For just the second time in the club’s history, Wolves will host Real Madrid at Molineux in the Under-21s Premier League International Cup.
The first and last time Los Blancos came to Molineux was 68 years ago. It was the first leg of an exhibition tie in 1957, with Wolves emerging 3-2 victors.
They would travel to the Bernabeu two months later, holding Real to a draw and winning the tie on aggregate.
Real Madrid Castilla, their Under-21 side, travel to Molineux on Wednesday to go up against the Old Gold and try to get a first-ever win against the Wolverhampton side.
Head coach James Collins says Wolves players are buzzing to play against Real Madrid
It’s not every day that the biggest club in football travel to your stadium. It may not be the senior team, but the kit, badge and history accompany their Castilla side nonetheless.
Not to mention, they’re coached by former Liverpool and Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa.
Wolves U-21s manager James Collins discusses the magnitude of the tie, saying: “Real Madrid is the pinnacle of football. We’ve got an incredible draw and it’s a competition to be really excited about, to play at Molineux early in the season, and it’s a great challenge for our players to see how they can perform.”
As for the players, they aren’t intimidated by the prospect of facing such a big club, rather, they can’t wait: “The boys were especially buzzing when they heard we had Real Madrid because they’re a team we’ve never played in my time here, and it’s also such a big club, an iconic football club.”
One Wolves player in particular will be eyeing this game as an opportunity to continue his red-hot form and make a statement to Vitor Pereira.
Wolves rising star Mateus Mane is the player to watch vs Real Madrid
Real Madrid Castilla have produced some incredible talents over the years, from Raul and Iker Casillas to Emilio Butragueno way back when.
There are likely some future Madridistas playing for the opposition, but there’s at least one future star who should be kitting out for the home side on Wednesday.
Mateus Mane is Wolves’ youngest-ever Premier League player, and he has been lighting it up for the U-21s so far this season.
Mane has scored in his last two games, staking a claim for a place in the senior squad. The 17-year-old is electric and offers a serious threat going forward.
Wolves will be up against it facing Arbeloa’s side, but Mane could well make the difference. He’s that good.