Premier League: Manchester City beat Chelsea in first clash of the season

The Premier League made its big comeback this week with the first big clash of the season between Manchester City and Chelsea. A very enticing match on paper between two armed teams and with stars in each line, a match between two coaches who know each other very well. Pep Guardiola on one side and Enzo Maresca on the other, his former assistant. So of course, you had to be there for this match, especially since the two coaches lined up rather offensive teams. At home, the Blues presented themselves with a classic 4-2-3-1 led by Nkunku, Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson while Enzo Fernández, captain of the day, was alongside Lavia and Caicedo in midfield. On the Cityzens side, Guardiola relied on Haaland, De Bruyne, Doku, Bernardo Silva and Savinho to shake up a Chelsea defense composed of the French Wesley Fofana and Malo Gusto.

In a rather timid start to the match, it was Manchester City, as expected, who monopolized the ball and tried to make the difference. Chelsea, well in place, resisted well, but did not manage to be really dangerous. Savinho and Doku continually provoked in the wings and, to give no respite to the Blues defense, alternated regularly. The Brazilian, who clearly had an air of Riyad Mahrez in his ball handling, was the best offensive player of the match and played with a precision quite striking for a first match in his new colors. Finally, after a good quarter of an hour of domination, City ended up opening the score thanks to… Erling Haaland (1-0, 18th).

Chelsea without a clue in front

The Norwegian, on one of his first balls, did not need to be asked twice. On a deflection from Bernardo Silva, he held Colwill and Cucurella on the shoulder before beating Sanchez with a little left-footed chip. Enough to perfectly launch his team. And Manchester City came very close to 2-0 thanks once again to Savinho who no longer stopped on his wing. But he was forced to leave his place at the break after an injury. A hard blow for City which could have been accompanied by a Chelsea equalizer by Jackson, but his goal was disallowed by the VAR for offside.

After the break, Chelsea came back with better intentions. In midfield, Roméo Lavia had an impressive game and won countless balls. We therefore thought that Enzo Maresca’s team was capable of coming back thanks to a brilliant move by Cole Palmer or even Pedro Neto, the latest offensive recruit. But that was not to be the case. And as the match progressed, City regained control of the ball against a Chelsea team without any ideas. It was ultimately Mateo Kovacic who sealed the victory for his team at the end of the match. On a solitary rush, he appeared alone at the edge of the area and sent a precise strike into the goal of a Sanchez who could have done better (2-0, 88th). Manchester City started their season with a victory and continued their form from last season (10th victory in a row in the PL). Chelsea will have to show better to hope to play at the top of the table this season, but they have the squad to achieve this objective.