Manchester City commenced their Premier League title defense in style, defeating Chelsea 2-0 in an impressive away performance at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, City aims for a record-extending fifth consecutive title, and they secured a routine victory in their 2024-25 campaign opener.
Erling Haaland marked his 100th appearance for Manchester City with a standout performance.
The Norwegian striker opened the scoring in the first half, skillfully chipping the ball past Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez after receiving a precise offload from Bernardo Silva.
Chelsea’s Struggles Continue
Chelsea struggled to find their rhythm, with Nicolas Jackson having a potential equalizer ruled out for offside before the break.
Ederson, City’s keeper, was almost caught off guard after a powerful strike from Cole Palmer, but Jackson’s goal was disallowed.
The Blues did manage to test Ederson again in the second half, with Jackson’s volley from a Romeo Lavia header being another missed opportunity for the home side.
Mateo Kovacic, playing against his former club, added further insult to Chelsea fans six minutes from time with an impressive individual goal that sealed the victory for Manchester City.
Impressive Start for Guardiola’s Men
With this win, Manchester City joins seven other teams on three points in the Premier League standings while Chelsea finds themselves just above the relegation zone after Enzo Maresca’s first match in charge.
The defeat marks Chelsea’s continued struggles against City, being winless in their last seven league meetings (D2 L5), since their last victory in May 2021.
Key Stats from the Match
- Haaland’s Goal Contribution: The 24-year-old now has been involved in 106 goals across 100 appearances for Manchester City, showcasing his critical role in the team.
- Opening Fixture History: Haaland has become the first Manchester City player to score on matchday one in three consecutive Premier League seasons, following in the footsteps of David Silva.
- August Statistics: The striker has netted 13 goals in his nine Premier League appearances in August, outscoring Chelsea’s entire team in that span since the 2022-23 season.
Looking Ahead
As Manchester City celebrates their opening victory, Chelsea will need to regroup quickly ahead of their next Premier League fixture against Wolves on Sunday. The pressure is on Enzo Maresca to turn around the team’s fortunes as they search for their first win of the season.
