Erling Haaland opened his account for the season and Mateo Kovacic scored towards his former aspect as reigning champions Manchester Metropolis started their 2024-25 Premier League marketing campaign with a commanding win at Chelsea.
Two-time Premier League prime scorer Haaland clipped Metropolis forward with a intelligent end after 18 minutes at Stamford Bridge earlier than Kovacic, who joined them from Chelsea in June 2023, drove ahead and fired in a strike that proved too highly effective for goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to repel with six minutes remaining.
Haaland has now scored on the opening day in every of his three seasons at Metropolis, who began with out a number of key gamers together with John Stones, Kyle Walker, Phil Foden and midfielder Rodri, who’s getting back from harm.
Supervisor Pep Guardiola’s former assistant at Etihad Stadium, Enzo Maresca, had a flat begin to his tenure as Chelsea supervisor, watching his gamers produce two photographs on course.
Beautiful from Mateo Kovačić! 😍
The Man Metropolis man punishes his former membership! 🔵 pic.twitter.com/Wxfx8aW0Tt
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 18, 2024
Chelsea vs Man Metropolis: Haaland celebrates
Guardiola had acknowledged his staff wouldn’t be at full energy at Chelsea whereas demanding a efficiency worthy of the dominant staff in English soccer at their greatest.
If Metropolis have been wanting scintillating, a simple win towards a staff with designs on being not far behind them after extra lavish spending represented a great begin to their title defence.
Sanchez denied Jeremy Doku and Rico Lewis had a purpose disallowed, whereas Kovacic’s purpose – which Sanchez may need stored out – capped a show through which he ably deputised for Rodri.
The one actual notice of concern for Guardiola was the untimely departure of summer season signing Savinho with a knock the winger collected which required icing on the bench.
FULL-TIME | A gap day win at Stamford Bridge! 💪
🔵 0-2 🩵 #ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/wxtEoniXkb
— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) August 18, 2024
Chelsea signings fail to impress
Maresca had contended with a number of disjointed performances from his staff throughout pre-season, maybe because of altering his squad to the tune of £185 million.
One in every of final season’s arrivals, Nicolas Jackson, went closest for the hosts, changing after Ederson pushed Cole Palmer’s shot his approach in a purpose that was disallowed for offside.
Every week after becoming a member of for £54m from Wolves, wideman Pedro Neto appeared essentially the most impressed of Maresca’s recruits, approaching as an alternative within the hope of serving to to provide an equaliser.
Neto may make a swift return to Wolves when Chelsea go to Molineux of their subsequent Premier League fixture subsequent Sunday (2pm BST), with the primary leg of their play-off to succeed in the Uefa Europa Convention League at house to Swiss aspect Servette coming three days beforehand (8pm).
Metropolis might be heavy favourites to make it six factors from six once they host newly-promoted Ipswich City on Saturday (3pm).
