Erling Haaland achieved a remarkable milestone by scoring his 91st goal in his 100th match for Manchester City, leading the team to a 2-0 victory against Chelsea in the Premier League opener on Sunday.
Haaland opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a well-placed finish past Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, after receiving a pass from Bernardo Silva. He showcased his strength by maneuvering between defenders Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana to find the net.
Mateo Kovacic, a former Chelsea player, secured the win for City by scoring their second goal six minutes from time. He capitalized on a disorganized Chelsea midfield, driving through and striking the ball into the net.
Under new head coach Enzo Maresca, Chelsea attempted to produce some promising attacking plays led by Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and new signing Pedro Neto, but they were largely dominated by the more experienced Manchester City squad.
City’s starting lineup included Ederson, Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Doku, Savinho, and Haaland, while Chelsea’s lineup featured Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella, Lavia, Caicedo, Fernandez, Palmer, Jackson, and Nkunku.
Despite Chelsea having moments of hope, the match underscored their struggle against a formidable City side, which continues its impressive record in the Premier League.
Haaland expressed satisfaction with the win, emphasizing the difficulty of the opening matches regardless of preseason preparations. He mentioned his goal was particularly sweet due to previous encounters with Sanchez, who had denied him in the past.
Kovacic acknowledged the challenges posed by missing key players but celebrated the victory, noting his respect for his former club Chelsea, where he spent five years.
Eventually, City managed to control the game, denying Chelsea the chance to equalize and enhancing their reputation as title contenders right at the season’s start.