Donyell Malen believes the feel-good issue has returned to Aston Villa forward of their conflict with native rivals Wolves within the Premier League this Sunday.
After beginning their top-flight season with three factors from their opening 5 video games, Villa have gained six of their final seven league matches, with their solely defeat coming to Liverpool.
Unai Emery’s crew additionally strengthened their possibilities of qualifying mechanically for the Europa League knockout phases following a 2-1 victory over Younger Boys in midweek.
Malen’s first-half brace proved sufficient, with the Dutchman now Villa’s high scorer throughout all competitions in 2025-26, having discovered the again of the online six instances in 18 outings.
“I really feel good,” Malen mentioned. “As a crew, we performed effectively, we created a variety of alternatives. I ought to have most likely scored two extra if I’m actually sincere, however it’s an excellent feeling.
“We needed to be centered. They’re not a nasty crew, and we needed to do what we might do. We created a variety of possibilities within the first half and even second half to get an even bigger rating.
“Now we have to go sport by sport. In fact, the Premier League is a giant competitors, however that is additionally a really large competitors for us.”
Malen’s haul of objectives has come from simply seven begins, although Emery urged the in-form Villa ahead to construct on his current kind to earn an everyday beginning spot.
“One month in the past, he demanded that I modify him as a result of he was drained. Progressively, he has been getting match,” Emery instructed reporters in midweek.
“He’s getting numbers, which is incredible. He’s actually performing effectively. Now, preserve going.”
goodnight, villans pic.twitter.com/9B6hBFKSy4
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 27, 2025
Wolves, in the meantime, they look forward to a primary win within the Premier League continued final week as Rob Edwards’ first sport in cost ended with a 2-0 defeat at house to Crystal Palace.
It was largely a much-improved show from Wolves, who completed with an anticipated objectives (xG) complete of 1.8 from their eight photographs to Palace’s 1.3 from their 10 makes an attempt.
However solely considered one of Wolves’ efforts was on course, that means they turned the primary crew since Newcastle United in 2021-22 (14 video games) to win any of their first 12 top-flight matches.
Nevertheless, Edwards believes a win over their rivals might be the catalyst to ignite their season, although the Wolves boss acknowledged the problem of his crew having the ability to take action.
“Final week I spoke about realism. There’s a perception there that we will dig ourselves out of this place. But in addition, there’s a realism that it’s by no means been carried out earlier than,” Edwards mentioned.
“I hope we will get that first victory right away and in a giant sport like this. It’d be an effective way to begin that off, however Villa Park can also be a troublesome place to go – everybody finds that.
“They’re an incredible soccer membership, an enormous membership, who’re doing very well in the mean time, with an excellent supervisor in place, however we’ve acquired to take care of ourselves.
“We’ve had an excellent week up to now to get a plan collectively, however we’re going to have to be a nine-and-a-half out of 10 to get one thing from the sport – however we’re able to that.
“We’ve acquired to go there with zero worry, with bravery and with the idea that Sunday goes to be the day that we will get that first victory.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Aston Villa – Morgan Rogers
Morgan Rogers has been concerned in 5 objectives in his final seven Premier League video games for Villa (three objectives, two assists), as he continues to rediscover his kind from 2024-25.
Final day out towards Leeds, he scored his first brace within the competitors, in addition to scoring from his first-ever try from a direct free-kick.
Wolves – Jorgen Strand Larsen
No participant has scored greater than as soon as for Wolves throughout their 12 video games up to now within the Premier League this season, however Jorgen Strand Larsen nonetheless poses his crew’s largest menace.
He has three objectives in all competitions this time period from an anticipated objectives (xG) complete of two.5, and Edwards will likely be hoping his quantity 9 can encourage his crew to victory.
Solely 4 sides have had an extended wait from the beginning of a marketing campaign for a participant to attain twice – Bradford Metropolis (15 video games in 2000-01), Huddersfield City (13 in 2018-19), Tottenham (13 in 2006-07) and Wimbledon (13 in 1994-95).
MATCH PREDICTION: ASTON VILLA WIN
Villa have gained their final two house league video games towards Wolves, having gained simply considered one of their earlier 9 towards them at Villa Park (D5 L3), and that run is predicted to proceed right here.
That’s as a result of Emery’s crew have misplaced simply considered one of their final 24 Premier League house video games (W15 D8), happening 3-0 towards Crystal Palace in August.
They’ve additionally gained all 4 of their Premier League video games performed instantly after taking part in in Europe in midweek this season, the one facet with a 100% profitable report up to now.
Wolves, in the meantime, have gained simply considered one of their 14 top-flight video games towards Villa between 1980 and 2012 (7%). Since each groups have been again within the Premier League (2019), they’ve gained six of their 12 towards their rivals (50%).
They’re additionally winless in all 12 of their Premier League video games this season, selecting up simply two factors. It’s the third-lowest factors complete 12 video games right into a season in English top-flight historical past after Manchester United in 1930-31 (0) and Sheffield United in 2020-21 (one).
However Wolves’ issues haven’t solely been this season. They’re and not using a win of their final 16 Premier League video games (D3 L13), together with 5 consecutive defeats.
It’s their longest winless run within the competitors since a run of 17 between February 2012 and August 2018, with that run additionally containing the final time they misplaced six in a row in the identical season (seven between March and April 2012), leaving Edwards with a variety of work to do.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Aston Villa – 72.7%
Draw – 15.8%
Wolves – 11.5%
