It was an early season high in more ways than one, as the soaring South Stand witnessed City take an early five-point advantage over last season’s champions and resume their position as early table toppers.
Sergio Aguero, sporting his new number 10 shirt, delivered the first telling blow in a clash of two genuine Premier League heavyweights, brilliantly finding space to finish just after the half hour mark.
From then on the action intensified, the atmosphere bubbled, before boiling over when skipper Vincent Kompany headed home City’s second with 10 minutes remaining.
Fernandinho slammed in the third to send the home fans into dreamland, and although the title race is just two games old, City fans could not have envisaged a better start.
The new South Stand was unveiled just prior to kick-off, unleashing a torrent of noise tumbling down onto the pitch.
From that moment the volume levels barely subsided.
Within 30 seconds Aguero, in the side as a replacement for Wilfried Bony, had a gilt edged change after David Silva had put him through, but he shot too close to Asmir Begovic when through one-on-one and the keeper saved with his legs.
Both sides had pace to burn on the break, with Willian a lively outlet for Chelsea and Raheem Sterling and Jesus Navas speeding down their flanks at every opportunity.
It was beginning to feel like “one of those days” when Begovic denied Aguero twice more in quick succession.
First the Argentinian’s snap shot on the turn was denied by a razor sharp stop by the Bosnian low to his left.
Moments later Begovic repeated the trick after Aguero had been set up by Navas. Aguero nodded his head and even high-fived the keeper in a mutual show of appreciation between the two.
Navas was having a fine game for City and midway through the half he showcased silky skills to evade Chelsea’s midfield before Yaya Toure backed him up with a bulldozing run.
That charge came to nothing, but soon after Aguero had his fourth chance. Aleks Kolarov whipped in a cross from the left and although the striker made contact, his close range volley dragged wide.
Chelsea started to grow into the game with Willian, Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas beginning to link the play.
But just when fans feared City’s early profligacy was going to come back to haunt them, Aguero struck.
Silva prodded the ball in to him just inside the box, but at that point a clutch of Chelsea defenders meant little looked on. Aguero outwitted them all, exchanging passes with Toure before turning sharply and passing a precision shot just inside the post.
There was still time for more City chances before the break, with Sterling shooting over and Mangala heading just wide when he only had Begovic to beat from Kolarov’s free-kick.
City were straight on the attack after the break, with Kolarov whipping two more balls in from the left, the second of which had to be scrambled clear by half-time substitute Kurt Zouma, who had replaced John Terry.
Chelsea then had the ball in the net, only for Ramires’ effort to be ruled out for offside, as the play became broken because of a number of fouls.
If anything, that played into Chelsea’s hands but City’s defence stood strong in the face of intense physical challenge, with Kolarov in particular standing tall.
The game recovered its flow past the hour mark with Yaya Toure lashing a shot at Begovic, who collected the ball in front of stalking striker Aguero.
Play switched down the other end and a brilliant sliding tackle from Sagna ended Hazard’s counter, before Aguero’s left-footed shot slid wide.
The pace of play was unrelenting – intensifying if anything – and Joe Hart was called into action to stop Hazard’s powerful shot after another Chelsea break.
On 80 minutes and with the game still on a knife edge, skipper Kompany took matters into his own hands.
Just as he did against West Brom, the centre back ran to the near post and headed David Silva’s corner in at the far.
A party atmosphere swept around the ground, and Fernandinho cranked up the volume even further when, after the ball broke to him on the edge of the box, he slammed the ball past Begovic and just inside the far post.
It was the crowning moment to a near faultless performance; it’s early days in the 15/16 season, but the bar has been set high.
