Report | Wolves 2-0 Aston Villa | Men’s First-Team | News

Wolves secured their first three factors of 2025 and jumped out of the drop zone with an important victory over Aston Villa below the lights at Molineux.

Vitor Pereira’s facet triumphed because of objectives in every half, early on from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Matheus Cunha proper on the dying. 

For the primary time in 2025, Wolves took the lead in a Premier League match, with Bellegarde ending off a terrific workforce transfer. Cunha then sealed the victory in added time with a superb solo effort.

The competition began energetically, with either side contributing to a aggressive opening, highlighted by the six fouls inside 10 minutes. The Molineux crowd had been on it from the outset, which was mirrored on the pitch.

The hosts struck first with an outstanding workforce purpose within the twelfth minute. Cunha collected the ball on the left and squared it infield to Goncalo Guedes, who helped it alongside to Pablo Sarabia. The Spaniard regarded up and picked out an onrushing Bellegarde, who rifled the ball previous Emiliano Martinez at his entrance publish.

Wolves adopted up their opener with sustained stress as their high-press proved tough for Villa to bypass, nonetheless nothing led to a chance to double their lead. 

Cunha had Wolves’ greatest probability of the primary half to increase their benefit when he went one-on-one with Martinez. He muscled off Boubacar Kamara and latched onto Sarabia’s engaging ball excessive however didn’t convert his effort. Guedes additionally missed the mark with the rebound.

Moments later, Wolves had one other golden alternative to double their lead earlier than the break. Sarabia’s excellent defensive efforts allowed Bellegarde to gather the ball and advance it to the midway line. He then slid a cross into Guedes’ stride, and he did effectively to shrug off Ezri Konsa, however the ahead failed to seek out the online, pulling his left-footed shot broad.

Guedes was concerned once more on the stroke of half-time, choosing up Cunha’s by means of ball inside Villa’s penalty field. He fired goalwards, however Martinez did effectively to show it across the publish for a nook. Wolves went into the break with a well-deserved lead after a dominant first-half efficiency.

Half-Time | Wolves 1-0 Aston Villa

Villa raced out of the blocks shortly within the second half and thought they’d discovered their leveller quickly after the restart. A training-ground set-piece resulted in Donyell Malen placing the ball within the internet; nonetheless, the flag was raised for offside, and Wolves survived the scare.

The Villains continued to press for a leveller and got here shut once more. Half-time substitute Ian Maatsen arrived on the left facet of the penalty field, and his cut-back discovered Leon Bailey whose shot was blocked by Emmanuel Agbadou, stopping any additional motion.

Wolves weathered a interval of Villa dominance after half-time with resolute defending. They responded with a counter-attack as Bellegarde switched the play to Sarabia, now within the attacking third, however his supply failed to seek out Cunha on the again publish.

As the sport entered its closing 20 minutes, Pereira’s facet started to discover a foothold once more, with substitutes Tommy Doyle, Rodrigo Gomes and Hee Chan Hwang offering a welcomed increase.

Defending remained Wolves’ precedence, and Jose Sa was known as into motion twice because the 90-minute mark approached. First, Malen gained a yard on his marker and fired a shot in the direction of purpose, however Sa made a powerful save with an outstretched glove. The rebound fell kindly to Morgan Rogers, however Matt Doherty’s defending denied the second strike.

Malen was concerned once more as he latched onto a by means of ball from Youri Tielemans inside the realm, however as soon as once more, Sa stood robust to forestall the equaliser.

Wolves continued to climate the ultimate Villa storm as seven minutes of damage time had been introduced. In the meantime, the Molineux trustworthy performed their half, providing harmonious encouragement, which was once more quickly mirrored on the pitch.

Cunha sealed the victory in added time after a solo run from his personal half left him with solely Konsa to beat. He shifted the ball on to his most popular proper foot and expertly arrowed his effort into the far nook of the online.

It was a dominant efficiency as Wolves overcame their native rivals with a well-deserved victory.

Full-time | Wolves 2–0 Aston Villa

Wolves | Sa, Semedo, Doherty, Agbadou, Toti, Ait-Nouri (R. Gomes 71), Andre, Bellegarde (Bueno 87), Sarabia (Hwang 79), Guedes (Doyle 71), Cunha.

Subs not used | Johnstone, Dawson, Forbs, Chirewa, Lima.

Aston Villa | Martinez, Garcia (Onana 45), Konsa, Kamara, Digne (Maatsen 45), McGinn, Bogarde (Nedeljkovic 83), Tielemans, Ramsey (Bailey 45), Rogers, Watkins (Malen 45).

Subs not used | Olsen, Zych, Swinkels, Jimoh-Aloba.

Referee | Andy Madley

By Callum Greybanks