Molineux has not been a happy hunting ground in recent seasons, but after an end-to-end first 45 minutes had finished 2-2, Chelsea took control to earn a maiden league victory under Enzo Maresca.

Nicolas Jackson headed us in front inside two minutes, and after Matheus Cunha levelled for the hosts, Cole Palmer restored our advantage with a clinical lob from a swift counter-attack started by Robert Sanchez. Jorgen Strand Larsen ensured that lead was quickly cut out, though, to send the teams in all square.

Chelsea were out early for the second half and within three minutes of the restart the lively Madueke had put us back in front with a deflected effort. His next two goals were from similar positions, finished confidently on his right foot. All three were assisted by the mercurial Palmer.

Sub Joao Felix came on for his second debut and made his mark, sweeping a wonderful finish past Jose Sa from his compatriot Pedro Neto’s pass. It was a happy return to Molineux for him, and a brilliant day all round for those in blue – especially Madueke.

Team news

There were two changes to the Chelsea team that started on the opening day of the Premier League campaign. Romeo Lavia missed out with a small hamstring irritation, while Christopher Nkunku dropped to the bench having started both games so far in 2024/25.

Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk were the fresh faces, playing either side of Jackson. Palmer operated behind our striker.

Starting in style

Madueke, not a popular man with the locals, was straight in the thick of the action. He drove at Rayan Ait-Nouri and got his shot away, smuggled behind by Sa. Palmer swung the corner in and it got a flick that took it from near post to far, where an unmarked Jackson gleefully headed home. At 98 seconds, it was the quickest goal yet of this embryonic Premier League season, and our quickest in the league since September 2017.

We continued to zip it around with pace and purpose during a frenetic opening 20 minutes in which both sides looked dangerous every time they attacked. Yerson Mosquera headed a corner wide and at the other end recovered superbly to muscle Jackson out as he bore down on goal.

The hosts broke at speed and Matheus Cunha had the ball in the net, but it was ruled out for an offside earlier in the move. Strand Larsen had strayed ahead of the last move before finding Cunha. The lively Madueke then forced Sa into another save, and Palmer couldn’t quite make the most of the loose ball. Sanchez then bravely dived at Cunha’s feet. It was all go!

A lengthy stoppage so Matt Doherty could receive treatment looked like it might have taken some of the sting out of the contest, but in the blink of an eye Wolves were level. Ait-Nouri carried the ball a long way before passing to Cunha, who beat Sanchez first time.

With four minutes of the half remaining, Wolves again sliced us open, but this time Cunha’s strike rattled the crossbar having deflected off the diving Levi Colwill. Ait-Nouri, Malo Gusto and Palmer entered the referee’s notebook in quick succession as the contest grew increasingly fractious.

Back in front

Remarkably, there was still time for two more goals before the interval. The first started with some quick thinking from Sanchez. He wasted no time hitting a goal-kick long towards Jackson, who cutely flicked the ball around the corner to Palmer. What came next felt inevitable. With Sa off his line, Palmer calmly curled a lob over the keeper’s head and in.

2-1 became 2-2 in the sixth minute of added time at the end of the half. A Wolves free-kick was headed into a dangerous area by Toti, and the stretching Strand Larsen steered it past Sanchez for his first goal in gold since signing from Celta Vigo.

Pedro Neto replaced Mudryk during the break, and we started the second half just as we had the first: by scoring!

Noni's quickfire treble

Jackson picked out Palmer in space and he moved it on to Madueke, whose shot took a helpful deflection off Ait-Nouri to lift it over Sa and into the far corner. He celebrated joyously in front of the travelling support.

Ten minutes later, history repeated itself. Caicedo bravely won a header in midfield, allowing Palmer to drive forward and find Madueke overlapping. The winger fired in his third goal in four days through Sa’s legs, and for the first time today we held a two-goal advantage.

That was nearly three when Palmer this time found space down our right flank and thumped a shot high against the outside of the post.

We didn’t have to wait much longer to make it 5-2, though. And it was a very familiar combination! Enzo Fernandez won possession back high, passed to Palmer who again had Madueke to his right in plenty of space. It was no surprise how composed and confident the finish past Sa was, again on the winger’s supposedly weaker foot. Three Noni goals in 14 minutes, all from Palmer passes, had us in complete control.

Joao Felix replaced Jackson for his second Chelsea debut midway through the second half, and didn’t wait long to get in on the act. It was another flowing move, this time from a deeper position. Palmer released Neto down the left and his intelligent pass found Joao Felix who finished with aplomb first time.

A 6-2 win is some way to start our away travels this season, and the perfect way to end our recent Molineux malaise.

What's next?

It's Servette in Switzerland on Thursday as we look to book our place in the group stage of the Conference League. Kick-off is at 7.30pm UK time.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella (Veiga 83); Caicedo (Dewsbury-Hall 76), Enzo (c); Madueke, Palmer (Nkunku 83), Mudryk (Neto h/t); Jackson (Joao Felix 68)
Unused subs Jorgensen, Tosin, Badiashile, Guiu
Scorers Jackson 2, Palmer 45, Madueke 49, 58, 63, Joao Felix 80
Booked Gusto 40, Palmer 44

Wolves (4-2-3-1): Sa; Doherty, Mosquera, Toti, Ait-Nouri (Dawson 67); J Gomes, M Lemina (c); Hwang (Podence 59), Bellegarde (R Gomes 68), Cunha (Sarabia 68); Strand Larsen
Unused subs Bentley, Bueno, Traore, Doyle, Guedes
Scorers Cunha 27, Strand Larsen 45+6
Booked Ait-Nouri 35

Referee Darren England
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