Erling Haaland achieved a remarkable milestone by scoring his 91st goal in his 100th appearance for Manchester City as the team began its Premier League title defense with a convincing 2-0 victory over Chelsea on Sunday.
The towering Norwegian forward, set up by Bernardo Silva, skillfully maneuvered between defenders Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana, finishing with precision past Robert Sanchez in the 18th minute.
Mateo Kovacic, a former Chelsea player, sealed the win for City six minutes before the end, charging through a chaotic Chelsea midfield and striking the ball into the net.
Despite their efforts, Chelsea struggled to match City’s composure, with hopeful attacks from Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and new signing Pedro Neto failing to find the back of the net.
In this match, Chelsea’s lineup under new manager Enzo Maresca saw Sanchez in goal, with Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, and Cucurella forming the defense. Lavia, Caicedo, and Fernandez made up the midfield, while Palmer, Jackson, and Nkunku led the attack. City’s starting XI included Ederson, Lewis, Akanji, Dias, and Gvardiol in defense, with Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, Doku, De Bruyne, Savinho, and Haaland up front.
City’s victory continued a trend that reflects Chelsea’s ongoing challenges, as new signings did not immediately translate into improved performance on the pitch. The match marked a positive start for City as they look to defend their Premier League title.
Post-match, Haaland described the first game as always being a challenge, emphasizing the importance of getting a win early in the season. He expressed satisfaction with his goal, highlighting its significance to him personally.
Meanwhile, Kovacic shared his thoughts on the match, acknowledging the difficulties of stepping into Rodri’s role and expressing respect for Chelsea, where he spent five years. He emphasized that winning is his priority, even as he celebrated scoring against his former club.
Despite the defeat, Chelsea displayed signs of creativity and potential under Maresca, who remains optimistic about closing the gap with the league’s top teams as the season progresses.