Pre-season action in Hong Kong
Chelsea faced Juventus in a pre-season match in Hong Kong, concluding with a narrow defeat for the London club. The game featured several new players making their first appearances in blue, including Mike Penders and Geovany Quenda. Additionally, Mykhailo Mudryk returned to action during the fixture.
Quenda was part of the starting lineup in Hong Kong and showed sharpness in the initial 45 minutes. However, scoring opportunities were limited for both sides, leading to a goalless first half.
Second half developments
In the second period, following several substitutions made by Xabi Alonso, Juventus winger Edon Zhegrova scored with a left-footed strike, beating Penders, who had entered the game at half-time. Chelsea pressed for an equaliser in the remaining time, with Mudryk playing the final eight minutes, but they were unable to level the score despite late chances from Estevao Willian and Romeo Lavia.
Alonso included two summer arrivals in his starting XI. Robert Sanchez returned from injury in goal, protected by a defensive line comprising Marco Palestra, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabiyo, and Jorrel Hato. Moises Caicedo, making his first pre-season appearance, captained the side, playing in midfield alongside 16-year-old Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli. The attack featured Quenda, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, and Danny Welbeck.
Early in the match, chances were scarce. An initial shot from Andrea Cambiaso was blocked by Tosin, and midfielder Manuel Locatelli sent an effort wide from a distance. Quenda was a dynamic presence on his first start, combining effectively with Palestra on the Chelsea right flank. He created the first notable scoring opportunity for Chelsea with a cross that Joao Pedro headed wide, before sending another shot over the bar from the edge of the box.
Juventus’s primary threat came from counter-attacks, as the Italian side maintained a deep defensive posture when Chelsea had possession. Fabio Miretti caused a moment of concern for Chelsea with an attempt from a Cambiaso cross, but Sanchez managed the situation. Welbeck connected well with his new teammates, and Quenda posed a threat moving in from the right. The 19-year-old found space for a shot, which was blocked by a Juventus defender.
As the first half concluded, Sanchez was tested when Jeremie Boga, a product of the Chelsea Academy, had room to shoot. Sanchez made a save to his left, and Arkadiusz Milik then fired wide for the Serie A side.
Substitutions and upcoming fixtures
Alonso made four changes at half-time. Penders replaced Sanchez, Mamdou Sarr came on for Tosin, Estevao was introduced for Quenda, and Nicolas Jackson substituted Welbeck. Jackson immediately impacted the game, making a run and delivering a pass to Palestra, whose shot was blocked. The Italian then forced a save from Mattia Perin, who reacted well to deny an attempt after an excellent pass from Caicedo.
Shortly after the hour mark, Alonso introduced more players from the bench, including Josh Acheampong, Tayo Subuloye, Aaron Anselmino, Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia, Dastan Satpayev, and Liam Delap. These substitutions saw Palestra, Fofana, Hato, Caicedo, Nicoll-Jazuli, Gittens, and Joao Pedro depart the field.
The deadlock was broken by Juventus shortly after the restart. Zhegrova received the ball at the edge of the Chelsea penalty area and delivered a strike into the top corner. As the newly introduced players settled, Chelsea began to control possession, but Juventus maintained strong defensive play. Chelsea’s threat increased in the final ten minutes, marked by the return of Mudryk, who replaced Jackson. This was the Ukraine international’s first appearance for the Blues since November 2024.
Alonso’s team continued to push for an equaliser. Estevao sent a free-kick into the arms of Perin, and Anselmino also forced a save from the goalkeeper. The final significant action of the game saw Chelsea possession culminate in a pass to Lavia 20 yards from goal. The Belgian curled a shot towards the top corner, but it went over the crossbar, confirming Chelsea’s defeat.
Chelsea’s next pre-season match will be against AC Milan at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Saturday.
Source: chelseafc.com
