Maresca vs Guardiola: Chelsea face Man City test on EPL Matchday one
Chelsea’s new manager Enzo Maresca will have a challenging start to his tenure with an opening match against Manchester City.
The game, scheduled for Sunday, August 18, at Stamford Bridge, marks a reunion with Maresca’s former boss Pep Guardiola, under whom he served as assistant coach at City.
The Blues will begin their campaign with a new manager for the third consecutive season, following the departure of Mauricio Pochettino after a sixth-place finish.
Maresca arrives at Chelsea after leading Leicester City to the Championship title, securing their immediate return to the Premier League.
Maresca worked with Pep Guardiola at City – Getty image
Chelsea’s opening fixtures provide a mixed bag, starting with the tough clash against City.
However, the club has a strong record in season openers, with 20 wins out of 32 since the Premier League’s inception in 1992, losing only five times—the last being in 2019 against Manchester United.
Following the opener, Chelsea will face Wolverhampton, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, and West Ham United, a series of matches that will test Maresca’s new-look squad early on.
Here are Chelsea’s first five fixtures of the 2024/25 Premier League season:
18/08/2024: Chelsea v Manchester City
24/08/2024: Wolverhampton v Chelsea
31/08/2024: Chelsea v Crystal Palace
14/09/2024: A.F.C. Bournemouth v Chelsea
21/09/2024: West Ham United v Chelsea
