Feel-good factor has returned at Villa, says in-form forward Malen - Soccer News

[ad_1] Donyell Malen believes the feel-good issue has returned to Aston Villa forward of their conflict with native rivals Wolves within the Premier League this Sunday.

After beginning their top-flight season with three factors from their opening 5 video games, Villa have gained six of their final seven league matches, with their solely defeat coming to Liverpool.

Unai Emery’s crew additionally strengthened their probabilities of qualifying routinely for the Europa League knockout phases following a 2-1 victory over Younger Boys in midweek.

Malen’s first-half brace proved sufficient, with the Dutchman now Villa’s high scorer throughout all competitions in 2025-26, having discovered the again of the web six occasions in 18 outings.

“I really feel good,” Malen mentioned. “As a crew, we performed properly, we created a variety of alternatives. I ought to have in all probability scored two extra if I’m actually trustworthy, but it surely’s a very good feeling.

“We needed to be centered. They’re not a nasty crew, and we needed to do what we may do. We created a variety of probabilities within the first half and even second half to get a much bigger rating.

“We have now to go recreation by recreation. In fact, the Premier League is an enormous competitors, however that is additionally a really huge competitors for us.”

Malen’s haul of targets has come from simply seven begins, although Emery urged the in-form Villa ahead to construct on his current type to earn a daily beginning spot.

“One month in the past, he demanded that I modify him as a result of he was drained. Progressively, he has been getting match,” Emery informed reporters in midweek.

“He's getting numbers, which is unbelievable. He's actually performing properly. Now, preserve going.”

goodnight, villans pic.twitter.com/9B6hBFKSy4

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 27, 2025

Wolves, in the meantime, they anticipate a primary win within the Premier League continued final week as Rob Edwards’ first recreation in cost ended with a 2-0 defeat at dwelling to Crystal Palace.

It was largely a much-improved show from Wolves, who completed with an anticipated targets (xG) whole of 1.8 from their eight photographs to Palace’s 1.3 from their 10 makes an attempt.

However solely one among Wolves’ efforts was heading in the right direction, that means they turned the primary crew since Newcastle United in 2021-22 (14 video games) to win any of their first 12 top-flight matches.

Nevertheless, Edwards believes a win over their rivals could possibly be the catalyst to ignite their season, although the Wolves boss acknowledged the problem of his crew having the ability to take action.

“Final week I spoke about realism. There's a perception there that we will dig ourselves out of this place. But in addition, there's a realism that it’s by no means been finished earlier than,” Edwards mentioned.

“I hope we will get that first victory right away and in an enormous recreation like this. It’d be a good way to begin that off, however Villa Park can also be a troublesome place to go – everybody finds that.

“They’re an incredible soccer membership, an enormous membership, who're doing rather well in the mean time, with an excellent supervisor in place, however we’ve acquired to take care of ourselves.

“We’ve had a very good week up to now to get a plan collectively, however we’re going to must be a nine-and-a-half out of 10 to get one thing from the sport – however we’re able to that.

“We’ve acquired to go there with zero concern, with bravery and with the idea that Sunday goes to be the day that we will get that first victory.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Aston Villa – Morgan Rogers

Morgan Rogers has been concerned in 5 targets in his final seven Premier League video games for Villa (three targets, two assists), as he continues to rediscover his type from 2024-25.

Final trip in opposition to Leeds, he scored his first brace within the competitors, in addition to scoring from his first-ever try from a direct free-kick.

Wolves – Jorgen Strand Larsen

No participant has scored greater than as soon as for Wolves throughout their 12 video games up to now within the Premier League this season, however Jorgen Strand Larsen nonetheless poses his crew’s greatest menace.

He has three targets in all competitions this time period from an anticipated targets (xG) whole of two.5, and Edwards shall be hoping his quantity 9 can encourage his crew to victory.

Solely 4 sides have had an extended wait from the beginning of a marketing campaign for a participant to attain twice – Bradford Metropolis (15 video games in 2000-01), Huddersfield City (13 in 2018-19), Tottenham (13 in 2006-07) and Wimbledon (13 in 1994-95).

MATCH PREDICTION: ASTON VILLA WIN

Villa have gained their final two dwelling league video games in opposition to Wolves, having gained simply one among their earlier 9 in opposition to them at Villa Park (D5 L3), and that run is predicted to proceed right here.

That's as a result of Emery’s crew have misplaced simply one among their final 24 Premier League dwelling video games (W15 D8), happening 3-0 in opposition to Crystal Palace in August.

They've additionally gained all 4 of their Premier League video games performed instantly after enjoying in Europe in midweek this season, the one aspect with a 100% successful document up to now.

Wolves, in the meantime, have gained simply one among their 14 top-flight video games in opposition to Villa between 1980 and 2012 (7%). Since each groups have been again within the Premier League (2019), they've gained six of their 12 in opposition to their rivals (50%).

They're additionally winless in all 12 of their Premier League video games this season, choosing up simply two factors. It's the third-lowest factors whole 12 video games right into a season in English top-flight historical past after Manchester United in 1930-31 (0) and Sheffield United in 2020-21 (one).

However Wolves’ issues haven't solely been this season. They're and not using a win of their final 16 Premier League video games (D3 L13), together with 5 consecutive defeats.

It’s their longest winless run within the competitors since a run of 17 between February 2012 and August 2018, with that run additionally containing the final time they misplaced six in a row in the identical season (seven between March and April 2012), leaving Edwards with a variety of work to do.