Wolves’ Portuguese influence helps them finish preseason on a high

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Wolverhampton Wanderers finished off their preseason campaign with a 1-0 win over 2016’s Premier League champions Leicester City.

The Midland outfit fielded four players of Portuguese descent for their final game before the season starts, and it was Ivan Cavaleiro who scored the winner just after the hour mark.

Diogo Jota, Roderick and the Championship’s record signing Ruben Neves, who signed from FC Porto for more than £15 million this summer, also started against the Foxes whilst their compatriot Helder Costa remained sidelined through injury.

This victory wasn’t against a second-string Leicester side. The Foxes played an almost full-strength squad, including the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy, but they were still unable to find a way through Wolves’ new-look side.

Wolves’ head coach, Nuno Espírito Santo, has made a clear statement of intent this summer with his high profile signings of fellow Portuguese players, as well as a handful of others, too.

This remodelling has left Wolves as one of the favourites for promotion this season. Their new European style of football will be something other clubs will need to prepare for before travelling to Molineux.

Leicester City, Peterborough United and even Bundesliga side SV Werder Bremen have all succumb to Wolves’ new brand of football, impressive form for any Championship club.

The first five games will be key for Wolves if they want to mount a promotion challenge this season. The Midland’s side face Middlesbrough, Derby County, Hull City, Cardiff City and Brentford before September, all sides who will believe they have a realistic chance of a top six finish.

If Santo can help Wolves pick up more than 11 or 12 points from the first 15 then the sky is the limit, and that would all be before the welcome return of Helder Costa from injury.

The opening day clash between Wolves and promotion favourites Middlesbrough at Molineux will showcase the best that Championship has to offer, and who knows, maybe both sides will finish the season in the automatic promotion places.