Man City beat Chelsea 2-0 in their EPL opening game

Man City beat Chelsea 2-0 in their EPL opening game

Manchester City kicked off their defence of the Premier League title with a commanding 2-0 victory over Chelsea, thanks to goals from Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic.

This win marked a strong start for Pep Guardiola’s side as they aim to secure a record-breaking fifth consecutive top-flight title.

Erling Haaland, making his 100th appearance for City, continued his remarkable goal-scoring form by netting his 91st goal for the club. Mateo Kovacic, returning to Stamford Bridge, added to the scoreline, sealing the win against a Chelsea side under new management.

City’s line-up was missing several key players who were given additional recovery time after their participation in Euro 2024, including Rodri, Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Phil Foden.

Despite these absences, the reigning champions showcased their depth and quality by overcoming one of the few teams they failed to defeat in the league last season.

Chelsea, now under the leadership of Enzo Maresca, faced the daunting task of forming a cohesive team from a large and bloated squad.

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The challenges of managing a squad of over 50 players were evident even before kick-off, with notable exclusions from the matchday squad such as Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell. Sterling’s exclusion led to a public expression of disappointment from his camp, highlighting the tough decisions Maresca must make.

None of Chelsea’s nine summer signings were in the starting eleven, and there were surprises as Enzo Fernandez was named captain despite recent controversy surrounding a social media post.

For City, continuity and excellence remain the hallmarks of Guardiola’s reign. Haaland, having enjoyed a summer without international duties, wasted no time in making his impact felt, scoring just 18 minutes into the match after receiving a deflected pass from Bernardo Silva.

While Chelsea had moments of promise, including a near-miss from Nicolas Jackson, they ultimately struggled to break down a resilient City defense. An early injury to Savinho forced Guardiola to call upon Phil Foden earlier than anticipated, further demonstrating the challenges of early-season fitness.

Despite Chelsea’s efforts to find an equalizer, City remained dangerous on the counterattack. Sanchez, Chelsea’s goalkeeper, made crucial saves but was ultimately beaten again when Kovacic capitalized on a lapse in the Chelsea defense to score City’s second goal, securing the win.

With this victory, Manchester City sent a strong message to their rivals, reaffirming their status as the team to beat in the Premier League this season.

Man City beat Chelsea 2-0 in their EPL opening game