Erling Haaland marked his 100th appearance for Manchester City with his 91st goal, leading the champions to a 2-0 victory over Chelsea in their Premier League opener on Sunday.
Haaland capitalized on a pass from Bernardo Silva, weaving between Chelsea defenders Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana to score in the 18th minute. Mateo Kovacic, a former Chelsea player, secured the win for City six minutes before the final whistle, charging through the Chelsea midfield and sending a powerful shot into the net.
Chelsea, in their first league match under new manager Enzo Maresca, showed moments of promise with attacking plays from Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and Pedro Neto. However, they struggled to match the composure and class of their opponents.
Despite the loss, Chelsea crafted several opportunities, dominating possession at times but failing to translate that dominance into goals. The game highlighted the ongoing challenges for the Blues, who continue to adapt to Maresca’s style.
City’s manager Pep Guardiola expressed satisfaction with the result, underscoring the importance of a solid start to the season. He emphasized the significance of winning “point by point” amidst the pressures of being the defending champions.
As the match concluded, City walked away with three points, while Chelsea will look to regroup and build on their attacking potential in the coming weeks.