The referee blows the full-time whistle and it's the end of the game. The defending champions start their title defence with an important victory against Chelsea. The Blues played good football but couldn't find the back of the net. Haaland and Kovacic scored the goals for the Citizens to collect the three points.

FULL-TIME | An opening day win at Stamford Bridge! 💪

🔵 0-2 🩵 #ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/wxtEoniXkb

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 18, 2024

Enzo shoots from outside the box but the Brazilian shot-stopper handles it professionally.

Caicedo sees the yellow for a foolish foul on Doku.

Five additional minutes of stoppage time.

Fofana gives away the ball in a bad position and Kovacic drives through the Chelsea defence before putting it into the back of the net with a sensational hit. Although Sanchez should have done better in his near post, the Croatian midfielder did deserve it. He has been brilliant today for the Citizens.

Kovacic chooses to not celebrate out of respect for his former club.

Veiga replaces Cucurella who was down which seemed like a hamstring issue.

Gusto tries to play the ball back towards a Chelsea player. The ball hits Kovacic’s arm in the process but the referee says no handball.

Kieman Dewsbury-Hall and Marc Guiu replace Jackson and Lavia.

A deep ball is sent in towards Haaland inside the box. Haaland tries for a finish but strikes Colwill’s shin in the process. The referee blows for the foul, but Lewis shoots straight at goal.

The goal was ruled out. Haaland sees the yellow card.

This is unbelievable! Pedro Neto sends in a cross which ultimately reaches Gusto who tries to set up Jackson but the Chelsea striker hit straight to Ederson on the volley. This should have been the equalizer for Chelsea!

Caicedo sets up Enzo on the right and the Argentine sensation provides a beautiful grounded pass for Neto but the former Wolves striker misses out by a margin.

The former Wolves striker replaces Nkunku for Chelsea.

Silva lays off a pass to Haaland inside the centre of the box. He shoots toward the goal and Sanchez makes the save to deny the Norwegian. Haaland should have buried it.

Palmer sends in the ball but the City defence comes to the rescue. Fernandez is unable to make anything of the chance.

Sanchez tries to find a Chelsea player with his pass but KDB wins it. However, his cross goes out for a Chelsea throw.

Captain Kev 👨‍✈️

🔵 0-1 🩵 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/tMjuTfrdO6

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 18, 2024

Chelsea gets the ball rolling in the second half.

Foden replaces Savinho for Man City.

Romeo Lavia didn't misplace a single pass in the first half against Manchester City (28/28). 👏#CHEMCI pic.twitter.com/UUB63egWJ4

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) August 18, 2024

Savinho in that half:

Most chances created (3)
Most dribbles completed (3)
Won the most duels (5)

He is cooking on the wing. What a great signing pic.twitter.com/wmZowoUszC

— 17 (@DxBruyneSZN) August 18, 2024

Familiar faces meet at Stamford Bridge 🤝

Enzo Maresca was a coach under Pep Guardiola at Man City and now manages Chelsea#CHEMCI | #TheKickOff pic.twitter.com/pAHFo7K806

— Premier League (@premierleague) August 18, 2024

Nkunku is brought down in the box, but once again the referee waves play on. Man City defenders clear the ball away and the referee blows the whistle for halftime. City go into the interval with a valuable lead. Chelsea finished the first half on a strong note but was unable to level the scoreline.

HALF-TIME | Leading at the break! 💪

🔵 0-1 🩵 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/tfS9Tlzv40

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 18, 2024

Erling Haaland for @ManCity:

👕 100 matches
⚽️ 91 goals
🅰️ 15 assists

Inevitable.#CHEMCI | #TheKickOff pic.twitter.com/WdueraDYoS

— Premier League (@premierleague) August 18, 2024

It should have been the equalizer but unfortunately, it is not. A brilliant move from Chelsea as Palmer tried to curl the ball in from the right-hand side. It looked like a comfortable collection for Ederson at first but he failed to hold on to the delivery. Jackson anticipated it and approached the ball before shooting it in. But, as soon as it went in, the linesman waved the flag against him.

Following Chelsea's corner, Man City breaks out on a counter-attack and Kevin de Bruyne tries to set up the ball for Bernardo Silva but gets a knock from behind in the process. 

He is down and receiving medical attention. Savinho is also down.

Palmer sends in a cross and Nkunku sets up Jackson who lays it for Enzo but the shot from the Argentine midfielder goes out after a deflection of a Man City defender.

Jeremy Doku tries a powerful shot from outside the box and it takes a huge deflection off a Chelsea defender but Sanchez flies high to deny it over the crossbar.

When things don't age well... 👀#BBCFootball #CHEMCI #PL pic.twitter.com/48gMoZ0yM1

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) August 18, 2024

Erling Haaland celebrates his 100th @ManCity match with a goal!

He collects Bernardo Silva's lay-off, beats Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella and finishes! 1-0!#CHEMCI | #TheKickOff pic.twitter.com/pYO1VFECfa

— Premier League (@premierleague) August 18, 2024

Nkunku makes a foul on Akanji. If Nkunku had got away, it could have been a good chance for the Blues.

Savinho found De Bruyne outside the box. He tried to curl a shot in, but the ball went past the far post.

The goal stands. After a long offside check, it has been given as onside.

Doku found Silva just outside the box. Silva sent the ball toward Haaland and the Norwegian striker fired a shot past Sanchez to give City the lead.

Jackson was through on goal but the Portuguese defender denied Jackson from taking the shot.

🗣️

🔵 0-0 🩵 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/bYbHwjNZAq

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 18, 2024

Doku and Silva try to play one-two but the Spanish defender denies them from creating anything.

The Belgian winger loses the duel against the Spanish left-back but then gets the opportunity to take a shot that goes way too wide.

Fofana gets the opportunity to shoot the ball after a short Chelsea corner but his first time volley goes over the bar.

Manchester City wins the first corner of the game. Bernardo Silva tries to take a shot after a good move but his shot gets blocked before it goes out for a corner. 

Both teams are taking their time on the ball and trying to get control of the game.

Come on Chelsea!

🔵 0-0 💠 [7] #CFC | #CHEMCI pic.twitter.com/WxPG0lXQdf

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 18, 2024

Chelsea trying to build up from the back while the Man City forwards are trying to press the Blues' defenders.

The game begins at Stamford Bridge. KDB gets the ball rolling for Man City.

KICK-OFF | Away we go in the 24/25 @premierleague season! 👊

Follow live 👇

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 18, 2024

The Players are on the pitch and the match is all set to start.

Let's hear your predictions for #CHEMCI 👇#ManCity pic.twitter.com/zHs7PMfn3f

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 18, 2024

Focused and ready. 🧠#CFC | #CHEMCI pic.twitter.com/gXzqtPYKmr

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 18, 2024

Streaming details of the top five football leagues in the world

Today's @okx #StatPack 🔢#ManCity pic.twitter.com/xqHVTnmbDc

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 18, 2024

1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ up for @ErlingHaaland! 🩵

Erling's set to reach a century of City appearances today ✨ pic.twitter.com/K2SjcLGYia

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 18, 2024

Stamford Bridge 📍#ManCity | #AsahiSuperDry pic.twitter.com/ke2yiqEzYz

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 18, 2024

Sunday service. #CFC | #CHEMCI pic.twitter.com/5fcagp4E6m

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 18, 2024

Checking-in! 👋#CFC | #CHEMCI pic.twitter.com/gUjeVDTtOO

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 18, 2024

Chelsea

Robert Sanchez (goalkeeper), Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandes (captain), Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku

Your first Chelsea XI for 24/25. 💙#CFC | #CHEMCI pic.twitter.com/4ap2nzIa9W

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 18, 2024

Manchester City

Manchester City XI: Ederson (goalkeeper), Rico Lewis, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, Kevin De Bruyne (captain), Bernardo Silva, Jeremy Doku, Savinho, Erling Haaland

Your first City XI of the 24/25 #PL season! 🩵

XI | Ederson, Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Kovacic, De Bruyne (C), Bernardo, Doku, Savinho, Haaland

SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Walker, Stones, Ake, Grealish, Nunes, Foden, O'Reilly, McAtee#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/xPrBjDQzN2

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 18, 2024

• Matches Played: 178
• Manchester City won: 66
• Draws: 41
• Chelsea won: 71

• Match: Chelsea vs Man City - Premier League 2024-25 Matchday 1
• Venue: Stamford Bridge, London, Chelsea
• Kick-Off: 9:00 pm IST