Manchester City began their Premier League title defense with a 2-0 victory over Chelsea, thanks to goals from Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic. Haaland celebrated his 100th appearance for the club by scoring his 91st goal, while Kovacic, returning to Stamford Bridge, added to City's tally. This win marked a strong start for Pep Guardiola’s side as they aim for a record fifth consecutive English top-flight title.
Despite missing key players like Rodri, Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Phil Foden, who were given additional time off after Euro 2024, City still managed to set the tone for the season against one of the few teams they didn’t defeat last year. Chelsea, under new manager Enzo Maresca, faced the challenge of finding cohesion within a bloated squad, leading to notable exclusions such as Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell from the matchday squad.
Chelsea's summer signings were absent from Maresca's starting lineup, with Enzo Fernandez surprisingly captaining the side despite recent controversy. City, in contrast, showcased their usual consistency and quality, with Haaland quickly making his presence felt by capitalizing on a deflected cross to score the opener. Chelsea had opportunities to level the score but failed to capitalize, as Ederson's errors went unpunished.
In the second half, City continued to control the game, and despite Chelsea's efforts to equalize, it was Kovacic who secured the victory with a powerful shot that found the top corner, aided by a weak save from Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. The win solidified City's intentions for the season, leaving Chelsea with much to ponder under their new management.
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