Aston Villa travel to Molineux on Saturday, February 1, for a high-stakes Black Country derby against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Villa enter the match in high spirits after securing their Champions League last 16 spot with a 4-2 victory over Celtic, but injuries and transfer speculation could impact their squad for this fierce rivalry clash.
Wolves, on the other hand, are in dire form and have dropped into the relegation zone after four consecutive Premier League defeats. Vítor Pereira’s men desperately need a derby day victory to ignite their survival push.
Match Details
- 📍 Location: Molineux, Wolverhampton
- 📆 Date: Saturday, 1 February 2025
- ⏰ Kick-off Time: 17:30 GMT / 12:30 ET / 09:30 PT
- 🛑 Referee: Andy Madley
- 📺 VAR: Matt Donohue
Head-to-Head Record (Last 5 Matches)
| Fixture | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa vs Wolves | 3-1 | Premier League (Sep 2024) |
| Wolves vs Aston Villa | 1-1 | Premier League (May 2023) |
| Aston Villa vs Wolves | 1-1 | Premier League (Jan 2023) |
| Wolves vs Aston Villa | 2-1 | Premier League (Apr 2022) |
| Aston Villa vs Wolves | 2-3 | Premier League (Oct 2021) |
- Wolves Wins: 🟠 1
- Aston Villa Wins: 🟣 2
- Draws: ⚪ 2
Recent Form (All Competitions)
Wolves
| Date | Fixture | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Jan 2025 | Wolves vs Arsenal | ❌ 0-1 |
| 20 Jan 2025 | Chelsea vs Wolves | ❌ 3-1 |
| 15 Jan 2025 | Newcastle vs Wolves | ❌ 3-0 |
| 11 Jan 2025 | Bristol City vs Wolves | ✅ 2-1 |
| 06 Jan 2025 | Wolves vs Nottingham Forest | ❌ 0-3 |
📝 Key Stat: Wolves have lost 4 consecutive league games, conceding 10 goals and scoring just 2.
Aston Villa
| Date | Fixture | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Jan 2025 | Aston Villa vs Celtic | ✅ 4-2 |
| 26 Jan 2025 | Aston Villa vs West Ham | 🤝 1-1 |
| 21 Jan 2025 | Monaco vs Aston Villa | ❌ 0-1 |
| 18 Jan 2025 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | 🤝 2-2 |
| 15 Jan 2025 | Everton vs Aston Villa | ✅ 1-0 |
📝 Key Stat: Villa have lost just 1 of their last 6 matches in all competitions.
Wolves Team News
🔴 Injury & Suspension List:
- João Gomes – Suspended (1 match)
- Sasa Kalajdzic, Yerson Mosquera, Enso Gonzalez – Long-term injuries
- Boubacar Traore – Lacking match fitness
- Jørgen Strand Larsen – Doubtful (injury vs Arsenal)
🟢 Key Players to Watch:
- Hwang Hee-chan – Wolves’ top scorer this season.
- Matheus Cunha – Key attacking playmaker.
- Nelson Semedo – Provides width on the right flank.
Predicted Wolves Lineup (3-4-2-1)
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Sa |
| RCB | Doherty |
| CB | S. Bueno |
| LCB | Agbadou |
| RWB | Semedo |
| CM | Andre |
| CM | Doyle |
| LWB | Ait-Nouri |
| RAM | Sarabia |
| LAM | Cunha |
| ST | Hwang |
Aston Villa Team News
🔴 Injury & Transfer Concerns:
- Jhon Duran – Set for £64.5m move to Al Nassr, unavailable.
- Matty Cash, Pau Torres – Injured, won’t feature.
- Tyrone Mings – Doubtful (knee injury vs West Ham).
- Ross Barkley, Amadou Onana – Late fitness tests.
🟢 Key Players to Watch:
- Ollie Watkins – Top scorer for Villa, subject of Arsenal bid.
- John McGinn – The midfield leader and captain.
- Leon Bailey – Creative spark in attack.
Predicted Aston Villa Lineup (4-2-3-1)
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Martinez |
| RB | Bogarde |
| CB | Konsa |
| CB | Kamara |
| LB | Digne |
| CM | McGinn |
| CM | Tielemans |
| RW | Bailey |
| CAM | Rogers |
| LW | Ramsey |
| ST | Watkins |
Match Prediction
This is a huge game for both sides for very different reasons.
- Aston Villa are in strong form, but fatigue from their midweek Champions League win could affect them.
- Wolves are in freefall, struggling for goals and defensive stability.
Wolves will likely sit deep and play on the counter, while Villa’s attacking firepower should eventually break them down.
✅ Final Score Prediction: Wolves 1-2 Aston Villa
🔑 Goal Scorers:
- Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves)
- Ollie Watkins (Villa)
- Leon Bailey (Villa)
Key Match Stats
📌 Wolves’ Home Form: Lost 3 of their last 4 home matches.
📌 Villa’s Away Form: Unbeaten in 4 of their last 5 away matches.
📌 Premier League Goals Scored This Season:
- Wolves: 24 goals
- Aston Villa: 38 goals
📌 Defensive Woes: - Wolves: 2nd worst defensive record in the league (only Southampton have conceded more).
Final Thoughts
This Black Country Derby is crucial for both teams. Villa will aim to consolidate their top-four push, while Wolves desperately need points to escape the relegation zone.
⚽ Can Villa complete the season double over Wolves, or will the Old Gold rise to the occasion? Stay tuned for an exciting showdown at Molineux! 🚀
