Can the Wolves assert their favorite status right from the start? Prediction for Wolverhampton vs Blackburn on 14.08.2026
On Friday, August 14, Molineux will host one of the marquee fixtures of the opening round in the 2026/27 Championship season as Wolverhampton take on Blackburn. For Cesar Peixoto's side, this marks their first league match following relegation from the Premier League, and the mission for Wolves is crystal clear: hit the ground running in the race for a swift return to the top flight. Kick-off is set for 20:00 local time.
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Wolverhampton: Peixoto’s high press already bearing fruit
Wolves’ preparations for the Championship opener have left a strong impression. In their latest friendly, the team thrashed Racing Santander 3-0, and just days earlier, on August 7, they dispatched Port Vale by the same scoreline in the League Cup. Heading into the Blackburn clash, Wolverhampton have played two consecutive home matches, netted six goals, and kept two clean sheets.
The tactical overhaul under Peixoto is particularly eye-catching. The Portuguese manager demands aggressive pressing immediately after losing possession, and against Racing, this approach consistently allowed Wolves to win the ball back high up the pitch. Fer Lopez has hit top form, finding the net against both the Spanish side and Port Vale. The cup tie also saw Adam Armstrong and Andre get on the scoresheet, with all three goals coming before the break.
Peixoto’s selection options are also gradually expanding. Raul Jimenez has returned from injury and featured against Port Vale, while Kieran Trippier has provided experience and quality on the right flank from the outset. Meanwhile, Sam Johnstone is still recovering from shoulder surgery, and David Møller Wolfe only recently resumed full training after the World Cup, so his readiness for the starting eleven remains in question.
Blackburn: A winning start, but squad issues persist
Blackburn have also already kicked off their competitive campaign: on August 8, Tony Mowbray’s men claimed a 2-1 away win over Burton in the League Cup. The Rovers created plenty of chances and ultimately got the result they needed, but their finishing kept the hosts in the game for much of the contest. Ahead of the trip to Molineux, this is a key concern—against a side that can relentlessly press and regain possession high up, wastefulness could prove far more costly.
The visitors are also dealing with personnel issues. The latest official club update listed Scott Wharton, Dion De Neve, Moussa Baradji, and Augustus Kargbo as sidelined through injury. On the bright side, Sydney Tavares returned to the squad for the cup match. Still, heading into one of the toughest away fixtures of the opening round, Blackburn’s squad depth looks less than ideal.
Much of the attacking responsibility will fall on Yuki Ohashi and Todd Cantwell. Against Burton, the Japanese forward led the line, while Cantwell operated just behind him, with support from the flanks provided by Oladapo Afolayan and Ryoja Morishita. Most likely, against Wolves, the visitors will be forced to spend long spells without the ball and look to hit on the break.
Probable lineups
- Wolverhampton: Bentley — Trippier, Mosquera, Toti, Hugo Bueno — Andre, Munetsi — Rodrigo Gomes, Fer Lopez, Mateus Mane — Adam Armstrong.
- Blackburn: Toet — Alebiosu, Atcheson, McLaughlin, Pickering — Forshaw, Garrett — Afolayan, Cantwell, Morishita — Ohashi.
Pre-match facts
Wolverhampton have won their last two home matches 3-0—against Racing and Port Vale. Across those games, Wolves scored six and conceded none. Blackburn opened their official season with a 2-1 win over Burton. The last head-to-head between the first teams came in February 2025 in the FA Cup, with Wolverhampton winning 2-0 away.
Home win too short—handicap is the value play: Wolverhampton vs Blackburn prediction
The market, unsurprisingly, has installed Wolves as clear favorites: the odds for a straight home win are in the 1.50–1.60 range, meaning they don’t meet the 1.70 threshold for value. Instead, the Asian handicap of Wolverhampton (-1) looks much more appealing, with odds around 1.97 at the time of writing.
This bet comes with extra insurance: if the hosts win by exactly one goal, the stake is refunded; to win outright, Wolves need to triumph by at least two. Early in the season, this scenario feels very plausible. Peixoto’s side have already found their attacking rhythm, posted back-to-back 3-0 home wins, execute an effective high press, and boast noticeably greater squad depth. Blackburn can threaten on the counter, but with injury woes and the need to withstand pressure throughout, the visitors face a daunting task.
Prediction: Asian handicap Wolverhampton (-1).
