Week 8 of EPL brought together the team last year that almost qualified for the European champions cup before the last seconds were sadly cornered by Manchester United, namely Leicester City FC. The opponent that Leicester City faced this time was the Wolverhampton Wanderes or The Wolves.
The consistency of the two teams this season is quite maintained because each team is still in the European league zone. If they always show a solid team capacity, it is impossible to make a surprise like when Leicester City won the premier league.
And The Wolves shows a graph of a meaningful increase from the 2017-2018 period to re-enter the Premier League after previously only being in the Championship division. And in 2019-2020, the Portuguese coach Nuno Espirito brought this team to seventh place. The difference between two rankings with Leicster City, which is ranked fifth in the final standings for 2019-2020.
Of course the standings at the end of the year are so close and now there are no notable changes. Until this 8th week, Leicester City is in 4th place while The Wolves is in 8th place. A margin that is not so far apart from the difference in value of 15 for The Fox and 12 for The Wolves.
The slight difference in rank and score will make the two teams play open and interesting to watch. As the coach who directed the two teams was having a distinctive style. Nuno is Portuguese style and Brendan Rodgers who comes from Ireland will certainly be British style
If you can take a look at yesterday’s match between Everton, which is directed by Carlo Ancelotti, who is Italian, you must be defeated by Steve Bruce who directed Newcastle United. Should it happen again the British-style coach will beat the coach from Portuguese soil.
As it is known, coach Nuno Esperito, most of his team was built from players who came from Portugal. Thus, Portugal’s style of play which is like Latin America will be very thick in its style of processing the ball. As the style of Latin American players who have beautiful pockets will be more pronounced and even tend to be individual.
During the Covid pandemic, all parts of the world that hold sports events will pay attention to the presence of players. No exception to football matches in the premier league which must be quiet from the audience. This situation should be used by the visitors to develop the game. Not being intimidated by the home crowd.
But unfortunately this situation cannot be used by The Wolves to play more openly and attack but prefer to play it safe defensively. Whereas the best defense is to attack, after 14 minutes locked The Wolves’ defense through a stab from the right side of the defense the Foxes attacker’s shot hit the hand of The Wolves defender. After the referee notices The VAR a penalty is decided. The punishment was taken by Jamie Vardy. The Wolves’ keeper’s left shot was smooth beyond the goalkeeper’s reach. 1-0 to Leicester city.
The Leicester City team’s game this time is more solid with a smoother flow of the ball to the right of the defensive ribs or from the left of The Wolves defense. Perhaps this is what is considered the weakest point of the line. If The Foxes’ solidity is not resolved by Nuno, it will make a big stone that cannot be removed, it will make the team’s game unable to develop.
And Leicester’s barrage of attacks resulted in a penalty after The Wolves defender in the 34th minute brought down The Foxes on the spot, but unfortunately a shot by Jamie Vardy was countered by The Wolves keeper Rui Patricio.
After goalkeeper Rui Patricio saved the penalty, The Wolves’ enthusiasm for equalizing multiplied and the attack was more massive as a result of which Leicester were locked up until the opportunity to make a goal was more open. But until the 45th minute the first half ended The Foxes’ goal was still not conceded.
The intensity of the attack is like the end of the first half in the last minute – The Wolves must do if they want to beat The Foxes. But it is not an easy thing to do because the Foxes’ midfield is more dominant. Raul Jimenez’s hard work trying to split The Foxes’ defense was almost fruitful several times, but the brilliance of goalkeeper Kasper Schemichel managed to block it.
The entry of winger Adama Traore in the 60th minute brought about a significant change, The Wolves ‘attacks from the left rib of the foxes’ defense were more dangerous. There were even more locks on the foxes’ defense, but the better solidity only ended with a shot that always missed goalkeeper Kasper Schemichel, or was saved brilliantly by the goalkeeper.
It could even be said that Kasper Schemichel was the last bar The Wolves could not open. Despite the defeat, the game played by The Wolves was very good to watch. And maybe for the final standings The Wolves will improve their position from seventh place like last year.
ASL
