Wolverhampton Wanderers endured a difficult afternoon at Molineux as ,[object Object], opened their ,[object Object], campaign with an emphatic 4-0 victory, underlining their determination to defend the title in style. ,[object Object],’s side arrived with the burden of expectation, but any hint of early-season rust quickly vanished as City imposed their authority from the outset. Wolves, backed by an optimistic home crowd, sought to disrupt City’s rhythm with a compact defensive shape, yet they found themselves chasing shadows as the visitors controlled possession with their trademark precision. The gulf in quality was evident, and it wasn’t long before the champions struck the opening blow.
City’s opener showcased their attacking fluidity, as Kevin De Bruyne orchestrated play with his usual vision, slicing through Wolves’ defensive lines. Erling Haaland, eager to renew his reputation as the ,Premier League,’s most lethal forward, powered home the first goal after just 15 minutes. The Norwegian’s composure in front of goal left the home fans resigned to a long evening. Wolves attempted to muster a response, relying on the counter-attacking pace of Pedro Neto and Matheus Cunha, but their rare ventures forward were swiftly neutralized. City, by contrast, upped the tempo and doubled their lead midway through the half when Phil Foden exploited space on the left edge, guiding a well-timed effort into the bottom corner.
The second half brought no respite for Wolves, who struggled to stem the relentless flow of pressure from their opponents. Guardiola encouraged his side to maintain intensity, and City responded with waves of incisive attacks that pinned back the home defense. Midfielder Rodri added a third goal with a fierce strike from distance, demonstrating the depth of City’s threat beyond their forward line. Wolves’ midfield pairing looked increasingly overwhelmed, unable to retain possession or provide cover for a frazzled back four. Molineux grew subdued as City’s dominance became total, with large passages of play reduced to training-ground drills in circulation and pressing. The one-sided contest epitomized City’s balance between discipline and flair, leaving Wolves clinging only to damage limitation.
The final goal arrived late in the game, providing a fitting flourish to City’s commanding display. Substitute Julian Alvarez, introduced for added energy, capitalized on Wolves’ fatigue by driving into the penalty area and finishing clinically past the stranded goalkeeper. His strike highlighted the depth at Guardiola’s disposal, reinforcing the impression that City’s squad is primed once again for a long campaign on multiple fronts. For Wolves, the heavy defeat exposed clear shortcomings in both organization and resilience, emphasizing the gap they must bridge to compete with the league’s elite while bracing for a demanding season ahead.
