Can Wolverhampton go back to the top?

Wolverhampton are not playing a bad season in the Premier League and are considered one of the teams that are very unpleasant to play against. Characteristic of Wolves games are a good defensive performance, a lot of compactness and tension until the last minute.

In the run-up to the match between Wolverhampton and Crystal Palace, the odds show the hosts as favourites, but this is not quite so clear-cut. This is due to the many very close games, which are won by only one goal difference. It is very rare to find clear wins for Wolves.

And so it should also be exciting this time as far as the outcome of the match is concerned. Crystal Palace will definitely want to reverse the slightly negative trend and try to get a win this time.

Wolverhampton – Statistics & current form

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ season under good coach Bruno Lage has been characterised by some very close games. Most recently there was a narrow 0:1 defeat at West Ham, before that a 1:2 against Arsenal. In both games Wolves showed their typical style of play, defending with a five-man backline, allowing little, being compact and uncomfortable. But not too much went forward in each case.

This is also the first problem. The Wolves rarely score when they concede one or two goals. The offensive is not seldom fallow; with five goals, Jimenez is the best scorer in the league. The fact that the team nevertheless enters the matchday in eighth place is mainly due to the fact that the Wolves are extremely strong defensively.

Their form in recent weeks has not been ideal. They have lost four of their last six competitive games, only beating Tottenham and Leicester at this stage. Nevertheless, there is still a good gap to the bottom. The defeats in the last two games were mentioned and are untypical, because before that there was only one defeat in eight games in the league.

Wolverhampton: Just no spectacle

The consistency with which Wolverhampton put their own system of play well on the pitch week in week out is impressive. The team has a clear plan: lots of resting balls, lots of running and lots of shots from distance. Wolverhampton scored 25% of their goals from outside the penalty area, which is the absolute top value in the Premier League. Furthermore, Wolves never conceded more than two goals and even that is a rarity.

The goal difference of the hosts is currently 24:21. The offensive is not exactly outstanding, but the defence has fantastic values. No team scores fewer goals in the Premier League, which means that in every game it is of enormous importance which team can take the lead.

A spectacle should not be expected in this match either. The slight role of the hosts as favourites has already been mentioned, but before the match between Wolverhampton and Crystal Palace, our prediction based on the statistics presented is that less than 2.5 goals will be scored overall.

Predicted Wolverhampton line-up:
Jose Sa – Semeso, Kilman, Coady, Saiss, Ait-Nouri – Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho – Trincao, Hwang

Last matches played by Wolverhampton:

Premier League
02/27 2022 – West Ham 1 – 0 Wolverhampton

02/24 2022 – Arsenal London 2 – 1 Wolverhampton

02/20 2022 – Wolverhampton 2 – 1 Leicester

02/13 2022 – Tottenham 0 – 2 Wolverhampton

02/10 2022 – Wolverhampton 0 – 1 Arsenal London

Crystal Palace – Statistics & current form

Crystal Palace’s season was not completely stringent either. There were good and not so good phases and good and not so good performances. An average performance on Tuesday was enough to reach the next round in the FA Cup. Against Stoke City from the Championship, the team of coach Patrick Vieira managed an important 2-1 victory, which should give them momentum.

That momentum would not be insignificant, as the Eagles won only one of their last eight games in the league. Currently in 13th place, there are no major relegation worries, but with a seven-point lead over the first relegation spot, the team is not completely safe yet either. So the next games could well be groundbreaking.

Those landmark games are against Wolves, Manchester City, Newcastle on the up and Arsenal. So it doesn’t seem completely out of the question that Crystal Palace could find themselves in the relegation maelstrom after all.

Crystal Palace: offence is a worry

Bad thing ahead of a game against Wolves is the fact that the Eagles are struggling offensively at the moment. Against one of the league’s best defenses, that just shouldn’t be the case. In only one of the last seven league games did the Vieira eleven score more than one goal of their own, twice remaining without a goal. Defensively, there are fewer problems, with Palace conceding eight goals in seven games.

At least the squad gives several options to deal with the current problems. The midfield can be defensive or attacking, and in attack there is a good mix of speed and power. The question will be how Vieira will break Wolves’ bulwark.

Given the home side’s good defence and the visitors’ poor attack in recent weeks, our value tip ahead of Wolverhampton v Crystal Palace is that both teams don’t score.

Predicted line-up of Crystal Palace:
Guaita – Clyde, Guehi, Andersen, Mitchell – Milivojevic, Kouyaté, Gallagher – Eze, Zaha, Benteke

Last matches played by Crystal Palace:

FA Cup
03/01 2022 – Crystal Palace 2 – 1 Stoke

Premier League
02/26 2022 – Crystal Palace 1 – 1 Burnley

02/23 2022 – Watford 1 – 4 Crystal Palace

02/19 2022 – Crystal Palace 0 – 1 Chelsea London

02/12 2022 – Brentford 0 – 0 Crystal Palace

Wolverhampton – Crystal Palace Direct comparison / H2H record

Wolverhampton Wanderers have won 28 matches so far in a direct comparison. This gives them a six-win advantage over Crystal Palace in the direct comparison. 19 duels ended in a draw, with the Eagles even leading slightly in goals scored with 89:87. The last four matches have all been won by the home team.

Wolverhampton – Crystal Palace Tip

When the team in whose games the fewest goals are scored plays against a team that has offered a lot offensively of late, no one should expect a spectacle or football festival. On the contrary. A battle for every ball looms.

Wolverhampton have a lot of advantages on their side, but also always have problems offensively. Therefore, before the game Wolverhampton against Crystal Palace our tip is that less than 2.5 goals will fall.