Chelsea demonstrated their attacking capabilities in a resounding 6-2 victory over Wolves at Molineux, handing manager Enzo Maresca his first-ever top-flight win. The match, marked by a flurry of goals and a standout performance from Noni Madueke, left Wolves reeling as they collapsed defensively in the second half.
The first half saw a competitive exchange, with Chelsea’s early opener from Nicolas Jackson quickly canceled out by Matheus Cunha. The back-and-forth continued as Cole Palmer restored Chelsea’s lead in stoppage time, only for Jorgen Strand Larsen to level the score again just before the break.
However, the second half belonged entirely to Chelsea, and particularly to Noni Madueke, who scored a hat-trick within 15 minutes. All three goals were assisted by Palmer, as the Blues ruthlessly exploited Wolves’ defensive frailties. Joao Felix, making his second debut for Chelsea following a £45 million move from Atletico Madrid, added a sixth goal late in the game, sealing an emphatic win for Maresca’s side.
Madueke’s stellar performance came just hours after he found himself at the center of controversy. The winger, who has been in excellent form with four goals in two appearances this season, was jeered by the home crowd following an Instagram post in which he insulted Wolverhampton. The post, quickly deleted, led to a hostile reception from Wolves fans throughout the match.
After the game, Madueke addressed the incident, apologizing for the social media misstep. “I just want to apologize to everyone that I might have offended,” the 22-year-old said. “It was a mistake, and you learn from those things. Hopefully, nothing like that happens again.”
Maresca, however, was quick to focus on Madueke’s performance rather than the off-field controversy. “I’m the kind of person who trusts people. Noni is mature enough to understand if what he did was correct or not correct,” the Chelsea boss remarked. “I can judge Noni’s performance, which was fantastic. The best thing was not the hat-trick but the way he defended their counter-attack. That showed the right mentality of what I’m demanding from the players.”
For Wolves, the defeat was a harsh reminder of the work needed to improve defensively, as their collapse left the stadium nearly empty by the final whistle. With Chelsea’s attack firing on all cylinders, it’s clear that Enzo Maresca’s era at Stamford Bridge has started with a statement of intent.
