Manchester City delivered a sweeping 4-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on August 16, 2025. The result not only announced City’s early-season intentions but also witnessed a deeply moving tribute to Wolves legend Diogo Jota.
The afternoon began on a solemn yet celebratory note. Before a ball was kicked, Molineux stood still in tribute as fans honored Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in a car accident in July.
The South Bank held aloft a massive tifo portraying Jota in his Wolves kit, while a banner carrying the words “We’ll remember you when you walk in fields of gold” served as a heartfelt homage to the man who left an indelible mark at the club.
Jota’s loved ones—his wife and parents—were present, receiving warm applause and an emotional embrace from fans and former teammates alike.
Once the match began, the crowd’s reverence transformed into anticipation. Wolves looked to catch City off guard early, and did spark hope with a disallowed goal by Marshall Munetsi—ruled out for offside just moments before City’s opener lent clarity on the gulf between the sides.
City took control with efficient brilliance. At the 34-minute mark, debutant Tijjani Reijnders, showcasing the form that earned him Serie A midfielder of the year, delivered a sublime lofted pass to Rico Lewis. Lewis found Erling Haaland, who calmly slotted home to open the scoring.
Just three minutes later, Oscar Bobb pounced on a defensive stumble, surged up the pitch, and found Reijnders, who clinically fired past José Sá for City’s second.
City’s torrent showed no mercy after the break. At around the hour mark, Reijnders orchestrated another move—this time curling a pass into Haaland’s path, and the Norwegian striker delivered once more to double his own tally.
Completing the rout in the 81st minute, Rayan Cherki, another debutant, produced a classy goal: a backheel flick followed by a deft one-two finish, capping a stylish Premier League introduction.
Throughout, City’s performance was built on fluid, intelligent possession. Match statistics underlined their superiority: City notched 15 shots to Wolves’ 9, held nearly 59 percent of possession, and maintained a high passing accuracy of 91 percent, compared to Wolves’ 83 percent.
Wolves, though visibly overwhelmed, showed flashes of fight. Early aggression and their attempt to unsettle City’s rhythm offered fleeting promise, and Jörgen Strand Larsen came close shortly after halftime.
However, City’s clinical efficiency ensured Wolves’ resistance was short-lived.
City, in turn, delivered a spirited statement in Guardiola’s title ambitions. Their new recruits—Reijnders and Cherki—didn’t just blend in; they immediately impacted, injecting energy and creativity that paid dividends.
Debutant goalkeeper James Trafford also impressed, keeping a clean sheet in place of the unavailable Ederson.