On Saturday, an uncommon sight unfolded as Manchester City suffered a defeat, a rarity in recent times.
The absence of manager Pep Guardiola, who was serving a one-match touchline ban, and influential midfielder Rodri, suspended after a red card against Nottingham Forest, played a significant role in this outcome.
This incident revealed a notable vulnerability in this powerhouse: their reliance on singular key figures. With attempts by Mateo Kovacic and Kalvin Phillips to fill Rodri’s role proving unsuccessful and Matheus Nunes struggling before being substituted, City appeared less secure and capable.
Despite City’s 23 shots on goal throughout the game, with Jérémy Doku missing six opportunities, Wolves secured an early lead through a Rúben Dias own goal. Wolves then defensively held their ground, repelling anything near their penalty area. The game took a turn when Julián Álvarez equalized with a free kick around the hour mark, setting the stage for an anticipated surge of City goals. However, Wolves capitalized on a well-executed counterattack just eight minutes later, as Matheus Cunha set up Hwang Hee-Chan for the winning goal.
Despite Kyle Walker’s brave attempt to block the shot on the goal line, City struggled to respond in the final 15 minutes, allowing Wolves to secure only their second league win of the season.
While Guardiola and Rodri will make their return, and City is expected to regain their dominant form, this defeat serves as a rare moment of reflection and perhaps motivation for other teams with title aspirations.