Manchester City beat Chelsea in the new season’s curtain-raiser to secure the Community Shield title.
Sergio Aguero scored in each half to ensure Pep Guardiola’s men gave themselves a tidy morale boost ahead of a crunch Premier League opener against Arsenal next Sunday.
A refreshing, invigorated Manchester City dominated at Wembley for the majority of the game, forging the lion’s share of opportunities and suffocating Chelsea in the areas that mattered.
Guardiola utilised youth during preseason, suggesting his Community Shield eleven would have a different look about it. That wasn’t the case, as the Catalan named a strong side including a number of World Cup stars.
Kyle Walker, Sergio Aguero, Bernardo Silva and Fernandinho were amongst the prime starters, with teenager Phil Foden the only fledgling representative from City’s American tour.
Despite qualms about an injury earlier in the week, Riyad Mahrez earned his competitive debut and formed part of a fearsome three-pronged attack spearheaded by the clinical Aguero.
Chelsea’s side included new signing Jorginho, former City stopper Willy Caballero and out-of-favour striker Alvaro Morata.
Manchester City were typically sleek, and garnered momentum from the very beginning. Leroy Sane’s fizzing effort inside two minutes whistled inches past the post, and it set the tone for the remainder of the match.
The Sky Blues continued to create chances and deservedly broke the deadlock courtesy of a flowing move symptomatic of Guardiola’s style. The intrepid Phil Foden roamed into the final third, teed up Aguero and the Argentine drilled home with verve.
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City refused to sit on their slender advantage in the Wembley sunshine, and their command grew stronger as the encounter wore on.
Chelsea struggled to carve out many clear-cut chances and never looked similar to an archetypal Maurizio Sarri side.
Profligacy and some inspired goalkeeping from Caballero kept the score at one, however Aguero doubled the advantage just short of the hour mark.
Having previously struck into the side-netting from a seemingly unmissable position, the forward capped off yet another exquisite move with an unerring strike into the bottom corner.
Brahim Diaz could have added further comfort when he came off the bench but couldn’t find a way past the impressive Caballero.
City saw out the victory with consummate ease, and should head into the season with real impetus after a supreme display.