Nuno's spirited Wolves impress as they hold Manchester City to draw
In the first match of the Premier League weekend, Wolves, starting with five Portuguese players, managed to earn a spirited point against reigning champions Manchester City, battling out a 1-1 draw at Molineux.
Wolves were good value for their point and showed their quality against one of the best sides in the world, with the technical ability of the likes of Ruben Neves and João Moutinho evident early on, meaning that they were more than a match for Pep Guardiola's side.
Indeed, it was Wolves who found the back in the net first, with Diogo Jota holding off the City defence to get into a one-on-one position before playing it across the face of the goal to find Benfica loanee Raul Jimenez, who slotted it home. Nuno's celebrations on the touchline, however, were cut short, with the flag for offside rightly put up.
City then almost responded in the perfect way, moving up the pitch quickly from the resultant free-kick, with the ball hitting the base of the post at the other end.
City, who were always going to prove a stern test, then nearly pulled in front again as half time approached, forcing Portugal's number one Rui Patricio into a phenomenal save, who managed to get across and get his fingertips to Sterling's volleyed strike and push it onto the bar. Another close call for Nuno's men, who will have been pleased to go into half time level.
The second half started in a similar manner to the first, both sides looking confident on the ball and pushing for a winner.
And, against the odds, it was the newly promoted side who struck first, stunning City from a cross whipped in by João Moutinho which found former Porto and Braga defender Willy Boly, who made no mistake as he blasted home by any means necessary in the 57th minute.
Wolves were content with the result and looked to hold their lead, but their advantage did not last long, conceding fairly cheaply from an inswinging free-kick which found the head of City's summer signing Laporte who bulleted it past the outstretched hand of Patricio.
City nearly completely turned the game around just a couple of minutes later when Patricio smartly stopped a Gabriel Jesus effort to keep the game tied.
Wolves did have chances of their own however, especially when record-signing Adama Traore was brought on in place of Helder Costa, with the former Middleborough winger proving a source of constant trouble for the City defence as he charged forwards with the ball with a great deal of pace and purpose.
Even with his introduction - and that of U19 European champion Ruben Vinagre - Wolves were unable to regain the lead, and it was City who came closest to winning it, with Aguero striking the bar in the final minute of stoppage time from a central free-kick from distance. However, the game finished 1-1, a very respectable result for a side that were only last year playing in England's second tier, and Nuno and the fans will go home happy and optimistic after such a display.
