The Premier League’s opening weekend saw Manchester City start their title defense in style, while Brentford secured a narrow victory over Crystal Palace. Here’s a roundup of the action:
Manchester City Dominate Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
Reigning champions Manchester City began their quest for a fifth consecutive Premier League title with a convincing 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Key Highlights:
- Erling Haaland marked his 100th appearance for City with his 91st goal for the club, opening the scoring in the 18th minute.
- Haaland’s goal was his fifth in three Premier League season openers since joining City in 2022.
- Mateo Kovacic sealed the win with a long-range effort in the 84th minute against his former club.
- Chelsea, under new head coach Enzo Maresca, struggled to convert chances despite significant summer spending.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola praised Haaland’s performance, stating, “I had a feeling that he feels better than last season at this stage. He feels good, and the goal was magnificent.”
Chelsea’s new striker Nicolas Jackson had a goal disallowed for offside and missed a key opportunity in the 61st minute. Maresca acknowledged the team’s struggles, saying, “The performance was there, but we didn’t take the chances. Probably the big difference was inside the box.”
Brentford Secure Win Without Toney
In another Premier League fixture, Brentford managed a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace despite the absence of star striker Ivan Toney.
Match Details:
- Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring for Brentford in the 29th minute.
- Palace equalized through an Ethan Pinnock own goal.
- Yoane Wissa scored the winner for Brentford in the 76th minute.
- Palace had a goal disallowed earlier in the match, with Eberechi Eze’s free-kick ruled out due to a foul.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank revealed that Toney was left out of the squad due to “transfer interest.” The absence of their top scorer didn’t hinder Brentford, as Mbeumo and Wissa stepped up to secure the three points.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner expressed frustration over the disallowed goal, stating, “I was told that he blew too early and made the mistake. We thought it was a goal, but the rules are that when the referee whistles the goal doesn’t count. It is what it is.”
As the Premier League season kicks off, these matches set the stage for what promises to be another exciting campaign, with Manchester City already showing their intent to maintain their dominance at the top of the table.
Source: AP
