Sat Feb 01 19:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Wolves Shock Aston Villa in Midlands Derby Thriller
**Wolverhampton, England** – Wolverhampton Wanderers pulled off a stunning 2-0 victory over Aston Villa in a dramatic Midlands Derby at Molineux on Saturday. The win ended Wolves’ four-game losing streak, lifting them out of the Premier League relegation zone and handing them their first league win of 2025.
Goals from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (12′) and Matheus Cunha (90’+7′) secured the crucial three points against a Villa side who had qualified for the Champions League round of 16 midweek. Bellegarde’s angled shot opened the scoring, while Cunha’s late strike sealed the victory and seemingly confirmed his intention to stay at the club amidst transfer rumors.
Wolves dominated the first half, creating several clear-cut chances, including one that was saved by Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and another that flew wide. Aston Villa, meanwhile, failed to register a single shot on target in the opening 45 minutes. Villa manager Unai Emery made four substitutions at halftime, but a second-half goal was disallowed due to an offside call, sparking controversy. Emery criticized the VAR decision, arguing the flagged player hadn’t touched the ball.
Despite Villa’s late pressure and several near misses, Wolves held firm, with goalkeeper José Sá making a key save in the closing stages. The win propelled Wolves to 17th place on 19 points, two points clear of Leicester City, who lost on the same day. The result also leaves Villa in eighth, having missed a chance to close the gap on Manchester City.
Wolves manager Vitor Pereira praised his team’s fighting spirit, highlighting their unity and determination. However, he acknowledged the long road ahead, with a challenging fixture against league leaders Liverpool next on the horizon. The victory marks a significant turning point for Wolves in their battle against relegation.
First Piper 