Frank Christian
The clash between Chelsea and reigning champions Manchester City kicked off the Premier League season for 2024/25 at Stamford Bridge.
Although Chelsea has struggled against City in recent encounters, they managed two draws in the previous season, including an eventful 4-4 draw in November 2023.
After appointing Enzo Maresca as manager following the departure of Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea faced the daunting task of challenging Pep Guardiola’s dominant City side, who have secured six of the last seven Premier League titles.
Sporting News provided live updates and commentary on the Chelsea vs. Man City match.
Match Summary
| Fulltime | Goalscorers | |
| Chelsea | 0 | |
| Man City | 2 | Haaland 18′, Kovacic 84′ |
Confirmed lineups:
Chelsea (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Robert Sanchez (GK) — 27. Malo Gusto, 29. Wesley Fofana, 6. Levi Colwill, 3. Marc Cucurella (40. Renato Veiga) — 45. Romeo Lavia (22. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall), 25. Moises Caicedo, 8. Enzo Fernandez — 20. Cole Palmer, 15. Nicolas Jackson (38. Marc Guiu), 18. Christopher Nkunku (19. Pedro Neto)
Man City (4-1-4-1, right to left): 31. Ederson (GK) — 82. Lewis, 25. Manuel Akanji, 3. Ruben Dias, 24. Josko Gvardiol — 8. Kovacic — 26. Savinho (47. Phil Foden), 20. Bernardo Silva, 17. Kevin De Bruyne, 11. Jeremy Doku — 9. Erilng Haaland.
Match Highlights and Commentary
Fulltime: Chelsea 0-2 Man City
Manchester City sealed a comfortable 2-0 victory over Chelsea, with Haaland and Kovacic finding the back of the net. Maresca’s Chelsea face challenges ahead.
90 + 5 mins: Fernandez attempts a shot that is saved easily by Ederson, almost signaling the end of the game.
90 + 2 mins: Palmer’s shot drifts wide. Chelsea have minimal time to salvage a result.
89 mins: Doku’s attempt is cleared while Foden blocks Neto’s shot at the other end. City put in the effort for the win.
84 mins: GOAL! KOVACIC SCORES TO MAKE IT 2-0! Chelsea concedes a goal through Kovacic after defensive errors. The ball finds the back of the net despite Sanchez’s attempt.
80 mins: Cucurella sustains an injury and is substituted by Veiga. The match progresses with new faces on the field.
78 mins: Chelsea appeals for a handball penalty, but the referee dismisses the call. Both teams are still transitioning into the new season.
72 mins: City defends well against Chelsea’s attempts as they lack the cutting edge in the final third.
69 mins: Gusto regains possession, but Palmer loses the ball easily to Doku. Chelsea struggles to create opportunities.
65 mins: Lewis’ goal is disallowed due to a foul by Haaland. The game sees disciplinary actions and new talents make their debut.
13 – Since 2022-23, Erling Haaland has scored more Premier League goals in August (13) than Chelsea have managed as a team (11), as well as four more than rivals Man Utd (9). Ready.
61 mins: Jackson misses a chance, and Chelsea pushes for a goal. Neto enters the field for Nkunku.
58 mins: Nkunku is substituted for Neto after showing limited attacking threat.
52 mins: Haaland misses an opportunity, failing to challenge the goalkeeper. City controls the game.
49 mins: Palmer’s clever pass creates a situation in City’s box, but they manage to clear the danger.
Second Half Kickoff
The second half commences with Foden replacing Savinho for City.
Halftime: Chelsea 0-1 Man City
Manchester City holds a slim lead at halftime. Chelsea seeks improvement to turn the game around.
45 + 4 mins: Chelsea appeals for a penalty, but the referee remains unmoved.
44 mins: A disallowed goal denies Chelsea after an offside decision. City escapes a defensive lapse.
40 mins: Savinho suffers an injury, causing concern for City’s good performance.
37 mins: Sanchez makes a vital save for Chelsea as Doku forces a shot on target.
36 mins: Guardiola questions the officiating after a prolonged play following an offside call, expressing discontent despite City’s lead.
32 mins: Fernandez appeals for a penalty, but the referee ignores the claims, maintaining a comfortable advantage for City.
**City Dominates with an Early Lead**
**26th Minute:** Nkunku pressures Akanji, conceding a free-kick but showcasing Chelsea’s fighting spirit.
**22nd Minute:** De Bruyne’s shot misses the mark as City dominates the midfield against a struggling Chelsea.
**18th Minute: Goal!** Haaland scores for City as Silva sets him up perfectly, overpowering the defense to put City in the lead.
**15th Minute:** Chelsea lacks efficiency in converting their breakaways into scoring opportunities, allowing City to maintain control.
**11th Minute:** Doku misses a chance to score, reflecting Chelsea’s struggle with finishing touches.
**8th Minute:** Savinho initiates a promising attack for City, demonstrating early dominance along with Doku on the wings.
**3rd Minute:** Fernandez plays an advanced role for Chelsea, pushing toward City’s defense from the start.
**Kickoff: First half**
The match begins with high expectations and excitement.
**5 minutes before kickoff:** The players enter amidst impressive pyrotechnics, setting the stage for an intense match.
**14 minutes before kickoff:** Haaland shoulders the pressure to perform for City as some key players are absent, marking his 100th appearance with remarkable statistics.
**30 minutes before kickoff:** Fernandez leads Chelsea as captain amid controversies, stepping in for the suspended James.
**50 minutes before kickoff:** Sterling demands answers from Maresca regarding his role, as expectations clash with the lineup decisions.
**Team News**
Maresca’s lineup for Chelsea introduces Colwill and Fofana in defense, with Lavia, Caicedo, and Fernandez in midfield, and Palmer, Nkunku, and Doku in attack. New signings Neto and Guiu start from the bench.## Chelsea vs. Manchester City: A Premier League Clash
At the recent match, with Rodri absent, the City midfield was led by Mateo Kovacic. The game saw Brazilian winger Savinho make his Premier League debut, while Rico Lewis started at right-back.
One hour and 20 minutes before kick-off, Enzo Maresca managed his first Premier League game as Chelsea’s coach, coincidentally against his former team where he served as Pep Guardiola’s assistant.
## The Build-Up to the Clash
The previous encounter between the two sides at Stamford Bridge resulted in a thrilling 4-4 draw, but Chelsea’s recent track record against City has been less impressive.
Two hours before kick-off, all eyes were on Chelsea to see how they would tackle the reigning champions this time.
### Kick-off Time and Lineups
The match between Chelsea and Manchester City is set to kick off at 4:30 p.m. local time at Stamford Bridge in London, England.
Here are the kick-off times in some major territories:
– USA: 11:30 a.m. ET
– Canada: 11:30 a.m. ET
– UK: 4:30 p.m. BST
– Australia: 1:30 a.m. AEDT
– India: 9:00 p.m. IST
### Team Lineups and News
In Maresca’s first league game in charge, Levi Colwill partners with Wesley Fofana in the center of Chelsea’s defense. The midfield comprises Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo, and Enzo Fernandez.
For Manchester City, Mateo Kovacic features in midfield while Rico Lewis fills in at right-back. The lineup also includes the likes of Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, and Erling Haaland.
## Where to Watch
To catch the action of this Premier League showdown, viewers can tune in via various platforms based on their location:
– USA: NBC, Fubo, Universo NOW, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, among others
– UK: Sky Sports, Sky Go
– India: Star Sports Select 1, JioTV, Hotstar VIP
– Canada: Fubo
– Australia: Optus Sport
Enjoy the game!
