Chelsea 0-2 Manchester City. Manchester City began their Premier League title defence with a 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, thanks to a standout performance from Erling Haaland and a decisive late goal from Mateo Kovacic. The win marked Haaland’s 100th appearance for Manchester City and showcased his continuing impact since his transfer from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.
Haaland opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a deftly executed dinked finish over Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. This goal was Haaland’s 91st for City, underscoring his prolific scoring record.
The game remained relatively uneventful for long stretches, but City’s Kevin de Bruyne almost added to their lead shortly after Haaland’s opener. De Bruyne’s curling shot from the edge of the area went just wide. Chelsea had a chance to level the score when Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson pounced on a fumbled shot by City’s Ederson, but Jackson was ruled offside. He later had another opportunity with a first-time volley, but Ederson was equal to the task.
City extended their lead late in the game when former Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic scored with a curling shot from just outside the penalty area, securing the three points for Manchester City. Despite their dominance, City had a goal from Rico Lewis disallowed, but the match was well under their control.
Manchester City’s pre-season was disrupted by key players returning late from international duty. England trio Phil Foden, John Stones, and Kyle Walker were available for the bench, while Spain’s Rodri missed out completely after only recently resuming training. Manager Pep Guardiola was still able to debut summer signing Savinho, but the Brazilian winger had to be substituted at halftime due to a knock, with Foden taking his place.
The disruption in pre-season might explain City’s somewhat solid but unspectacular performance. Nonetheless, they controlled the game effectively. Kovacic’s performance, especially in Rodri’s absence, was a positive takeaway for Guardiola. Last season, City struggled in Rodri’s absence, losing three of four league games when he did not play. Kovacic’s composed display and excellent goal suggest that City might handle Rodri’s absence better this time around.
Chelsea, who spent approximately £185 million on new signings over the summer, were managed by Enzo Maresca in his first game in charge. The extensive new arrivals, totaling 11 new players, left Maresca with a large squad to choose from, which meant some established players, including Raheem Sterling, were not included in the matchday squad. Sterling’s representatives have requested clarity on his future, adding to the uncertainty around Chelsea’s setup.
Despite the significant investment, none of the new signings started the match. However, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto, and Renato Veiga came on during the second half, marking only the second time a Premier League team has fielded four debutants in a single game. Of these, Neto, who joined from Wolves for £54 million, was the most impactful, providing a spark and lifting the team’s performance as they sought an equalizer.
Overall, Chelsea’s performance was disjointed, reflecting the challenges of integrating numerous new signings and adapting to a new managerial approach. However, the spirit and determination shown, particularly in the second half, offer some optimism for Maresca as he looks to build his team and improve their cohesion in the coming games.
