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
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.
HALF-TIME! Chelsea 0-1 Man City
The teams are emerging from the Stamford Bridge tunnel now, so we’ll be back underway soon.
Chelsea certainly look like they can salvage at least a point here, though they have to be careful not to let this match run away from them.
HALF-TIME! Chelsea 0-1 Man City
A mixed half for both sides, defined by that moment of brilliance from Haaland.
Both teams had chances – City probably just about edged it on balance – but failed to apply the finishing touches on all but one occasion.
City look good going forward but a little more edgy at the back, while Chelsea have caused problems going forward and have overall done fairly well in defence bar that one moment.
We’re in for an interesting second half.
HALF-TIME! Chelsea 0-1 Man City
HALF-TIME! Chelsea 0-1 Man City
50 mins
More penalty shouts as Nkunku goes down under plenty of sliding challenges and blocks, but nothing given again. The Frenchman perhaps could’ve done better there, having been sent almost clean through by Jackson.
The referee blows the whistle and the two teams head down the tunnel at 1-0 to City.
Chelsea 0-1 Man City
48 mins
Gusto does well to stand his ground and dispossess Doku, and Chelsea go on the attack. It ends up falling to Enzo on the edge of the box, but he’s under plenty of pressure and never really has it under control. He collides with Dias on the edge of the box and there are shouts for a penalty, but nothing given.
The World Cup winner stays down for now, but he should be okay.
Chelsea 0-1 Man City
46 mins
There’ll be at least five minutes added on to what has been an entertaining, if unspectacular, half of football. Chelsea look buoyed by that disallowed goal and their forward players are combining nicely at times.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Man City
43 mins
Both City men are fine to play on, and their teammates are keeping plenty of the ball at the moment. When Chelsea do win it though, it’s in dangerous areas.
And there’s an example! Nkunku nips in to win possession and Chelsea sweep it wide to Palmer. He cuts inside and unleashes a fairly powerful shot but it’s straight at Ederson. The Brazilian should hold onto it, but he spills it and it falls to Jackson, who taps in!
However, the Senegal man had wandered offside as Palmer shot, so it’s disallowed!
Chelsea 0-1 Man City
40 mins
A brilliant counter-attack chance for City but it’s ruined by Doku. Savinho does brilliantly to carry out of his half and release the Belgian on the overlap. City suddenly have a three-v-two with Haaland and De Bruyne in support – Doku tries to slide the Norwegian clean through, but it’s right at the defender and City have to settle for a long-range effort from Silva.
Both Savinho and De Bruyne are down and receiving treatment.
Chelsea 0-1 Man City
38 mins
Fernandez tracks back brilliantly to dispossess Silva and get Chelsea out of trouble in their own box. Moments later he’s shooting in the opposition box after good combination work from Palmer, Nkunku and Jackson, but it’s deflected behind for a corner.
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