Chelsea 0, Manchester City 2
Erling Haaland scored as Manchester City beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to start their campaign for a 5th consecutive Premier League title.
Embed from Getty ImagesWithout Rodri City were not at their best at this time of the season and Chelsea were indebted to Ederson for a couple of good saves and the offside flag when the Brazilian did make an error before Mateo Kovacic punished a late mistake by Chelsea.
Haaland opened his account for the season with his 91st goal for City on his 100th appearance for the Blues after just 18 minutes when Jeremy Doku’s ball from the left took a touch from Bernardo Silva which took it away from Levi Colwill and the big Norwegian took full advantage of the space to take the ball around Marc Cucurella and lift the ball over Robert Sanchez.
There was a lengthy delay for a VAR check for offside – something that should be a thing of the past when automated offside checking starts in a matter of weeks.
De Bruyne curled a shot wide after Savinho came inside to square the ball to him shortly afterwards as City dominated midfield even without Rodri.
Savinho showed played of Brazilian flair on the right flank while his wing parter Doku tested Sanchez with a deflected shot from 25 yards out.
Enzo Fernandes’ shot was blocked by Manuel Akanji as Chelsea showed signs of life towards the end of the first half.
But Sanchez had to save from Bernardo Silva before Savinho went down needing treatment.
Cole Palmer’s long range shot was spilled by Ederson and finished off by Nicholas Jackson – City’s keeper was relieved to see the offside flag go up against Jackson after the clear error just before half time.
Christopher Nkunku had a penalty shout turned down just before the break.
Savinho injury blow
Phil Foden replaced Savinho at half time, who had gone down towards the end of the first half.
Haaland drew a fine save from Sanchez from 16 yards out before Pedro Neto as brought on by Chelsea for Christopher Nkunku after 58 minutes.
Rico Lewis read a cross by Enzo Fernandez for Neto and cleared the ball while Jackson’s effort was saved by Ederson as City flagged.
The chances kept coming for Chelsea but they suffered a blow when Marc Cucurella, who had played in the Euro 2024 final, hobbled off to by replaced by Renato Vega with 10 minutes to go.
But it was City who had the last word when Mateo Kovacic, a former Chelsea player, put City’s second goal in when he interrupted a loose pass out by Malo Gusto with 6 minutes to go.
He went past Caicedo and Fernandez and Sanchez got a hand to his shot from the edge of the box but couldn’t keep it out.
The second goal gave City the margin they needed to see out the game comfortably.