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

Donyell Malen believes the feel-good factor has returned to Aston Villa ahead of their clash with local rivals Wolves in the Premier League this Sunday.

After starting their top-flight season with three points from their opening five games, Villa have won six of their last seven league matches, with their only defeat coming to Liverpool.

Unai Emery's team also strengthened their chances of qualifying automatically for the Europa League knockout stages following a 2-1 victory over Young Boys in midweek.

Malen's first-half brace proved enough, with the Dutchman now Villa's top scorer across all competitions in 2025-26, having found the back of the net six times in 18 outings.

"I feel good," Malen said. "As a team, we played well, we created a lot of opportunities. I should have probably scored two more if I'm really honest, but it's a good feeling.

"We had to be focused. They're not a bad team, and we had to do what we could do. We created a lot of chances in the first half and even second half to get a bigger score.

"We have to go game by game. Of course, the Premier League is a big competition, but this is also a very big competition for us."

Malen's haul of goals has come from just seven starts, though Emery urged the in-form Villa forward to build on his recent form to earn a regular starting spot.

"One month ago, he demanded that I change him because he was tired. Progressively, he has been getting fit," Emery told reporters in midweek.

"He is getting numbers, which is fantastic. He is really performing well. Now, keep going."

Wolves, meanwhile, they wait for a first win in the Premier League continued last week as Rob Edwards' first game in charge ended with a 2-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace. 

It was largely a much-improved display from Wolves, who finished with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.8 from their eight shots to Palace's 1.3 from their 10 attempts. 

But only one of Wolves' efforts was on target, meaning they became the first team since Newcastle United in 2021-22 (14 games) to win any of their first 12 top-flight matches. 

However, Edwards believes a win over their rivals could be the catalyst to ignite their season, though the Wolves boss acknowledged the difficulty of his team being able to do so.

"Last week I spoke about realism. There is a belief there that we can dig ourselves out of this position. But also, there is a realism that it's never been done before," Edwards said.

"I hope we can get that first victory straight away and in a big game like this. It'd be a great way to start that off, but Villa Park is also a difficult place to go – everyone finds that.

"They're an amazing football club, a huge club, who are doing really well at the moment, with a brilliant manager in place, but we've got to look after ourselves.

"We've had a good week so far to get a plan together, but we're going to need to be a nine-and-a-half out of 10 to get something from the game – but we're capable of that.

"We've got to go there with zero fear, with bravery and with the belief that Sunday is going to be the day that we can get that first victory."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Aston Villa – Morgan Rogers

Morgan Rogers has been involved in five goals in his last seven Premier League games for Villa (three goals, two assists), as he continues to rediscover his form from 2024-25. 

Last time out against Leeds, he scored his first brace in the competition, as well as scoring from his first-ever attempt from a direct free-kick.

Wolves – Jorgen Strand Larsen

No player has scored more than once for Wolves across their 12 games so far in the Premier League this season, but Jorgen Strand Larsen still poses his team's biggest threat.

He has three goals in all competitions this term from an expected goals (xG) total of 2.5, and Edwards will be hoping his number nine can inspire his team to victory.

Only four sides have had a longer wait from the start of a campaign for a player to score twice – Bradford City (15 games in 2000-01), Huddersfield Town (13 in 2018-19), Tottenham (13 in 2006-07) and Wimbledon (13 in 1994-95). 

MATCH PREDICTION: ASTON VILLA WIN

Villa have won their last two home league games against Wolves, having won just one of their previous nine against them at Villa Park (D5 L3), and that run is expected to continue here.

That is because Emery's team have lost just one of their last 24 Premier League home games (W15 D8), going down 3-0 against Crystal Palace in August.

They have also won all four of their Premier League games played immediately after playing in Europe in midweek this season, the only side with a 100% winning record so far.

Wolves, meanwhile, have won just one of their 14 top-flight games against Villa between 1980 and 2012 (7%). Since both teams have been back in the Premier League (2019), they have won six of their 12 against their rivals (50%).

They are also winless in all 12 of their Premier League games this season, picking up just two points. It is the third-lowest points total 12 games into a season in English top-flight history after Manchester United in 1930-31 (0) and Sheffield United in 2020-21 (one).

But Wolves' problems have not only been this season. They are without a win in their last 16 Premier League games (D3 L13), including five consecutive defeats.

It's their longest winless run in the competition since a run of 17 between February 2012 and August 2018, with that run also containing the last time they lost six in a row in the same season (seven between March and April 2012), leaving Edwards with a lot of work to do.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Aston Villa – 72.7%

Draw – 15.8%

Wolves – 11.5%