Premier League champions Manchester City opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over big-spending Chelsea on Sunday evening.
Premier League
Result: Chelsea 0-2 Manchester City
Date: 18 August 2024
Venue: Stamford Bridge
New Man City signing, Savinho was handed his debut, as he accompanied Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, as three changes from the Community Shield win over Manchester United.
The Blues started their era under new manager Enzo Maresca, who effected a host of changes, chief among them the exclusion of Raheem Sterling and Conor Gallagher, both linked with a move away from the club.
The Citizens were more on the ball in the early exchanges and on 18 minutes, Erling Haaland, on his 100th appearance for the club, eventually gave them the lead with a simple finish in the box after he went through from a toe-poke by Silva.
Chelsea took time to get into the game and Pep Guardiola's charges were ready to pounce also on transitions, as after the half-hour mark Jeremy Doku had a threatening deflected strike that required a good save from shot-stopper Robert Sanchez.
Maresca's men eventually came alive going forward towards the end of the first stanza and Nicolas Jackson thought he had levelled matters for the hosts after he fired home a rebound on the far side of the box but the goal was disallowed for a marginal offside.
The Blues took time to get into their rhythm from the break and towards the hour-mark, the hosts made a tactical and attacking change as new signing Pedro Neto was handed his debut in place of Christopher Nkunku.
Chelsea threatened immediately after that, as Jackson came close to making it 1-1 with an overhead kick from close-range that was saved by shot-stopper Ederson.
The Blues gained momentum but they opened spaces at the back as they attacked with numbers and with six minutes to go, Mateo Kovacic eventually put the game to bed for City against his former side, with a strike on the edge of the box that Sanchez could only parry into the back of the net.
Chelsea struggled to create chances in the last third, Guardiola's men kept their shape to open their campaign with maximum points.
