While not officially considered a Black Country derby, the rivalry between Wolves and Aston Villa has intensified in recent years.
Encounters between these two sides have often produced goals, with five of the last seven meetings featuring both teams finding the net. However, that statistic may offer little comfort to Wolves, who have struggled defensively this season, conceding 52 goals in the Premier League already. This represents their worst per-game defensive record in a league campaign since 1932/33, a worrying trend as they battle to climb out of trouble.
The arrival of Vítor Pereira initially injected optimism into the Wolves camp, as his tenure began with a promising unbeaten run across three matches. However, that early positivity has faded following four consecutive league defeats, all against sides currently occupying places in the top six. As a result, Wolves have slipped into the relegation zone, increasing the urgency for a turnaround in form.
Home form has traditionally been a source of strength, but Molineux has offered little refuge in recent weeks. Wolves now face the possibility of losing three consecutive home league matches without scoring for the first time since September 2021. Breaking that run will be a priority, but the challenge ahead is significant against an Aston Villa side enjoying European success.
Aston Villa travel to Molineux buoyed by their latest achievement in Europe. A 4-2 victory over Celtic on Wednesday secured their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, adding to the feel-good factor surrounding the club. However, head coach Unai Emery may have concerns over his team’s form in matches immediately following European fixtures, having managed just one victory in seven such games this season.
That solitary victory came in the reverse fixture against Wolves, where Villa claimed a 3-1 triumph. Despite that success, recent trips to Molineux have been far from straightforward. Villa have emerged victorious in just one of their last five visits, highlighting the difficulties they have faced on this ground. More broadly, their form on the road has been inconsistent, with just one win in their last seven away Premier League matches.
Defensive frailties have played a part in Villa’s struggles away from home, as only the league’s bottom-four sides – including Wolves – have conceded more goals on their travels this season. Addressing that vulnerability will be key if they are to improve their fortunes away from Villa Park.
Wolves will be looking to Matheus Cunha to provide an attacking spark. The Brazilian forward found the net in the reverse fixture, opening the scoring with his second goal of the campaign. His ability to trouble Villa’s defense could be crucial if Wolves are to find a way to end their losing run.
For Villa, the spotlight will be on Morgan Rogers, who is expected to take on greater responsibility in attack. With Jhon Durán reportedly nearing a high-profile move abroad, Rogers will need to step up and support Ollie Watkins in the final third. His performance in the Champions League, where he became the first player in history to score twice inside the opening five minutes of a match before completing a hat-trick, underlines his attacking potential.
Villa’s record against struggling sides under Emery will provide additional confidence. Since the Spaniard took charge, they have yet to lose a Premier League match against a team starting the day in the relegation zone, collecting 13 victories and five draws in those encounters. That statistic suggests they have the know-how to navigate these challenges effectively.
With both teams desperate for points – Wolves to escape the bottom three and Villa to consolidate their European aspirations – this fixture promises to be an engaging battle. The hosts will hope that home advantage and a strong start can tilt the contest in their favor, while the visitors will aim to build on their European momentum and maintain their strong record against struggling sides.
As the Premier League campaign edges closer to its final stretch, every match carries increased significance. Wolves and Villa both have plenty to play for, ensuring that this latest chapter in their growing rivalry will be fiercely contested from the first whistle to the last.
Advertisement
Latest Press Conference
We’re on Social Media
World Time Zone
| Europe | GMT |
 London | 17:30 |
| Edinburgh | 17:30 |
 Madrid | 18:30 |
 Lisbon | 17:30 |
 Berlin | 18:30 |
 Paris | 18:30 |
 Amsterdam | 18:30 |
 Rome | 18:30 |
 Belgrade | 18:30 |
 Sofia | 19:30 |
 Warshaw | 18:30 |
 Tirana | 18:30 |
 Istanbul | 19:30 |
 Kyiv | 19:30 |
 Moscow | 19:30 |
| North America | GMT |
 New York, New York City | 12:30 |
| Texas, Dallas | 11:30 |
| Utah, Salt Lake City | 10:30 |
| California, Santa Clara | 09:30 |
| Alaska, Anchorage | 08:30 |
 St. John’s | 14:30 |
| Halifax | 13:30 |
| Toronto | 12:30 |
| Winnipeg | 11:30 |
| Edmonton | 10:30 |
| Vancouver | 09:30 |
 Mexico City | 10:30 |
| South America | GMT |
 Sao Paulo | 13:30 |
 La Paz | 12:30 |
 Lima | 11:30 |
| Australia | GMT |
 Perth | 00:30 |
| Eucla | 01:15 |
| Darwin | 02:00 |
| Adelaide | 02:00 |
| Brisbane | 02:30 |
| Sydney | 02:30 |
| Asia | GMT |
 Mecca | 19:30 |
 Kabul | 21:00 |
 Karachi | 21:30 |
 New Dehli | 22:00 |
 Dhaka | 22:30 |
 Jakarta | 23:30 |
 Singapore | 00:30 |
 Kuala Lumpur | 00:30 |
| Africa | GMT |
 Accra | 16:30 |
 Porto Novo | 17:30 |
 Casablanca | 17:30 |
 Johannesburg | 18:30 |
 Cairo | 19:30 |
 Nairobi | 19:30 |
Where to watch Wolves vs Aston Villa Live Stream and on Satellite TV?
beIN Sports MENA English 1 (Gbr),
Nova Sports Premier League (Gre),
Sky Sport Premier League (Ger),
Sky Sport Premier League (Nzl),
Sky Sport Premier League (Sui),
Sky Sports Main Event (Gbr/Irl),
Sky Sports Premier League (Gbr/Irl),
SuperSport Premier League (Afr),
SuperSport Premier League (Rsa),