Striker Erling Haaland scored his 91st goal in his 100th appearance for Man City. The Norwegian scored his first goal in a 2-0 win at Chelsea on Sunday as Pep Guardiola’s side began their quest for an unprecedented fifth successive Premier League title.

Striker Erling Haaland scored his 91st goal in his 100th match for Man.City.

Haaland gave his team the lead in the 18th minute, picking up the ball on the edge of the box and cutting between Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. It was also his fifth goal in the opening three Premier League games since joining Man.City in 2022. The 24-year-old Norwegian striker’s quick start also showed he was fully fit after a summer without international football. “I knew exactly what to do, I thought it was a really good goal,” Haaland said.

Meanwhile, coach Guardiola believes Erling Haaland’s scoring record is reaching the level of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and believes the striker is capable of improving in the coming years. “He has the statistics of Messi and Ronaldo, who have controlled for more than a decade, 15 years, absolutely everything,” Guardiola said. “In terms of numbers, it’s the same level. So I don’t know how he does it, but in 100 games, scoring 91 goals is unbelievable in the Premier League, in this country.”

Guardiola also praised Haaland for having a full rest in the summer: “I have the feeling that he feels better at this stage than last season. After the tour last season, he felt a little tired. This season, I think because Norway were not at the Euros, he had more rest and he feels good. The goal was fantastic. Haaland contributed a lot, he had two or three chances. I always feel there is a gap to improve as a footballer.”

Mateo Kovacic sealed the win in the 84th minute to give Pep Guardiola’s team the perfect start.

Mateo Kovacic added another goal for Man.City from outside the box in the 84th minute to make Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea debut a disappointment. Haaland’s goal once again showed that while Maresca – a former Man.City assistant under Guardiola – wants to operate the style of play, an effective centre-forward is still something Chelsea lack after another summer of heavy spending.

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson had a goal disallowed just before half-time after being ruled offside, and then volleyed a shot straight at City goalkeeper Ederson in the 61st minute, before being replaced by 18-year-old Marc Guiu. “The performance was there but we didn’t take our chances,” said Maresca. “Maybe the big difference was inside the box.”