Expecting a goal fest. Prediction for Sheffield Wednesday vs Wolverhampton
In the second round of the Carabao Cup, Sheffield Wednesday will host Wolverhampton. The match will take place on Tuesday, August 25 at Hillsborough Stadium, kicking off at 20:45 Central European Time. I'm backing a bet on high scoring in this game. I'm backing a bet on high scoring in this game.
H2H and statistical facts
- Wednesday have claimed victory in two of their three matches so far this season.
- On home turf, the Owls have lost only once in their last five games.
- Wolverhampton are unbeaten in five consecutive matches.
- Wolves have conceded in each of their last seven away fixtures.
- Wednesday haven't beaten Wolverhampton at home since 2015.
Sheffield Wednesday started the season in League One after a very tough previous year and had to virtually rebuild the squad over the summer. The club emerged from administration following a change of ownership, and the new management now faces the challenge of restoring stability to one of England’s historic clubs. The team, however, is still operating under significant financial constraints.
Despite the difficulties, they managed to strengthen the squad with several new signings. New arrivals include goalkeepers Joe Lumley, Ashley Maynard-Brewer, and Connall Trueman; defenders Ricardo Santos and Sil Swinkels; midfielders Callum Slattery and Tyler Onyango; and forwards Louie Barry, Harry Gray, and Mason Burstow.
Their preseason was a mixed bag. Sheffield Wednesday lost 0-3 to West Bromwich, then beat Preston 3-2, but suffered a heavy 0-4 defeat to Oldham. In their final friendly, they drew 0-0 with Accrington.
The start of the official season, however, has been more encouraging. In the first round of the Carabao Cup, Sheffield Wednesday defeated Bolton 1-0, then won 2-1 away at Leyton Orient, but last time out in League One they lost 0-1 at home to Bradford. So, the team can play pragmatically, but consistency is still lacking.
Wolverhampton head into this game following relegation from the Premier League and a significant squad overhaul. The new head coach, Cesar Peixoto, signed a two-year contract this summer. The Portuguese manager's task is to guide the team back to the top flight after a season in which Wolves finished bottom.
The club has tried to keep its core players while making targeted signings. One of the standout arrivals is Rafiki Saïd, who joined from Standard for £7.7 million. Several young players have also bolstered the squad. The club has also been busy trimming the roster—Dan Bentley recently moved to Coventry, while João Gomes was previously sold to Aston Villa.
Peixoto’s side looked convincing in preseason. One of their most notable results was a 3-0 win over Racing Santander, with Fer Lopez, Hugo Bueno, and Yerson Mosquera all on the scoresheet. Wolverhampton finished preseason with a positive impression thanks to their attacking play.
The start of the season has been equally productive. In the first round of the Carabao Cup, Wolves thrashed Port Vale 3-0. In the Championship, they drew 2-2 with Blackburn before confidently beating Preston 3-1. That’s eight goals scored in three official matches—a strong argument in favor of a bet on goals.
What to bet on?
In terms of squad strength and current form, Wolverhampton are clear favorites, but the odds for an outright win may not be too enticing. The goal market looks far more attractive: Wolves are averaging nearly three goals per game at the start of the season, and Sheffield Wednesday have already played a handful of high-scoring matches. With that in mind, my recommendation is to back over 2.5 total goals.
