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Chelsea v Manchester City LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Mateo Kovacic scores stunner

Man City began their title defence with a confident victory at Stamford Bridge against Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side

Chris Wilson
Sunday 18 August 2024 14:28 EDT
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Erling Haaland scored his 91st goal in his 100th appearance for Manchester City on Sunday as the champions kicked off their Premier League title defence with a lively 2-0 away win over Chelsea.

The big Norwegian, fed by Bernardo Silva, forced his way between Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana and finished neatly past Robert Sanchez in the 18th minute.

Former Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic made sure of victory for the visitors six minutes from time, racing through a disorganised Chelsea midfield and thumping the ball into Sanchez’s net.

Chelsea, in their first Premier League outing under new manager Enzo Maresca, fashioned some hopeful attacking moves through Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and recent signing Pedro Neto but were largely outclassed by their more composed visitors.

Chelsea 0-1 Man City

67 mins

Chelsea make two changes – Marc Guiu comes on for Jackson, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall replaces Lavia.

Chris Wilson18 August 2024 17:59

Chelsea 0-1 Man City

65 mins

City are knocking it around but there isn’t a lot of penetration to their play – but they do score a disallowed goal!

They try the simple clip in to Haaland and he takes it down on his chest before failing to get the shot away properly. He rakes his boot across the leg of Colwill as he tries to shoot, and Lewis fires the ball into the back of the net on the rebound, but it’s overturned and Haaland is instead given a yellow card.

Chris Wilson18 August 2024 17:58

Chelsea 0-1 Man City

62 mins

All of a sudden it’s Chelsea with all the chances! They come forward again and the cross comes in. Fernandez heads it past the goal but Gusto is there to clip it back in – it’s headed clear, though Lavia comes in to head back towards goal, and Jackson is there to wrestle with the defender and get a shot away from point blank range, but it’s straight at Ederson! Bit chaotic there.

Chris Wilson18 August 2024 17:54

Chelsea 0-1 Man City

58 mins

Pedro Neto comes on for Christopher Nkunku, who’s probably been Chelsea’s best player so far today.

City are starting to try and impose themselves a bit more on this half, but it’s Chelsea with the best chance so far. They work the ball to the right wing and it’s Fernandez to fizz in an early cross. It’s a great ball, right into the gap between ‘keeper and defenders, but Rico Lewis tracks back well to put it behind for a corner.

Chris Wilson18 August 2024 17:52

Chelsea 0-1 Man City

56 mins

Scrappy over the last couple of minutes, with both sides giving away cheap fouls and sloppily losing possession.

Foden hasnt been able to have the same attacking impact as Savinho yet, with City often forced to go backwards rather than forwards (or inside) at the moment.

Chris Wilson18 August 2024 17:49

Chelsea 0-1 Man City

52 mins

CLOSE! City collect possession as well and it’s moved to De Bruyne near the edge of the box. His pass in is deflected perfectly into the path of Silva, who then squares it to Haaland in the box.

The Norwegian opens up to curl it into the far corner, but he hasn’t wrapped his foot around it enough and it’s a fairly simple save for Sanchez.

Chris Wilson18 August 2024 17:44

Chelsea 0-1 Man City

51 mins

Gusto gives it away cheaply before doing brilliantly to track back and win it back, but Caicedo’s clipped ball into Jackson is collected by Ederson.

Chris Wilson18 August 2024 17:43

Chelsea 0-1 Man City

48 mins

A slow start to this half, with City taking plenty of possession but not creating anything with it.

Palmer slips it through to Fernandez in the box, but he collides with Jackson and the opportunity goes begging.

Chris Wilson18 August 2024 17:41

Chelsea 0-1 Man City

47 mins

Sanchez with a poor pass straight to De Bruyne, but the Belgian can’t capitalise as he clips a cross beyond the sky blue shirts in the box.

Chris Wilson18 August 2024 17:39

KICK-OFF! Chelsea 0-1 Man City

The home side get the second half started.

City have brought on Phil Foden in place of Savinho – looks like that niggling injury got to the Brazilian in the end.

Chris Wilson18 August 2024 17:37

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