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Key occasions
There have been loads of empty seats initially of the sport – that was attributable to a fan protest over the membership’s ticket costs and insurance policies.
Wolves had a few critical probabilities throughout an honest first half-hour, however Metropolis have strolled round comfortably for the reason that De Bruyne purpose, their possession within the 60s.
HALF-TIME: Manchester Metropolis 1-0 Wolves
Simply the one minute added on as Nunes thumps the ball over to Doku on the opposite wing. The ball works it approach to Bernardo Silva on the proper, and he tries to jink away and cross the ball. Wolves resist after which comes the whistle.
45 min It’s simply pass-pass-pass from Metropolis, at all times on the lookout for Doku on the left to then penetrate.
42 min De Bruyne will get in the best way of one other potential Wolves counter, searching down the ball on the Metropolis left.
41 min Metropolis are actually wheeling the ball round comfortably, taking the sting out of the sport.
40 min De Bruyne – he’s in all places – halts a Wolves break with a foul by the midway line.
37 min De Bruyne is within the sport as soon as once more, attempting to slip in a ball for Marmoush … however Sá intercepts, advancing effectively exterior his space.
GOAL! Manchester Metropolis 1-0 Wolves (De Bruyne 35)
It’s been constructing over the previous few minutes and right here it’s. Metropolis win the ball in midfield and the areas open up, with Doku beating his man inside the world earlier than pulling again for the advancing De Bruyne. The veteran connects effectively sufficient with the bobbling ball, the first-time hit giving Metropolis the lead.
33 min … O’Reilly drifts into the world and shoots over the bar however Metropolis are lastly clicking.
32 min Doku crosses from the left, Toti heads away however Metropolis have now arrange camp contained in the Wolves half …
31 min One other low Doku cross from the Metropolis left into the world is bundled away.
30 min De Bruyne takes it brief earlier than ultimately whipping it in. That’s cleared earlier than Silva curls in a ball from the proper … once more the Wolves defence – a flat 5 out of possession – is resolute.
29 min Metropolis have a nook but it surely’s Wolves who’ve the rhythm at current.
27 min One other big probability for Wolves! They work it properly to depart Aït-Nouri in place to strike the submit from round 10 yards. The rebound comes again out to him however he can’t beat Gvardiol on the road!
22 min Wolves have the primary clear-cut probability they usually blow it. The guests beat the excessive Metropolis line with Bellegarde advancing into the world from the proper, the possibility on to sq. it comfortably for a Munetsi tap-in … however he makes a meal of the cross, sending it out of attain.
21 min Sá punches away the nook earlier than De Bruyne crosses from the left … Toti Gomes will get a head on it however Marmoush lets free … it’s one other shot off course.
20 min De Bruyne makes a tidy run into the Wolves space earlier than crossing into the centre … the transfer ends with a Metropolis nook.
19 min André has a first-time hit from contained in the D however a Metropolis shirt closes down on him to make sure he’s delay, and the shot flies excessive.
18 min It doesn’t sound all that electrical on the Etihad. Toti Gomes makes an honest run down the left for Wolves earlier than the ball is recycled, with the guests getting the passes entering into midfield.
17 min We’re missing in thrills in the intervening time. Doku threatens to offer some when jinking down the left however he can’t discover a teammate within the space.
13 min Nunes whips in a ball from the proper however Sá, the Wolves keeper, reads the scenario very well, getting himself near the sting of the world to gather.
12 min Kovacic, who was glorious at Wembley final weekend, leaves Gomes rolling on the turf with a problem.
11 min By no means thoughts, it’s Bernardo Silva who crosses the ball but it surely doesn’t go deep sufficient, inflicting Wolves little hassle.
10 min De Bruyne finds Marmoush on the Metropolis proper earlier than Matheus Nunes is tripped by the onrushing Cunha. Metropolis have a free-kick for De Bruyne to whip in …
9 min Doku cushions the ball on the left and will get Metropolis transferring however a cross is handled and Semedo ventures down the Wolves proper earlier than successful a free-kick inside his personal half.
7 min Cunha’s nook from the left heads in direction of the far submit, and previous everybody. It had some correct swing on it, one Jimmy Anderson could be happy with.
6 min Wolves lastly get a correct maintain of the ball after an extended punt from the again; Bellegarde helps win a nook.
4 min The digital camera flashes to Rodri within the stands. He’s been drastically missed.
3 min Matheus Cunha breaks free on the left and cuts in … however loses his manner with the hit from exterior the world, the shot wildly off course.
2 min Ederson’s cross from the again helps Metropolis minimize by means of the Wolves traces, the transfer ending with Rúben Dias having a crack from round 25 yards. It’s excessive and relatively vast.
1 min Metropolis calmly get these possession numbers up by wheeling it round on the again.
Peep!
The hosts kick issues off. Let’s play!
Right here’s how the reverse fixture went. Metropolis went high of the desk after John Stones’ winner – it’s been some time.
Lads on tour? I feel not.
“The final 15 years, my spouse has been the daddy and the mom. I didn’t see something. Birthdays, graduations … I’ve by no means been there. By no means. I don’t need this life for my sons. We now have lots of moments the place we endure quite a bit. And alone. I feel we’re at all times in a pre-depression. I imagine that the moments of my life gave me the chance to be stronger.”
Some nice traces from Vítor Pereira on this piece by Ben Fisher.
Pep Guardiola speaks to Sky: “I’ve mentioned, after I end my time right here, I don’t know, one yr, two yr, three years, 4, 5, six, I don’t know, I’ll take a break. I’m not retire however I’ll take a break for positive.”
That’s clarifying his feedback made right here:
Erling Haaland is again within the combine however on the bench – he didn’t play any video games in April attributable to an ankle harm. Fellow Norwegian ahead Jørgen Strand Larsen just isn’t concerned for Wolves; he has six objectives in his final six league matches.
The groups
Manchester Metropolis: Ederson, Matheus Nunes, Rúben Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Gündogan, Kovacic, Silva, De Bruyne, Doku, Marmoush
Subs: Ortega, Haaland, Grealish, González, Akanji, Savinho, Foden, Lewis, McAtee
Wolves: José Sá, Doherty, Agbadou, Toti Gomes, Nélson Semedo, João Gomes, André, Aït-Nouri, Munetsi, Bellegarde, Matheus Cunha
Subs: Bentley, Bueno, Hwang, Rodrigo Gomes, Doyle, Sarabia, Gonçalo Guedes, Djiga, Pedro Lima
Preamble
Hi there, howdy, howdy and welcome to some spicy Friday night time motion: essentially the most in-form workforce within the league in opposition to, um, Manchester Metropolis.
Sure, Wolves are on a critical run with six consecutive victories. Whereas it’s value noting that every one of these groups sit under them within the desk, it’s nonetheless medical work. After flirting with a relegation battle, they’re protected and sound underneath Vítor Pereira.
For Metropolis, the nice occasions are (form of) rolling again. They’ve bought an FA Cup closing to sit up for after final weekend’s victory over Nottingham Forest, and a win tonight would take them third, inflicting Forest followers additional grief. However a slip up from Pep’s boys could be good for the neutrals, injecting a bit extra drama into the push for Champions League spots. After Liverpool’s title march and the distress of the underside three, allow us to really feel one thing. Please.
Kick-off’s at 8pm BST. Drop me a line together with your ideas, queries, worries, existential angst, no matter. Cheers!
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