Champions Manchester City Off to a Strong Start, Chelsea Falters at Home

Manchester City, in pursuit of their fifth consecutive Premier League title, kicked off their campaign in style with a solid 2-0 victory away at Chelsea in the opening matchday.

Norwegian striker Erling Haaland (18′) and Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic (84′) were the scorers for City.

City, who set a record last season by securing their fourth straight league title, entered this match on a high note after clinching the Community Shield by defeating rivals Manchester United on penalties the previous week.

Pep Guardiola’s side played without their Spanish midfield anchor, Rodri, who was granted an extended leave following his efforts in the European Championship. Despite rejoining training only days before, Guardiola opted to rest him for this encounter.

The match also saw the debut of Brazilian winger Savinho, the new signing for the Premier League champions, as he stepped in for the injured Jack Grealish.

On the Chelsea side, the major surprise was the complete absence of winger Raheem Sterling from the squad. This was the Blues’ first official match under the supervision of their new Italian coach, Enzo Maresca. Maresca, who previously worked as Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City before leading Leicester City to promotion this season, took over the reins from Argentine Mauricio Pochettino, who left the club at the end of last season.

The match was a special occasion for Haaland, who celebrated his 100th appearance in all competitions for City. In his time with the club, he has netted an astonishing 91 goals and provided 15 assists since his transfer from Borussia Dortmund three seasons ago. Haaland also left his mark during the preseason, scoring a hat-trick in City’s 4-2 friendly victory over Chelsea during their American tour.