Manchester United vs Wolves – Match preview and team news

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The Football Faithful

·20 April 2025

Manchester United vs Wolves – Match preview and team news

Europa League semi-finalists Manchester United welcome an in-form Wolverhampton Wanderers to Old Trafford this Sunday.

Emotions will still be high after that miraculous 5-4 victory over Lyon in the second leg of their crazy quarter-final in midweek.

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Ruben Amorim suggested some players will be rested this afternoon following their dramatic exploits on Thursday night. Diogo Dalot and Casemiro may be amongst those that are replaced by some fresher and younger legs.

Teeanger Harry Amass may be handed his first senior start while Luke Shaw’s fitness could be tested with more minutes.

Noussair Mazraoui was taken off at the interval during midweek due to personal issues. However, his manager confirmed his availability for the visit of Wolves.

Elsewhere, Joshua Zirkzee’s season has been prematurely ended by a hamstring injury. Fellow Dutchman Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez and Amad are also long-term absentees.

Wanderers can record their fifth successive league victory this weekend should they prevail in Manchester.

Talisman Matheus Cunha could potentially be reinstated into the starting eleven. After returning from his four-match suspension last weekend, Vitor Pereira opted to name Cunha amongst the substitutes against Spurs.

The 25-year-old came off the bench to score Wolves’ fourth in a 4-2 victory last Sunday, helping mend a fractured relationship with the fans following his outbursts on social media.

Hwang Hee-Chan, Jean Ricner-Bellegarde and Matt Doherty are all doubts this weekend. The latter two were forced off against Tottenham, while Hwang picked up a knock in a late cameo appearance.

Manchester United vs Wolves – Match preview and team news

Form

Manchester United: LDDLW

United defied the odds to progress into the semi-finals of the Europa League on Thursday night at Lyon’s expense.

The second leg was finely poised after the first encounter ended 2-2 in France. In Manchester, Lyon produced a comeback to force extra-time with both sides netting twice again. Corentin Tolisso scored the French outfit’s first but later received a second booking and was sent off.

Despite being a man down, Paulo Fonseca’s side struck twice, giving them a 6-4 aggregate lead with 10 minutes to play.

In an incomprehensible seven-minute spell Bruno Fernandes halved the deficit from the spot before Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire both netted within a minute. Old Trafford erupted in a mix of shock and glee. That comeback will be remembered for decades.

The Red Devils will now face Athletic Club in the next round, with a place in the final to play for.

The Premier League has become a secondary concern. Sitting 14th in the table with nothing to play for, their last league win came over a month ago.

Read – Manchester United weigh up Ollie Watkins swap deal

Wolves: DWWWW

Wolves are loving life under Vitor Pereira and are enjoying their best run of form since being promoted to the top-flight in 2018.

Last weekend Tottenham were the latest club to feel their wrath as they fell to a 4-2 defeat. Jorgen Strand Larsen scored for the fourth successive game as the hosts capitalised on several individual errors.

Victories over Southampton, West Ham and Ipswich preceded the accomplished performance last Sunday. A win today would secure their status as a Premier League outfit for at least another season.

Last Meeting: Wolves 2-0 Manchester United, Premier League, 26th December 2024

The freshly appointed Vitor Pereira collected his first home win as Wolves manager by beating Manchester United on Boxing Day.

It was an uneventful first half at Molineux with the most memorable highlight coming from Andre Onana, who pushed Jorgen Strand Larsen’s bouncing header over the crossbar.

The contest burst into the life within two minutes of the restart following the dismissal of United captain Bruno Fernandes. A late tackle on fellow Portugal international Nelson Semedo resulted in referee Tony Harrington brandishing a second yellow card to the midfielder.

Minutes later Strand Larsen thought he had instantly made the numerical advantage count. The striker headed past Onana from Semedo’s cross but a VAR check revealed he had strayed marginally offside.

Just shy of the hour mark Wolves found the net again, but this time it counted. Cunha’s corner travelled past a packed penalty box and straight into the back of the net. The rare feat of scoring direct from a corner is colloquially known as an ‘Olimpico.’ United’s evening was going from bad to worse.

In a desperate push for a late equaliser Ruben Amorim committed several players, which they were punished for with the last kick of the game.

Tommy Doyle released Cunha with a long punt up-field. The former Atletico Madrid man was bearing down on goal with Hwang Hee-Chan for company, who was the beneficiary from the Brazilian’s unselfish play.

Hwang received the ball from his teammate and slammed in the second to secure a festive three points.

Read – Manchester United predicted lineup and team news vs Wolves

What time is kick-off?

The match is scheduled to start at 14:00 BST on Sunday, 20th April 2025 at Old Trafford in Manchester, England.

Who is the referee?

Rob Jones will be the match official. Ian Hussin and Neil Davies will assist him while Darren Bond will be the fourth official. The VAR will be Matt Donohue and he will be assisted by Nick Greenhalgh.