Enzo Maresca lost his first Premier League defeat as Chelsea manager when Manchester City won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, marking a strong start to their title defense.
Manchester City’s superior quality and tactical management ultimately prevailed in a matchup between Pep Guardiola and a former protégé.
Erling Haaland quickly made his mark this season, scoring just 18 minutes into the match.
Receiving a pass from Bernardo Silva—who narrowly avoided a VAR offside call—Haaland powered through Chelsea’s defense to net his 91st goal for City on his 100th club appearance.
Chelsea thought they had equalized before halftime when Nicolas Jackson capitalized on a rebound from Cole Palmer’s shot, which was initially allowed after Ederson’s mishap. However, VAR disallowed the goal due to Jackson being offside.
The second half featured chances for both teams, with Pedro Neto making a notable debut for Chelsea. Manchester City seemed to have added another goal when Rico Lewis scored, but it was ruled out due to a foul by Haaland on Levi Colwill in the buildup.
Mateo Kovacic, a former Chelsea player, extended Manchester City’s lead in the 84th minute with a composed finish past Robert Sanchez. Chelsea’s appeal for a penalty, after a shot from Malo Gusto hit Kovacic’s elbow, went unanswered.
Kovacic’s goal, stemming from a loose pass by Chelsea, showcased what they were missing as City secured all three points and extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 24 games.
