Aston Villa vs Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Lineups: A Preview of the Midlands Derby

The Midlands derby is one of the oldest and fiercest rivalries in English football. Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers have been competing against each other since 1886, and have played more than 120 times in all competitions. The two clubs are separated by only 20 miles, but their fans share a mutual dislike that goes beyond geography.

 

This Saturday, they will face each other again at Villa Park, in what promises to be an exciting and tense encounter. Both teams are looking to climb up the Premier League table, after having mixed results so far this season. Aston Villa are currently ninth, with 10 points from six games, while Wolves are 12th, with nine points from seven games.

 

Both teams have also undergone some changes in the summer, with new managers and new players arriving at their respective clubs. Dean Smith has been in charge of Aston Villa since 2018, but he has revamped his squad with some ambitious signings, such as Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City, Leon Bailey from Bayer Leverkusen, and Danny Ings from Southampton. Bruno Lage is a newcomer to the Premier League, having replaced Nuno Espirito Santo as Wolves’ boss in June. He has brought in some fresh faces as well, such as Francisco Trincao from Barcelona, Hwang Hee-chan from RB Leipzig, and Yerson Mosquera from Atletico Nacional.

 

How will these two teams line up for this crucial game? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Who are their key players? How will they approach the game tactically? Who will win the key matchups on the pitch? And what is our prediction for the final score? Let’s find out in this comprehensive preview of Aston Villa vs Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. lineups.

 

Aston Villa’s lineup

Aston Villa have been playing with a 4-3-3 formation this season, with a fluid front three that can interchange positions and create problems for the opposition’s defence. Dean Smith likes his team to play with intensity and aggression, pressing high up the pitch and moving the ball quickly in transition.

 

The goalkeeper is Emiliano Martinez, who has been one of Aston Villa’s best players since joining from Arsenal last year. He is a reliable shot-stopper and a commanding presence in his box. He also has a good distribution with his feet, which helps his team to build from the back.

 

The back four consists of Matty Cash at right-back, Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings at centre-backs and Matt Targett at left-back. Cash is a dynamic full-back who likes to join

the attack and provide width and crosses. Konsa and Mings are a solid partnership in the heart of the defence, with Konsa being more composed and Mings being more physical. Target is a balanced left-back who can defend well and support the attack with his overlaps and deliveries.

The midfield trio is composed of John McGinn, Douglas Luiz, and Jacob Ramsey. McGinn is the engine of the team, who covers a lot of ground and contributes to both defence and attack. He is a tenacious tackler, a creative passer, and a goal threat from a distance. Douglas Luiz is the holding midfielder, who shields the back four and dictates the tempo of the game. He is a calm and classy player, who can break up play and start attacks with his vision and technique. Ramsey is the youngest of the three, who has been impressed with his energy and enthusiasm. He is a box-to-box midfielder, who can link up with the forwards and make runs into the box.

The front three is arguably Aston Villa’s strongest asset, with Ollie Watkins, Danny Ings, and Emiliano Buendia forming a potent attack. Watkins is the main striker, who leads the line with his pace, movement, and work rate. He scored 14 goals in his debut Premier League season last year and has already netted three times this season. Ings is the second striker, who plays slightly behind Watkins and drifts into the channels. He is a clinical finisher, who scored 12 goals for Southampton last season and has also scored three times for Aston Villa this season. Buendia is the playmaker, who plays on the right wing but cuts inside to create chances for his teammates. He was Norwich City’s best player in the Championship last season, with 15 goals and 16 assists. He has yet to score or assist for Aston Villa this season, but he has shown glimpses of his quality and flair.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ lineup

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been playing with a 3-4-3 formation this season, with a compact back three and two wing-backs who provide width and support. Bruno Lage likes his team to play with possession and control, keeping the ball on the ground and playing short passes and combinations.

The goalkeeper is Jose Sa, who joined from Olympiacos in the summer to replace Rui Patricio. He is a confident keeper who has good reflexes and agility. He also has good communication skills and organizes his defence well.

The back three consists of Nelson Semedo at right centre-back, Conor Coady at central centre-back, and Max Kilman at left centre-back. Semedo is a natural right-back who has been converted into a centre-back by Lage. He is a fast and skilful player who can carry the ball forward and join

the attack when possible. Coady is the captain and the leader of the defence, who organizes and commands his teammates. He is a composed and intelligent defender, who can read the game well and make timely interceptions and blocks. He is also a good passer, who can launch long balls to the forwards. Kilman is a young and promising defender, who has impressed with his calmness and consistency. He is a good tackler, a good header, and a good dribbler.

The midfield duo is composed of Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho, who are both Portuguese internationals and experienced players. Neves is the deeper of the two, who protects the defence and sets the rhythm of the game. He is a strong and disciplined player, who can win the ball back and distribute it with accuracy and range. He is also a threat from long shots and set-pieces. Moutinho is the more advanced of the two, he supports the attack and creates chances for his teammates. He is a clever and creative player, who can find spaces and play through balls and crosses. He is also a hard-working and reliable player, who helps out in defence when needed.

The wing-backs are Nelson Semedo on the right and Marcal on the left. Semedo is a versatile player who can play as a right-back, a right centre-back, or a right wing-back. He is an attacking-minded player who likes to overlap and provide width and crosses. He is also a fast and skilful player who can beat his marker and cut inside. Marcal is a left-back who can also play as a left wing-back or a left centre-back. He is a defensive-minded player who likes to stay back and defend his flank. He is also a strong and aggressive player who can win aerial duels and tackles.

The front three is composed of Francisco Trincao on the right, Raul Jimenez in the middle, and Hwang Hee-chan on the left. Trincao is a loan signing from Barcelona, who has shown some flashes of his talent and potential. He is a tricky and technical winger, who can dribble past defenders and shoot from distance. He has yet to score or assist for Wolves this season, but he has been involved in some good moves. Jimenez is the main striker, who has returned from a serious head injury that kept him out for most of last season. He is a complete forward, who can score with both feet and his head, hold up the ball, link up with his teammates, and press the opposition. He has scored two goals this season and has been vital for the Wolves’ attack. Hwang Hee-chan is a loan signing from RB Leipzig, who has made an instant impact for Wolves. He is a fast and energetic winger, who can run at defenders

and create chances. He has scored one goal and assisted one goal this season, and has been a lively and dangerous player.

The tactical battle

The game between Aston Villa and Wolves will be a clash of contrasting styles and philosophies. Aston Villa is a more direct and aggressive team, who likes to press high up the pitch and attack with pace and intensity. Wolves are a more possession-based and controlled team, who like to keep the ball on the ground and play with short passes and combinations.

Dean Smith will try to exploit Wolves’ weaknesses by putting pressure on their back three and midfield two and forcing them to make mistakes or play long balls. He will also try to use the pace and movement of his front three to stretch Wolves’ defence and create spaces for his midfielders to run into. He will also try to prevent Wolves from playing out from the back, by blocking their passing lanes and cutting off their supply to their wing-backs.

Bruno Lage will try to exploit Aston Villa’s weaknesses by keeping the ball away from their midfield three and wing-backs and dominating the possession and territory. He will also try to use the skill and creativity of his front three to break down Aston Villa’s defence and create chances. He will also try to prevent Aston Villa from counter-attacking, by keeping a compact shape and tracking back their runners.

The key matchups

The game between Aston Villa and Wolves will also feature some interesting and important individual duels on the pitch, which could decide the outcome of the game. Here are some of the key matchups to watch out for:

• Ollie Watkins vs Conor Coady: Watkins is Aston Villa’s main striker, who leads the line with his pace, movement, and work rate. He will try to exploit Coady’s lack of pace and mobility, by making runs behind him and dragging him out of position. Coady is the Wolves’ captain and leader of the defence, who organizes and commands his teammates. He will try to stop Watkins from scoring, by reading his movements and making timely interceptions and blocks.
• Emiliano Buendia vs Joao Moutinho: Buendia is Aston Villa’s playmaker, who plays on the right wing but cuts inside to create chances for his teammates. He will try to exploit Moutinho’s lack of physicality and stamina, by dribbling past him and playing through balls and crosses. Moutinho is Wolves’ midfield maestro, who supports the attack and creates chances for his teammates. He will try to stop Buendia from creating, by finding spaces and playing short passes and combinations.
• Tyrone Mings vs Raul Jimenez: Mings is Aston Villa’s most physical defender, who likes to dominate his opponents with his strength and aggression. He will try to exploit Jimenez’s lack of match sharpness, by winning aerial duels and tackles against him. Jimenez is Wolves’ main striker, who has returned from a serious head injury that kept him out for most of last season. He will try to exploit Mings’ lack of composure

and concentration, by scoring with both feet and his head, holding up the ball, linking up with his teammates, and pressing the opposition.

The prediction

The game between Aston Villa and Wolves is hard to predict, as both teams have shown some inconsistency and unpredictability this season. Both teams have also been involved in some close and dramatic games, with Aston Villa winning three games by one goal margin, and Wolves losing three games by one goal margin.

Based on the previous results, current form, and injury news of both teams, we think that the game will end in a draw, with both teams scoring one goal each. Aston Villa has the home advantage and the more potent attack, but the Wolves have the better defence and more possession. Both teams will try to win the game, but they will also cancel each other out with their different styles and strategies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Aston Villa vs Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. lineup is a preview of the Midlands derby, which is one of the oldest and fiercest rivalries in English football. Both teams are looking to climb up the Premier League table, after having mixed results so far this season. Both teams have also undergone some changes in the summer, with new managers and new players arriving at their respective clubs.

We have analyzed the expected starting eleven for both teams, their strengths and weaknesses, their key players, their tactical approaches, and their key matchups on the pitch. We have also given our prediction for the final score, based on the previous results, current form, and injury news of both teams.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article and learned something new and interesting about Aston Villa and Wolves. If you did, please share it with your friends and family, and let us know your opinions and predictions for the game in the comments section below. Thank you for your time and attention.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about the game between Aston Villa and Wolves:

• When is the kick-off?
•  The game will kick off at 3:00 pm BST on Saturday, October 16th.
• Where can I watch the game? The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League in the UK. You can also stream the game online on Sky Go or NOW TV.
• Who is the referee?
•  The referee for the game will be Mike Dean, who has officiated 10 games this season, showing 35 yellow cards and one red card.
• What are the odds?
•  According to Bet365, Aston Villa are slight favourites to win the game, with odds of 2.15. Wolves are slightly underdogs, with odds of 3.60. A draw has odds of 3.20.
• Who are the top scorers for both teams? 
• The top scorer for Aston Villa is Ollie Watkins, who has scored three goals this season. The top scorer for Wolves is Raul Jimenez