London: After winning their final eight games of last year, Manchester City were held to a second successive stalemate of 2026 in a dramatic 1-1 draw with Chelsea, who have now drawn seven of their last 10 opening matches of a calendar year, APA reports.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the game began with Chelsea under the interim guidance of Calum McFarlane, following the unexpected departure of their manager Enzo Maresca. McFarlane’s cautious approach seemed to stifle City’s early advances, allowing Chelsea to create the first opportunity when Estevao’s attempt was blocked by Josko Gvardiol.
Manchester City gradually found their rhythm, with Phil Foden missing two chances and Bernardo Silva shooting over the bar from a promising position. Erling Haaland, relatively quiet in the first half, nearly broke the deadlock with a left-footed strike that hit the post, serving as a turning point in the match.
Shortly thereafter, Tijjani Reijnders capitalized on City’s momentum by finding space and sending a powerful shot into the roof of the net, giving City the lead. However, Chelsea responded in the latter stages, with a late goal from Fernandez leveling the score and preventing City from securing a win.