Haaland scores again on opening weekend as Man City cruise past Chelsea

Premier League champions Manchester City made an ideal start to their title defence as they brushed aside Chelsea with a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

Pep Guardiola’s side were without key man Rodri, but adapted seamlessly with goals from Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic to sink Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca in his first competitive match in charge of the club.

City started the brightest as the hosts failed to get a foothold on the ball, and new City signing Savinho impressed in the early stages with some bright touches, including a deft pass which set up Bernardo Silva – but the midfielder could only fire over.

Haaland made sure his inevitable early season streak continued as he opened the scoring on 18 minutes with a typically clinical finish. The striker has now scored on the opening weekend in each of his three seasons since joining City.

Chelsea grew into the match and were denied an equaliser by the offside flag on the stroke of half-time, but for all their endeavour, they failed to create many clear-cut chances and were punished when Kovacic capped off the scoring with six minutes to play.

The midfielder, who had a five-year stint at Chelsea until 2023, fired home from outside the area to get City’s title defence off to a superb start, with Guardiola eyeing a fifth consecutive Premier League triumph.

You would not want to face Haaland on the opening weekend of a Premier League season. History tells you he will be on the scoresheet.

The striker has scored in every opening day he has played for City, and it took just 18 minutes for the striker to dink a fantastic finish beyond Robert Sanchez to set his side on their way to victory at Stamford Bridge. And while the visitors did not enjoy their usual vast amount of possession, they still possessed all the qualities to get the job done – comfortably.

Haaland phased in and out of the game, but was always on hand in the box to try to finish the great work provided by his team-mates. Savinho looked exceptional on his debut before being taken off at half-time. Bernardo Silva was a menace, picking the pockets of the Chelsea defence and somehow finding space to operate between the lines.

City have shown multiple times before, they do not need to be at their best to win. Winning is just a habit for Guardiola and his well-oiled side, and there has been no evidence to suggest that will stop.

For Maresca in his first game as Chelsea boss, it was just about the toughest test he could be tasked with. There were definite positives to take, including the 10-minute spells before half-time and after the introduction of summer signing Pedro Neto. They just could not create enough in front of the stern City back-line.

Kovacic just pipped Rico Lewis to the accolade after his excellent 84th-minute goal.

In a match which was built up largely with Rodri’s absence as a focus, Kovacic stepped up and led the City midfield to a strong showing at Stamford Bridge.

There were multiple occasions in which Chelsea’s midfield was run ragged, and Kovacic was a key cog in not only the defensive moments of the game for City, but going forward too – linking up play and scoring the goal that put the result beyond doubt.

Chelsea: Sanchez 5, Gusto 5, Fofana 6, Colwill 5, Cucurella 5, Caicedo 5, Lavia 6, Palmer 5, Fernandez 6, Nkunku 6, Jackson 4 Subs: Neto 6, Guiu 5, Dewsbury-Hall 5, Veiga 5.

Man City: Ederson 6, Lewis 8, Dias 7, Akanji 6, Gvardiol 7, Kovacic 9*, Silva 8, Savinho 8, De Bruyne 7, Doku 7, Haaland 7. Sub: Foden 5.

18′ GOAL! CHELSEA 0-1 MAN CITY (HAALAND) I’m not sure he even touched the ball before this, but Haaland is already on the scoresheet for the new campaign. Doku drifts in from the left and fires a low, central ball. Silva gets a nick on it as it heads towards Haaland. The striker takes it on, manufactures the room to squeeze a dinked effort past Robert Sanchez, and does just that! A VAR check nearly chalked it off, but it stands!

44′ JACKSON DENIED BY THE OFFSIDE FLAG Jackson starts the move from the left and it’s worked out to Palmer on the right, he cuts inside and stings the palms of Ederson, who uncharacteristically parries. Jackson sweeps home the rebound but he’s offside and the flag is straight up. Palmer took that from some way out, may be harsh but you feel Jackson should have checked his line.

52′ HAALAND DENIED A good City move as Doku, De Bruyne and Silva combine to feed in Haaland from the edge of the box. The striker tries to shape a powerful effort into the far corner but Sanchez pushes it away. Silva is really working away in those pockets between the Chelsea defenders to manufacture opportunities. Haaland does not have to bother in the build-up, just there to try and finish it off.

61′ CHELSEA’S BEST PERIOD The introduction of Neto has injected some real impetus into this Chelsea side. The former Wolves winger puts a good cross in but Fernandez can’t direct his header towards goal. Malo Gusto is there to pick up the scraps and gets a cross in which is headed out to Lavia.

84′ GOAL! CHELSEA 0-2 MAN CITY (KOVACIC) On his return to Stamford Bridge, what a goal from Kovacic! He’s been great in the middle of the park today. Wesley Fofana smacks the ball forward and Kovacic takes it down, glides past Caicedo and Fernandez before firing home at the near post from outside the box. The Chelsea ‘keeper got a touch on it but it was a weak hand. And it looks as though all three points are heading back with the champions.