Manchester City began its Premier League title defence with a hard-earned 2-0 win over Newcastle United at St. James Park.
The champions created the better chances in the opening half but Newcastle keeper Tim Krul kept out efforts by Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri.
The Magpies’ resistance was broken after 38 minutes when a long pass from Yaya Toure was brought down by Dzeko, who then laid the ball for David Silva to put City ahead.
Newcastle clawed back into the encounter in search of an equaliser but debutant Ayoze Perez shot the home side’s best chance just wide.
Moussa Sissoko then shot over the City goal from just inside the area in the 90th minute following good work by Ayoze and fellow debutant Remy Cabella.
That missed chance got punished seconds later when substitute Sergio Agüero sealed the result on the second attempt after Krul had pushed away the Argentine striker’s initial effort.
The win puts City top of the league on goal difference ahead of the final match of the opening Premier League weekend between Chelsea and Burnley on Monday night.