Sergio Aguero double helps Manchester City sweep Chelsea aside

Manchester City picked up where they left off last season, claiming a comprehensive 2-0 win over a disjointed Chelsea side in the Community Shield.

Sergio Aguero bagged a brace as Pep Guardiola’s side won the traditional English football season curtain raiser, with Maurizio Sarri given plenty to think about with the start of the 2018-19 Premier League campaign just one week away.

The Premier League champions dominated throughout, with Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Benjamin Mendy all impressive. Callum Hudson-Odoi looked most dangerous for Chelsea, but the Blues missed N’Golo Kante in midfield and struggled to create opportunities in the final third of the pitch.

Some big names, including Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, David Silva, Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard, were missing as they continue their recovery following the World Cup, but nonetheless, City put down a marker with their performance.

Does Maurizio Sarri have the players he needs? We were told to expect ‘Sarri-ball,’ that Chelsea’s new Italian coach would bring a brand of exciting, dynamic football to the Premier League. However, on this basis there’s a long way to go. Sarri was only appointed a few weeks ago and with the transfer window closing on Thursday it seems that he will be denied the players he needs to carry out his ideas.

Bernardo Silva (Manchester City). There were a number of standout performers for City this afternoon, with Aguero and Foden impressive, but Bernardo was the best player on the pitch throughout. Foden created the first goal for Aguero and Bernardo created the second one, making the most of the space Chelsea left in front of their back four. It might have been a different story had Kante been available, but Bernardo tore Chelsea to shreds.

Chelsea: Caballero 6, Azpilicueta 5, Rudiger 5, Luiz 5, Alonso 5, Jorginho 5, Fabregas 5, Barkley 6, Pedro 5, Hudson-Odoi 7, Morata 5. Subs: Willian 5, Drinkwater 5, Abraham 5, Moses.

Manchester City: Bravo 4, Walker 7, Stones 6, Laporte 6, Mendy 7, Sane 6, Bernardo 8, Fernandinho 6, Mahrez 7, Foden 7, Aguero 8. Subs: Gundogan 5, Jesus 6, Diaz 7, Kompany 5, Otamendi 5, Gomes.

13’ - GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 City. Aguero scores - The opener goes the way of the Premier League champions. Foden ran with the ball at his feet all the way to the edge of the Chelsea penalty box, passing to Aguero, who dragged the ball on to his left foot and found the bottom corner of the net with a low finish.

24’ - CHANCE FOR SANE! A loose pass from Jorginho allows Aguero to nip in and play the pass out to Sane, who had space to run into. His touch was too strong, though, and Caballero comes off his line to smother.

45’ - ALMOST A BRAVO BLUNDER! We’ve seen that before. Bravo completely misjudges the bounce of a long ball over the top, very nearly allowing Morata through on goal. He retrieves the ball before it goes out, though.

50’ - SHOULD HAVE SCORED! Big, big chance for Aguero! He was played clean in by Foden, he had all the time in the world and decided to round Caballero, but from a tight angle he hits the side netting.

58’ - GOAL! Chelsea 0-2 City. Aguero again - It’s another for Man City and it’s another for Aguero! Great little ball from Bernardo on the edge of the box to release the Argentinean striker in behind the Chelsea defence and he made no mistake with a first-time finish on the swivel.

74’ - AGUERO WAS FREE! That might have been the hat-trick for Aguero. Chelsea left him free at the back post, but Caballero managed to make the save from the striker’s volleyed effort.

90+3’ - HOW DIDN’T THAT GO IN? Looked for all the world to be a third City goal. Bernardo looked to have an open net to aim for, but Rudiger managed to deflect the strike wide. That should have been a third.

By scoring twice, Sergio Aguero became the first player to score 200 goals in Manchester City’s history.

2010 (Manchester United) was the last time the Community Shield winners went on to win the Premier League title that season.

This is the first time in fives years that the Premier League winners, rather than the FA Cup winners, have won the Community Shield.