Sergio Aguero ended dogged resistance from Brighton & Hove Albion as Manchester City started with a 2-0 victory at the Amex Stadium.
In their first Premier League match Chris Hughton’s men withstood waves of pressure until Aguero’s 70th-minute strike and an own goal by Lewis Dunk five minutes later.
City almost opened the scoring when Gabriel Jesus’s 34th-minute header was saved by Mathew Ryan.
When Jesus did score, his effort was disallowed for a handball.
Brighton twice came close through Shane Duffy and Davy Propper, but Aguero made the difference.
De Bruyne dispossessed Dale Stephens and David Silva slipped the striker in to score.
Dunk headed Fernandinho’s cross into his own goal under pressure from Jesus to seal the points.
See: Brighton report | Man City report