In a tightly contested Matchweek 8 fixture between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City, the reigning champions were pushed to the limit but came away with a hard-fought 2-1 victory. Despite City’s dominance in possession and chance creation, Wolves remained resilient and snatched a goal to make things difficult for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Momentum and Key Stats

The momentum of the match was largely in City’s favor, especially in the second half, as shown in the momentum graph. However, Wolves took advantage of a rare opportunity and briefly shifted the momentum after their equalizer. City’s ability to regain control late on was pivotal in seeing out the game.

Shots Analysis

City’s attacking intent was clear from the start, as seen in their shot map with 20 attempts overall, 7 of which were on target, yielding an xG of 1.79. Erling Haaland and Jérémy Doku spearheaded the attack, but it was John Stones’ stoppage-time strike that sealed the points for City.

Meanwhile, Wolves’ defense held strong, blocking 7 shots and limiting City to mostly low-quality chances from distance. Wolves’ limited offensive output, with only 3 shots, still produced a surprise goal through Strand Larsen, but their xG of 0.64 underlined their struggle to generate meaningful opportunities.

Possession

City’s pass map reveals their typical fluid passing structure, with intricate triangles between Bernardo Silva, ?lkay Gündo?an, and Mateo Kova?i?, helping City dictate the tempo. City’s 75% possession and 69 touches in the opposition box highlight their dominance, but Wolves’ disciplined defense, led by Craig Dawson, ensured they stayed in the match until the very end.

Wolves, on the other hand, focused on compactness, with Matheus Cunha and André involved in their transitions, but their inability to retain possession (only 25% possession) limited their threat.

Ultimately, City’s quality shone through, but Wolves can be proud of a gritty performance against the Premier League juggernaut.