Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates after scoring a goal in a Premier League game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in London, England, August 18, 2024. /CFP
Make it 91 goals in 100 games for Erling Haaland at Manchester City.
The striker marked his milestone 100th appearance for the club by netting the first goal in a 2-0 win at Chelsea on Sunday, as City began their campaign for a fifth straight Premier League title.
It also took his tally to five goals in three league openers since joining City in 2022, and showed that the Norwegian is fully rested after a summer free of international duty.
"I had a feeling that he feels better than last season at this stage," City manager Pep Guardiola said. "He feels good, and the goal was magnificent."
Haaland gave his team the lead in the 18th minute and Mateo Kovacic added a strike from just outside the area in the 84th to make it a harsh welcome for new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca in his first game in charge.
At Stamford Bridge, Haaland's opener came when he received the ball on the edge of the area and cut between Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella, before dinking the ball past Robert Sanchez.
"I knew exactly what to do, I think it was a really good goal," Haaland said.
It was the kind of clinical center-forward play that Chelsea lacked for much of last season, and again on Sunday, despite another summer of heavy spending.
Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson had a goal disallowed just before halftime after needlessly straying offside, and then hit a close-range volley straight at City goalkeeper Ederson in the 61st before being taken off for 18-year-old newcomer Marc Guiu.
"The performance was there, but we didn't take the chances," Maresca said. "Probably the big difference was inside the box."
Still, there were signs of encouragement for Maresca, a former City assistant under Guardiola. While none of Chelsea's nine summer signings started the game, Romeo Lavia made his first league start after missing most of last season with injuries, and impressed in a midfield partnership with Moises Caicedo.
Winger Pedro Neto came off the bench in the 59th minute to make his debut after a big-money move from Wolverhampton, and nearly scored right away, as he was inches from getting to Enzo Fernandez's low cross toward the far post.
But Kovacic, who started in place of the injured Rodri, doubled the lead against his former club after intercepting a high ball up the pitch and striding forward before launching a shot that snuck in via the post.