Chelsea vs. Man City: Everything you should know.

The 33rd Premier League season kicks off at Stamford Bridge at 4.30 p.m. with a tantalizing credentials test between Chelsea and Manchester City.
It is the first meeting between the two on opening weekend since victorious hosts Chelsea won the championship in 2006.

The thrilling 4–4 tie from the previous season was selected the greatest match of the season by Premier League supporters; the BBC referred to it as “a game too good to have a winner.”

The Londoners have only begun a campaign against the reigning league winners four times since 1905.

Chelsea, who have scored 65 goals in their first 32 games and amassed 67 points from their games, has written the most opening-day headlines, tied with United, City’s Manchester rivals.

In August at the Bridge, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca will look to continue the Blues’ unbeaten run of top-flight games that dates back to 2017. This will be Maresca’s first time in the dugout.

Team updates
Chelsea’s offensive prowess and defensive frailties were exposed in the previous season’s high-scoring stalemate in this match, and Enzo Maresca quickly recognized his inexperienced team’s susceptibility to unbridled counterattacks when they lost possession.

Throughout the preseason, the Italian explored a number of corrective midfield strategies, including a box or diamond formation and extra support from a full-back or center defender.

His strategy is based on the idea that deft mobility may outnumber opponents wherever on the field. Evidence of such has led to several visually appealing attacks in recent events.
The Blues begin the season without Thiago Silva, who set a record as the top scorer in the thrilling eight-goal match against Man City the previous season, for the first time since 2019. Important players are all available on Sunday save for Reece James, who is suspended.

This stands in pleasant contrast to the same time last year, when the Blues’ opening lineup had six key absences—the first indication of a long-term issue.

Former City wide players Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer stood out as the Blues faced off against the Mancunians last season; the latter scored the Londoners’ late equalizer.

Additionally, Pedro Neto, the master of the assist when he was at Wolves, may make his debut on Sunday as a fantastic one-on-one winger.

Among those vying for a bow in front of the Stamford Bridge supporters are Tosin Adarabioyo (26), Marc Guiu (18), Renato Veiga (21) and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (25).

The past
These two legendary trophy rivals haven’t faced off on the league’s opening weekend in a while; their most recent meeting took place at the Bridge on August 20, 2006.

After 11 minutes, John Terry—who had just finished leading and scoring for England during the midweek—glanced in a cross from Arjen Robben to break the tie. After fifteen minutes, Frank Lampard activated the box’s edge and fired within a second.

The reigning champions, missing Michael Ballack, Petr Cech, Joe Cole, William Gallas, and Claude Makelele, were little tested, particularly following the dismissal of City rookie Bernardo Corradi for a second yellow card. The score was settled at 3-0 thanks to Didier Drogba’s diving header from Wayne Bridge’s cross.

Is a fireworks show akin to the exciting 4–4 draw from the previous season too much to ask for? Perhaps with a dramatic Palmer winner instead of an equalizer? Cole’s penalty kick in the 95th minute sensationally denied his former team in what was an electrifying Sunday afternoon match.

Erling Haaland’s dubious penalty kick had started the score, but the home team fought back to tie the score with Thiago Silva’s header before gaining the lead through Sterling.
As Haaland bundled in City’s third goal and Manuel Akanji headed in following a brief corner routine, the game’s structure changed once more. Nicolas Jackson’s prompt efforts gave the Londoners a point back, but with four minutes left, Rodri’s shot deflected dramatically to give the visitors a 4-3 lead against the run of play.

Ruben Dias knocked Armando Broja down as the final seconds approached, and the response to Palmer’s penalty kick nearly brought the Bridge to its knees.
Manchester City hadn’t given up as many goals in a league match since September 2020 when Chelsea scored four goals in their season-opening tie at the Bridge.

In April 1971, Liverpool and Leeds United were playing in a European Cup last-four match, and Chelsea and the Citizens became the first English teams to play each other in a European semi-final (the Cup Winners’ Cup). Chelsea defeated Real Madrid 2-0 on aggregate and went on to win the trophy in the final.

In the 2021 Champions League final, the Londoners defeated us as well, thanks to a goal from Kai Havertz that was the game’s lone goal. That’s still our best win vs City.

This past weekend marked the 50th anniversary of the East Stand at Stamford Bridge opening its gates to fans on August 17, 1974.

Men Manchester City in the Premier League