Five Things Learned: Chelsea 0-2 Manchester City (Premier League)

Five Things Learned: Chelsea 0-2 Manchester City (Premier League)

Erling Haaland scored the winner and Mateo Kovacic provided insurance, as the defending Premier League champions kicked off their title defence with a 0-2 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester City’s Norwegian striker now has 106 goal involvements made up of 91 goals and 15 assists across his opening century of matches since joining Pep Guardiola’s squad in the summer market of 2022.

As for summer signing Savinho – who was given his first ever Premier League start – the Brazilian was thrust into his top-flight debut after Pep Guardiola was forced to play somewhat of a rotated line-up due to injuries to Rodri and Oscar Bobb.

Chelsea started defensively solid, but Erling Haaland broke through on the 18th minute, beating a pair of Chelsea defenders off the dribble before providing a deft chip over goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

It appeared as though Chelsea had equalised in one of the final moments of the first-half when Nicolas Jackson pounced on an Ederson error for a tap-in, but the Sky Blues were saved by the Senegalese striker just narrowly drifting offside.

After a largely lacklustre performance in the opening 45 minutes, Chelsea began to respond in the second-half, creating more chances and putting Ederson under pressure often. However, the defending Champions found a way to stay ahead and regained control.

Mateo Kovacic’s insurance goal came in the 84th minute when the former Stamford Bridge star and Croatian international midfielder won the ball in midfield, carrying it to the edge of the box past Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, before firing past a diving Robert Sanchez.

After matchweek one, Manchester City find themselves joint-second in the Premier League table, trailing only Brighton on goal difference and starting the campaign exactly how they will want to continue across the remaining 37 matches.

Here are the Five Things Learned from Manchester City’s 0-2 win against Chelsea!

Savinho will be an instant success

There were plenty of comparisons made when Savinho was unveiled and chose Riyad Mahrez’s iconic number 26 at Manchester City. But after his cameo appearance in the Community Shield and first ever star for the club, such comparisons were actually understated.

The Brazilian led the squad in take-ons, dribbles and chances created before being substituted off at the half-time as an injury precaution. The former Girona winger is not nearly as direct as Doku, yet there is still a threat level that no other City winger (minus the Belgian) can bring.

The two of them together as a wing pairing will give every manager and backline in European football plenty of headaches for years to come, and no doubt plenty of joy for Pep Guardiola and the Manchester City faithful.

Mateo Kovacic (and Rico Lewis) CAN fill in for Rodri

Another year, another back-up for Rodri not signed.

It has been an exhausting few seasons for the Spanish midfielder, and this campaign likely will not be any different. However, a midfield pairing of Mateo Kovacic and Rico Lewis were able to make do in an significant away fixture against a ‘Big Six’ side.

While Kovacic is not known for his goalscoring prowess, the Croatian did his best Rodri impersonation by rifling in a world class effort from outside the box.

Cover for the Spaniard still should be a priority this summer, but it is good to know that Pep Guardiola actually has a capable back-up plan now.

Ederson still hasn’t shaken his rust

After somewhat of a rough pre-season that saw Ederson needing to be better as a traditional shot-stopper, there were a few moments that showed that the Brazilian has not gotten all of those mistakes out of his system just yet.

Chelsea nearly had themselves an equaliser in the first-half due to Ederson being unable to control a Cole Palmer shot, but City were saved by the offside flag. A few other shaky moments saw the Brazilian struggle to hold on to the ball in the remainder of the match.

Fortunately, Ederson also made an excellent point-blank save when Chelsea were starting to knock on the door in the second-half. It was a bright spot that shouldn’t be forgotten from his performance.

Erling Haaland looks refreshed

While nearly every member of the City squad spent their summer competing in international tournaments, Erling Haaland was not one of them, and the Premier League champions as well as the striker himself could certainly be reaping the rewards this season.

The Norwegian international was awarded a rare off-season throughout the summer months, something that was surely needed after a ‘down’ year that was marred with injuries and a lengthy fitness problem at that.

The result? A refreshed and energetic striker that was constantly threatening Chelsea’s back line. Erling Haaland’s dribbling and close control was on full display for his goal, and an early confidence boost is always a great way to start the season.

Stamford Bridge continues to be an ‘easy’ fixture

It shouldn’t be easy to win away from home against a ‘Big Six’ side. However, Manchester City have made Stamford Bridge look like another version of Etihad South over the last three years in particular.

The Sky Blues have now won four out of their last five Premier League matches against Chelsea away from home, and are unbeaten since the UEFA Champions League final defeat in 2021.

To pick up three points from one of the presumably most difficult fixtures in the season so early, with a limited squad, is a significant moment of encouragement to those watching, and no doubt to Pep Guardiola.

Manchester City have been plagued by slow starts and dropped points in most of their title wins. It is simply good to see them take advantage of their opportunity early in the season and not wait for a resurgence in the spring.