Chelsea 0-2 Manchester City: What Were The Main Talking Points As The Sky Blues Lay Down An Opening Weekend Marker At Stamford Bridge?

Getting the defence of their Premier League crown underway on Sunday afternoon, Manchester City opened up the 2024/25 campaign with a 2-0 victory away at Chelsea.

While Sunday’s showdown at Stamford Bridge might have failed to create the thriller that many were hoping for prior to kick-off, the record-breaking Erling Haaland opened the scoring after just 18 minutes thanks to a smart dinked finish over Robert Sanchez.

Although Enzo Maresca’s new Chelsea squad might have been desperate to spring a heavyweight upset on the opening weekend, the Blues failed to find any real fluidity.

Despite facing what could have been a potential banana skin in west London, it was ex-Chelsea star Mateo Kovacic who wrapped up all three points for City as the Croatian midfielder produced a wonderful effort from the edge of the box with just a few minutes left on the clock.

Getting the defence off their Premier League title off to a dream start away from the Etihad, we have taken a look at the main talking points from west London.

City get off to a flying start

While Manchester City might have relinquished their maiden Champions League crown last season, Pep Guardiola’s men once again shattered a string of domestic records.

Becoming the first club in English history to get their hands on four consecutive Premier League titles, the former Barcelona boss has made it abundantly clear that his superstar squad are looking only further underlined their status as England’s ultimate poster boys.

Claiming an action-packed 4-2 victory when they met Chelsea for a pre-season showdown out in the United States earlier in the month, City were always looking to make another statement here.

Signing off the 2023/24 campaign in the midst of a remarkable purple patch as they won all of their final nine Premier League appearances, Sunday’s guests appear to have only continued from where they left off back in May.

With many already billing Guardiola’s superstar squad as the standout title contender this season, there is no doubt that the defending champions will take plenty of positives away from what was a professional performance in west London.

Always a major task for Chelsea

While Chelsea might have dragged themselves to a crucial top-six return last season, the Blues’ dramatic late flurry was not enough to save Mauricio Pochettino his job at Stamford Bridge.

Watching the former Tottenham boss leave west London after just a year in charge, Maresca has a real job on his hands as the ex-Leicester manager looks to bring some much-needed stability back to Stamford Bridge.

However, despite always facing what was going to be a hue opening weekend struggle here, the former Premier League champions have once again broken the bank this summer as they have spent £185million on 11 new signings

With a pool of more than 40 senior players at their disposal and England international Raheem Sterling shockingly omitted from Maresca’s squad here, the Blues have plenty of issues that need to be resolved over the coming weeks.

Showing many of the inconsistencies that haunted them prior to the summer break and putting in what was a largely disjointed performance here, Chelsea will simply be looking to dust themselves down quickly.

Who else but Haaland?

While Phil Foden might have been crowned as the PFA Player of the Year last season, it was certainly City’s striking sensation who spearheaded their charge to an iconic fourth consecutive Premier League title.

Storming his way to another Golden Boot last season after notching 27 goals in his 31 Premier League appearances, Haaland has only further cemented his position as world football’s ultimate marksmen.

Signing off his summer preparations with a hat-trick against Chelsea over in the USA on August 3rd, the former Borussia Dortmund icon has continued on a remarkable record-breaking run since arriving from rural Germany in the summer of 2022.

Opening the scoring here with a clinical dink over Sanchez and silencing the Stamford Bridge crowd, Haaland always looked set to steal all of the headlines in what was his 100th Premier League appearance for the defending champions.

With Sunday’s smart finish the 91st top-flight goal that he has registered in his century of appearances, it is no secret that the Norwegian superstar has another leading role to play this time around.

Match Report

Chelsea: Sanchez, Cucurella, Colwill, Fofana, Gusto, Lavia, Caicedo, Nkunku, Fernandnez, Palmer, Jackson

Subs: Guiu, Neto, Dewsbury-Hall, Veiga

Manchester City: Ederson, Gvardiol, Dias, Akanji, Lewis, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Silva, Doku, Savinio, Halland

Subs: Foden

Goals: Haaland (18’), Kovacic (84’)

Yellow Cards: Chelsea: Caicedo – Manchester City: Haaland

Red Cards: N/A

Referee: Anthony Taylor