Manchester City kicked off their Premier League title defense with a hard-fought victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, marking a successful start to their campaign.
Erling Haaland, celebrating his 100th appearance for Manchester City, opened the scoring with a composed finish over Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez just 18 minutes into the match. This goal marked Haaland’s 91st for City since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.
The game remained tight, with few clear-cut chances, but City eventually sealed the win late on when former Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic curled a shot from outside the box into the net, ensuring the champions left with all three points.
Manchester City showed flashes of their usual dominance, with Kevin de Bruyne coming close to extending the lead with a curling effort from the edge of the box. However, Robert Sanchez managed to keep Chelsea in the game, making a crucial save from Jeremy Doku’s deflected shot.
Chelsea thought they had found an equalizer when Nicolas Jackson pounced on a fumbled save by City goalkeeper Ederson, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Jackson also had a chance later in the game, firing a volley straight at Ederson as Chelsea pressed for an equalizer.
City, while not at their most scintillating best, controlled the game and had opportunities to increase their lead, including a disallowed goal by Rico Lewis. Ultimately, it was Kovacic’s strike that secured the victory.
Manchester City’s pre-season was disrupted by several key players returning late from summer international duties, including Phil Foden, John Stones, Kyle Walker, and Rodri, who did not feature in the match. Despite these challenges, Pep Guardiola’s side managed to maintain control throughout the game. Guardiola also handed a debut to summer signing Savinho, though the Brazilian winger had to be substituted at halftime due to an injury.
Kovacic’s performance in midfield, especially in the absence of Rodri, will have pleased Guardiola. The Croatian’s composed display and decisive goal highlighted his importance to the team, especially given that City struggled without Rodri last season.
Chelsea, under new manager Enzo Maresca, faced a challenging start to the season. Despite spending approximately £185 million on 11 new signings, none of the new players started the match. However, four debutants, including Portugal winger Pedro Neto, were introduced in the second half, providing a spark as Chelsea pushed for an equalizer.
While the Blues struggled to find cohesion, particularly given the influx of new signings and the arrival of a new manager, their spirited second-half performance showed promise for the season ahead. Maresca will need time to mold his squad, but there were positive signs to build on despite the defeat.
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