- Manchester City made no mistake in starting the new Premier League season with a 2-0 win away at Chelsea.
- Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic scored to help Pep Guardiola’s side secure three points.
- New winger Savinho has been given the chance to start in the first team.
Manchester City made a memorable start to their new Premier League season with a 2-0 win at Chelsea, with goals from Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic.
Pep Guardiola’s side started well, still in keeping with the style of the defending champions. They played better and had slightly more chances and had a bit more possession.
The “Sky Blues” secured three important points before hosting newcomers Ipswich Town in their next game.
And here are the key takeaways from the latest game at Stamford Bridge.
Haaland celebrates scoring his 100th goal
Erling Haaland made his 100th appearance for Man City and he even celebrated by scoring against Chelsea.
Norway’s absence from Euro 2024 has given Haaland plenty of time to rest after a tough season with his club last season, and the 24-year-old showed in pre-season that he is still going strong.
As the new Premier League season began, Haaland continued his excellent form by using his strength to push Chelsea defenders aside before firing past Robert Sanchez.
It was his 91st goal in 100 appearances in all competitions for the Citizens and 64th in 67 Premier League games, and he also has the best goals-per-minute rate in Premier League history (minimum 20 goals) – scoring every 85 minutes, with Sergio Aguero netting every 108 minutes.
Savinho makes his debut with his new club
The right winger with the number 26 shirt looks like Riyad Mahrez is back playing for Man City, but this is Savinho, the Brazilian forward who moved from Troyes this summer.
The 20-year-old winger has settled in quickly, creating the most chances (three), completing the most dribbles (three) and winning the most duels (five).
However, Savinho was substituted at half-time after picking up an injury, but that should be good news for Chelsea’s defence as they face a potentially unfit Phil Foden coming on for the second half.
Haaland hits back at Cucurella with performance
Haaland has said in his post-match interview that he doesn’t hold any grudges after Chelsea full-back Marc Cucurella mocked him with a song during Euro 2024 celebrations.
Cucurella went viral during his Spain title celebrations, singing his signature song, which reads in part: “Haaland’s legs are shaking when he sees Cucurella on the pitch.”
However, Haaland hit back with his performance on the pitch and his goal was a duel between the two, with the Norwegian squeezing a shot past Robert Sanchez.
“Cucurella is a funny guy. Last season he asked for a shirt swap and now he’s singing a song mocking me,” Haaland said after the โปรโมชั่น ufabet game.
Kovacic scores against his former team
Manchester City fans must have been feeling anxious after learning before the game that key midfielder Rodri would be out due to an injury.
Mateo Kovacic was the replacement in the same role, having played there since pre-season, but the Croatian repaid Pep Guardiola’s faith in him by scoring the final goal.
Throughout the game, Kovacic made almost no mistakes, controlled his tempo well, and his signature dribbling and dribbling also paid off, as it was the goal that relieved the pressure on the team.
Kovacic intercepted Wesley Fofana’s mishandled pass before dribbling past Chelsea midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo and firing a long-range effort that Sanchez managed to parry with his fingertips but hit the post.