It was business as usual for defending champions Manchester City as they beat Chelsea 2-0 on Sunday in their first game of the Premier League season.
As expected, superstar Erling Haaland scored the first goal for the club – the striker has now scored 91 goals in 100 games for City.
The Norwegian raced past Chelsea defenders in the 18th minute before firing a beautiful shot past the onrushing goalkeeper to give the visitors the lead in the first half.
Mateo Kovacic then sealed the win with a long-range shot in the 84th minute, and despite City lacking their usual fluency, they got the job done.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said it was a “privilege and an honor” to be in charge of the team and compared Haaland’s goal scoring form to two of the best players of all time.
There were periods of Haaland looking flat against Chelsea, but he sprang into action when he was needed.
His first goal of the new season was a perfect example of how unstoppable he is, combining physicality with composure in front of goal.
After breaking into the box, Haaland used his powerful right arm to hold off defender Marc Cucurella before flicking the ball past the onrushing Robert Sanchez.
Unlike many of his team-mates, Haaland has been in good form in pre-season and is set to enter his third season at the club.
While others have been busy representing their countries at the European Championships or the America’s Cup, the 24-year-old has enjoyed some downtime to recover before returning to City.
“I’ve never felt better,” Haaland told the Premier League after Sunday’s match, an ominous message for the rest of the competition.
While City supporters can enjoy their team’s first three points of the new season, Chelsea fans will be worried about how the new campaign will unfold.
The London club appear to be in a state of flux, with their shotgun approach to the transfer market leaving many confused.
The club have signed more than 40 players for their bloated first-team, which has caused dressing room problems for new head coach Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling was left out of the squad for the first game of the season, with the team issuing a statement a few hours before kick-off asking the club to “clarify the situation”.
Maresca will be looking to create harmony in the squad for their next game against Wolves on Sunday.
Meanwhile, City will be looking to remain unbeaten when they face recently promoted Ipswich Town on Saturday.
