Manchester City got their Premier League title defence off to a winning start as goals from Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic inflicted a 2-0 defeat on Enzo Maresca in his first match in charge of Chelsea.
Haaland marked his 100th appearance for the club with his 91st goal before Kovacic struck on his return to Stamford Bridge to give Pep Guardiola's men the perfect start to their attempt to win a record fifth consecutive English top-flight title.
Maresca has the tough task of moulding a functioning team unit from a bloated Chelsea squad that has 43 players and over 50 on the books including those on loan. City, by contrast, are a model of continuity and consistent excellence.
Haaland was one of City's few stars to have had a summer off from international tournaments and took just 18 minutes to make his mark.
Jeremy Doku's low cross was deflected by Bernardo Silva into the Norwegian's path and he coolly dinked over Robert Sanchez. Kevin De Bruyne curled inches wide and Sanchez leapt high to turn over Doku's deflected shot.
But Chelsea ended the first half in the ascendency and should have been level before the break. Ederson spilled Cole Palmer's tame shot but was bailed out by Nicolas Jackson's straying needlessly offside before he turned in the rebound. Foden was forced into action earlier than Guardiola would have hoped at half-time as the lively Savinho was forced off injured on his Premier League debut.
The lack of pre-season minutes for many on show was apparent in the more pedestrian pace than normal for a major Premier League clash.
Chelsea did most of the pressing for an equaliser but offered City chances to extend their lead in doing so.
Kovacic was allowed to burst through the midfield unchallenged and took aim for the top corner, which he found thanks to a weak hand from Sanchez.
