their high levels this season. The side lost the reverse clash at Molineux, with John Stones, injured for this clash, scoring a dramatic last-minute winner despite Strand Larsen giving the side the lead inside seven minutes. Wolves’ last trip to the Etihad was also not pleasant, having suffered a 5-1 hammering back then.
MCI vs WOL Recent Form (all competitions)
MCI: DWWWW
MCI vs WOL Recent Form (Europa League)
MCI: WDWWW
BDO: WWWWW
MCI vs WOL Team News
Erling Haaland has rejoined Manchester City's training after recovering from an ankle injury he sustained during the FA Cup quarterfinal victory against Bournemouth a month ago. It is left to see whether the Norwegian will be involved in the Premier League clash at the weekend, having scored four goals in this fixture last year. Oscar Bobb and goalkeeper Ederson are also doubts for the game. Nathan Ake and John Stones still need time for their recovery.
As for the visitors, Hwang Hee-chan and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde returned to the bench in the win against Leicester City last weekend and are wishing for more minutes this time. Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez and Yerson Mosquera are all on the recovery from their long-term injuries. Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone is a doubt for the game.
MCI vs WOL Predicted Lineups
Manchester City
Ortega; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Silva, Kovacic, Gundogan; Savinho, De Bruyne, Marmoush
Wolves
Sa; Bueno, Agbadou, Toti; Semedo, Andre, Gomes, Ait-Nouri; Munetsi, Cunha; Larsen
MCI vs WOL Head to head (all competitions)
Pld - 131
MCI won - 56
Drawn - 25
Wol won - 50
MCI vs WOL Head to head (Premier League)
Pld - 21
MCI won - 14
Drawn - 2
Wol won - 5
MCI vs WOL Dream11 Match Prediction
Manchester City are getting the job done lately and will be able to secure three points at the weekend, despite Wolves proving to be a tricky challenge, with their favourable home record in this fixture. We predict a 2-1 win for Guardiola’s side.
MCI vs WOL Dream11 Top picks
Captain Pick: Omar Marmoush
Vice-captain Pick: De Bruyne
Our top pick for the MCI vs WOL Dream11 team is Omar Marmoush, with six goals in 12 Premier League matches this season.
The other top candidate to choose will be De Bruyne, who has been involved in 10 goals (5 goals and 5 assists) in nine league games against Wolves.
Matheus Cunha has been involved in 21 goals in the Premier League this season, scoring 15 and assisting six.
Strand Larsen, his strike partner, has scored 13 goals, with six of those coming in the last six league games.
MCI vs WOL Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Sa (Cr - 7, Pts - 375)
DEF: O'Reilly (Cr - 7, Pts - 256), Gvardiol (Cr - 9, Pts - 1356), Nouri (Cr - 9, Pts - 495)
MID: Silva (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 918), Gundogan (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 699), De Bruyne (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 802), Savinho (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 794)
FW: Cunha (Cr - 9, Pts - 632), Larsen (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 366), Marmoush (Cr - 9, Pts - 515)
Vice-captain: De Bruyne
Captain: Omar Marmoush
