Pep Guardiola was left both relieved and pleased as Manchester City overcame Chelsea on Sunday to banish last season's Stamford Bridge demons.
City and the Blues played out a chaotic 4-4 draw in the corresponding fixture last term, but no such issues were present on matchday one of 2024-25 as Guardiola's side kicked off with three points.
Erling Haaland delivered a well-taken opener on his 100th competitive appearance for City, with his 91st goal for the club paving the way for a routine triumph.
Mateo Kovacic put the result beyond all doubt six minutes from time, powering forward before steering an eye-catching finish into the top-left corner against his former club.
With key midfielder Rodri absent after a late return to training and Phil Foden only fit enough to appear from the bench, Guardiola was satisfied to see his team pass their first test of the campaign.
"I didn't expect it. We are away from our best so three points is the good news. The bad news is we have 65 games ahead of us," he told Sky Sports after the full-time whistle.
"We have an advantage, it's our ninth season together so we know each other well. Of course, there are mistakes you have to improve on but we talked, the difference in being champions was our body language, how did we behave?
"It's the bad moments in the season and in the games that define the big teams. For me, it is an honour to be in charge of these guys. I'm so fortunate, I could not say more.
"There is a plan, defensive, offensive. But afterwards, it's how we celebrate the good moments and come back from the bad moments.
"That's what defines these teams and no one talks about it. For a while, we could never win at Stamford Bridge – this is a big step."
Across the last three seasons, Haaland has scored two more Premier League goals in August (13) than Chelsea have managed as a team (11), and four more than rivals Manchester United have scored (nine).
The Norway striker could have had a second after the break if not for a smart Robert Sanchez stop, before his foul on Levi Colwill saw a finish from the impressive Rico Lewis disallowed.
Yet a routine victory was hardly expected for the visitors, considering they started without Rodri, whose influence on Guardiola's team remains seismic.
Prior to this clash, City had lost just six of 102 matches when Rodri had started since the start of the 2022-23 season, as many defeats as they had suffered in 18 games without him.
Guardiola warned records are there to be broken, however, as the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss hailed the influence of Rodri's replacement Kovacic.
"Be careful with statistics with us because we break it," Guardiola told BBC's Match of the Day.
"Rodri is massively important for us so it's important to have Mateo here because he is an experienced player and a great person. He made a good performance."
Rennes 3-0 Lyon: Gouiri shines in rampant home win
Rennes kick-started their Ligue 1 campaign in confident fashion with a 3-0 victory over Lyon at Roazhon Park.
The home side's early dominance was rewarded with a goal, albeit fortuitously when a Benjamin Bourigeaud free-kick deflected in off veteran Nemanja Matic.
They doubled the lead two minutes later as the lively Amine Gouiri capitalised on a wayward pass back from Lyon's new signing Moussa Niakhate before rounding Lucas Perri and slotting into an empty net.
Lyon dominated possession in the second half and looked to have found a way back into the match after Lorenz Assignon bundled over Malick Fofana in the penalty box, but Steve Mandanda superbly saved Georges Mikautadze's spot-kick.
Gouriri was a menace throughout, going close to a second when he struck the crossbar with a deft curling effort, and he helped Rennes add further gloss when he teed up Henrik Meister in injury time.
Conte apologises to fans after Napoli 'melted like snow in the sun' against Verona
Antonio Conte apologised to Napoli's supporters after his side were humbled 3-0 at Verona in Serie A, taking responsibility for Sunday's opening loss.
Conte and Napoli endured a dreadful start to the campaign as Verona scored three goals in the second half, with the 2023 Scudetto champions unable to prevent the hosts from creating a plethora of chances.
Dailon Livramento opened the scoring after 50 minutes before a late double from substitute Daniel Mosquera condemned Conte to a torrid start in his first game back in charge of Napoli.
"We immediately let Verona have a shot at the start of the second half, and in the second instance we went behind," Conte told Sky Sports Italia.
"Then we melted like snow in the sun. What I feel like saying is that we should apologise to the Neapolitan supporters, who follow us with such passion. I am the coach and it is right that I take full responsibility."
Conte acknowledged serious work would be needed to bring Napoli up to the standard he aimed for.
"[It was] a performance that shows we need to work hard in every aspect," the Italian added. "I came to Napoli with lots of enthusiasm, with great desire. If I can help Napoli, I will."
The 55-year-old coach is desperate to seek additional reinforcements before the transfer window closes.
"On the market, one, two, three, four could arrive, as many as the club want to sign," the former Chelsea manager continued. "The problems must be faced head-on, and they are not necessarily easy issues to fix."
That transfer frustration may centre around Victor Osimhen, who appears set to leave Naples, as the striker's exit continues to block Conte from adding to his squad.
"This is a question you should ask the club and not me," Conte said of Osimhen's future. "I see that Osimhen has trained separately. You should ask the club, absolutely not me.
"I said it straight away, I was a spectator on this matter. But beyond a single player, you definitely need to have a different attitude, with more personality, more desire."
Frank denies Toney is close to exit despite missing Brentford's season opener
Thomas Frank revealed that Ivan Toney is not on the verge of leaving Brentford despite his absence from the Bees' squad against Crystal Palace.
Frank left Toney out of his squad for Brentford's Premier League opener on Sunday.
The Dane said that decision was due to transfer speculation concerning the England forward, whose absence was ultimately not felt too keenly as Brentford claimed a 2-1 win.
The 28-year-old has caught the attention of a number of English sides and teams in the Saudi Pro League, but Frank was quick to quash any rumours that suggested he was on the brink of departing.
Asked whether Toney was on the cusp of a move, Frank replied: "No, it’s not close.”
However, Frank still seemed resigned to Toney eventually leaving.
Asked by BBC Radio 5 Live if it was a matter of when and not if Toney left, he said: "Yes, I guess that's fair."
Losing Toney, who has scored 72 goals in 141 appearances for the Bees since joining in 2020, would be a huge blow, but Frank is confident other players can step up.
He said: "I think Ivan is a top player. He has been a top player and one of our best players, if not the best player over a long spell.
"All the top players in the Premier League, one day they will leave the club and someone will have to step up and do well."
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