As the last match of the first day of the return of the Premier League, Wolves – Nottingham is also one of the most interesting challenges of this round also because, beyond the more than 20 points that separate the two teams in favor of Forest, these are two teams among the most in form in this part of the season. Obviously, also for the position they occupy in the standings (which in any way the match ends will coincide with third place) Nottingham is doing, not only in this part of the season, but from the beginning, a great championship while for Wolves, things have changed, at least in the results, recently, since Vitor Pereira replaced Gary O’Neil on the bench. In 3 games, Wolves have moved just outside the relegation zone and have rediscovered their spirit and energy but, for Monday's match, in addition to the decent list of unavailable players, superior to that of Nottingham, a player has been added who, in reality, was a certainty: Matheus Cunha, suspended for two games after violent conduct at the end of the last game lost by Wolves, the one four rounds ago against Ipswich.

Wolves'shape and key stats

2 wins and 1 draw in the last 3 with the draw that feels very much like a victory (since it was achieved in the final minutes at Tottenham) paint an almost perfect picture for Wolverhampton whose recovery is evident in both results and performances.

The position in the Premier League table, however, remains, even if just outside the relegation zone, still problematic with 4 wins, 4 draws and 11 defeats which, compared to last year, after the same number of games, mark a clear -9 while, as regards the goals scored in the first half of the season just ended (31), Wolves have scored their best result ever in the Premier League.

Nottingham's shape and key stats

Nottingham Forest's first half of the season, which ended in third place, was exceptional and concluded with a 0-2 win at Goodison Park against Everton, an opponent that neither Arsenal, Manchester City nor Chelsea had previously managed to overcome.

The star of the 0-2 win was Chris Wood, who, after a few physiological games of abstinence, returned to scoring, reaching 11 goals in this Premier League. Nottingham Forest's streak of consecutive wins now reaches 5, a number that becomes even more valuable considering that in the last 3 games, the defense has not been penetrated and the final score of the first half of the season, which reads 11 wins, 4 draws and 4 defeats, shines precisely in the number of goals conceded which is equivalent to the number of games played: 19 which indicates the third best defense in the Premier League with 8 clean sheets for the Belgian goalkeeper Matz Sels, always present in every minute of all the first half of the season.

Match prediction and tactical overview

The many absences, including the one already analyzed of Cunha, could limit the competitive fury of the Wolves who, however, always receive the third-placed team in the standings and the most in-form of the championship. Nottingham, on the other hand, as already highlighted several times including the last one in Liverpool against Everton, also knows how to wait, concede little and be cynical. In a match that could be more blocked than expected, the BetMines prediction is that of a game with fewer goals than those of a Standard Premier League match and, specifically, although in a tight head-to-head, indicates as more likely a match with a maximum of 2 total goals.

• BetMines algorithm prediction for Wolves - Nottingham predicts Under 2.5 goals at 51%
• BetMines algorithm prediction for Wolves - Nottingham predicts Under 2.5 goals at 49%

Wolves - Nottingham predicted lineups

Wolves (3-4-2-1): Jose Sa; Doherty, Bueno, Dawson; Semedo, Doyle, Gomes, Ait Nouri; Bellegarde, Larsen, Hwang. Coach: Pereira.

Nottingham (4-2-3-1): Sels; Ola Aina, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; Dominguez, Anderson; Gibbs - White, Elanga, Sosa; Wood. Coach: Espirito Santo.