Manchester City kicked off their Premier League title defense with a commanding 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The win sets a strong tone for City as they aim to retain their title, while Chelsea's struggles under new management continue.
Erling Haaland, who was making his 100th appearance for the club, made an early impact, marking the milestone in style by scoring his 91st goal for City. The Norwegian striker opened the scoring in the 18th minute, capitalizing on a well-timed pass from Bernardo Silva. Haaland showcased his physical prowess as he muscled past Chelsea defenders Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana, before calmly slotting the ball past Chelsea’s goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, giving City the early advantage.
As the match progressed, Chelsea found it difficult to break down City’s well-organized defense. Despite maintaining favorable possession during both halves, they struggled to create clear-cut chances. New manager Enzo Maresca faced a tough challenge in his Premier League debut, as his team appeared to lack the sharpness needed to compete with the reigning champions.
City sealed the victory late in the match when former Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic added a second goal in the 84th minute. Kovacic, who was facing his former club, took advantage of a disorganized Chelsea midfield, driving forward unchallenged and delivering a powerful finish that Sanchez could only get a slight touch on but couldn’t keep out of the net. This goal further highlighted City’s dominance and effectively ended any hopes Chelsea had of mounting a comeback.
Throughout the match, Chelsea showed glimpses of potential with some promising attacking efforts from young talents like Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and new signing Pedro Neto. However, these efforts were ultimately outshined by City’s clinical performance and solid defensive display.
In a moment that highlighted the frustration of the home side, Chelsea’s owner Todd Boehly was spotted leaving the stadium just minutes after Kovacic’s goal, visibly upset. Fans have since speculated that his early exit was a sign of dissatisfaction with the team’s performance, which has been lackluster despite significant investments in the squad.