Manchester City’s Erling Haaland scores his side’s opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, England, Sunday, Aug, 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Haaland and Kovacic found the back of the net for Pep Guardiola’s men, who opened their quest for a historic fifth PL crown in a row with a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
Premier League champions Manchester City got their title defence off on a winning note as they posted a 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday as Pep Guardiola’s men netted through Erling Haaland and Matteo Kovacic.
City went ahead through Erlin Haaland’s 91st goal in the sky blue on his 100th appearance for the Mancunian side as he produced an exquisite bit of centre-forward play as he held off two defenders before dinking the ball past Chelsea’s shot-stopper Robert Sanchez.
Guardiola opted for Ederson in goal behind the back three of Reuben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and Manuel Akanji. Matteo Kovacic and Rico Lewis were positioned ahead of the defensive unit, while new recruit Savinho began on the left while Jeremy Doku ran down the right flank.
Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva played behind Haaland up top for the holders.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca started Sanchez in goal, with Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella making up the back four.
Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Enzo Fernandes made up the midfield while Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku were deployed on the flanks. Nicholas Jackson was the lone man up front for the travelling blues.
Nkunku thought he was through on goal in the 25th following good high pressing in the opposition half, but he was pulled back by the referee for an infringement on Akanji as Chelsea struggled to find any real rhythm.
Chelsea came into the game towards the end of the first period as Jackson put the ball into the back of the net following up on Palmer’s attempt from outside the box, which was parried into his path by Ederson, but the linesman’s flag went up and the Blues’ goal was chalked off.
City nearly doubled their lead in the secon half but for a good save by Sanchez as he kept Haaland’s strike out of the net.
Nkunku was subbed off for new recruit Pedro Neto around the hour mark. The Portuguese nearly made an instant hero of himself as he was lurking on the end to put the finishing touch on a low cross in from Enzo, but Lewis stepped in at the nick of time of keep Guardiola’s men ahead.
Chelsea tested City yet again, but Ederson was equal to the task as he kept out a Jackson effort from point blank range. Lewis put the ball into the net shortly after, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on a Chelsea player inside the box in the lead up to the strike.
Maresca opted for a double change in the 67th minute as Lavia and Jackson were withdrawn for March Guiu and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Kovacic netted the insurance goal for City with a brilliant curler after going past two chelsea players in the 84th minute before a muted celebration to put the result beyond any doubt.