In their final Pre Season game, Wolves were beaten by Spanish side, Celta Vigo, and the lack of positives are a worrying omen for a potentially difficult campaign ahead.
An Honest Review
Today was an opportunity for Wolves fans to see their team for the first time at home in the buildup to the new season. New signings Jhon Arias, Fer Lopez and David Møller Wolfe all made home debuts in what turned out to be an extremely dull and disappointing afternoon.
Tributes to the late forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva were carried out with enormous applause by the Molineux faithful, accompanied by a touching video and a minutes silence.
Molineux remembers Diogo and Andre 💛 pic.twitter.com/PN6OUc5QVT
— Wolves (@Wolves) August 9, 2025
Wolves started slow, with the three centre backs playing a high line and often being caught out by Celta Vigo long balls over the top. Jose Sa made a few handy saves and sweeping clearances outside of his 18 yard box.
However, Wolves’ first real opportunity came from the two new signings, Arias and Lopez combining, resulting in Arias blasting straight at the keeper. Celta Vigo should’ve scored in the 26th minute with a floating cross sailing over Sa, but a brave Matt Doherty clearance kept the score equal.
The first half ended: boring and flat. Wolves looked toothless and vulnerable to the pace of the Spanish frontline, coming second best in many defensive duels. Half time saw Hugo Bueno replace David Wolfe, seeing his debut end early.
Attacking the South Bank, the home side upped the tempo in the second half, with Matt Doherty and Ki-Jana Hoever combining nicely down the right hand side, the cross however narrowly missing Larsen. £20m forward Fer Lopez was central to Wolves’ attacking threat, picking up the ball in intricate gaps and driving forward at the defence often in the early stages of the second half.
Wolves’ positive start was undone with Celta Vigo striking in the 59th minute with Pablo Durán finishing clinically on the swivel from a ball over the top.
What a finish by Pablo Durán 👏
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) August 9, 2025
Celta de Vigo lead against Wolves at Molineux Stadium thanks to a wonderful goal 🔵 pic.twitter.com/2taeofLwj2
Once again, Fer Lopez was the best player for Wolves in the second half, linking up with Arias and Hugo Bueno, who had made a bright start going forward, putting in dangerous deliveries. Despite this, Lopez was substituted in the 66th minute.
After that, Wolves only had one real opportunity with a corner headed straight at the keeper. Celta Vigo could've easily had a second when El-Abdellaoui practically walks it into the net but somehow passed it wide. Thus, a disappointing afternoon saw the visitors enjoy a deserved 1-0 away win.
We lose to Celta Vigo.
— Wolves (@Wolves) August 9, 2025
🐺⏱️ pic.twitter.com/GesEZMj7TP
The Bigger Picture
As Pre Season comes to a close, the lack of encouraging performances leaves Wolves fans worried for the season ahead. With the opening fixture just a week away against Manchester City and a winless six games from Pre Season, supporters’ frustrations are understandable.
The club have failed to replace key positions such as at Wing Back, where club captain Nelson Semedo departed on a free in the summer. Furthermore, the losses of both Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait Nouri are significant, with the two players alone involved in 32 goal contributions last season.
Four to five first team signings are expected by Vitor Pereira by the end of the window, but Wolves’ failure to provide these players by the first game of the new campaign alludes to poor planning behind the scenes, already putting their chances of a successful August in severe doubt.
