Chelsea failed to ramp up their pre-season preparations as Xabi Alonso’s side suffered a 1-0 defeat to Juventus in Hong Kong thanks to Edon Zhegrova’s stunning second-half strike.
The substitute sparked the game into life with the only moment of notable quality when he latched onto Kenan Yildiz’s lay-off before curling his first-time effort into the top left corner.
Chelsea, operating in the back four that Xabi Alonso has favoured in preparation for the 2026/27 campaign, lacked any real threat throughout and their best chance of the game came from Marco Palestra, who was denied by Michele Di Gregorio after racing into the box.
Palestra had shown promise with Geovany Quenda, making his debut alongside fellow new signing Danny Welbeck in the starting line-up, down the right, but creating in the final third was a stumbling block again for the Blues.
Who featured for Chelsea?
Starting line-up: Sanchez, Palestra, Fofana, Tosin, Hato, Caicedo, Nicoli-Jazuli, Quenda, Joao Pedro, Gittens, Welbeck.
Off the bench: Penders, Estevao, Jackson, Sarr, Satpaev, Acheampong, Delap, Anselmino, Essugo, Subuloye, Lavia, Mudryk.
They failed to create any clear goal-scoring opportunities but will point to the absences of Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer – who missed out with a minor injury – and Enzo Fernandez in the starting line-up.
Welbeck shared the striker duties with Joao Pedro in his first start for his new club and it was the former who combined with Quenda for the only chance before the break, but his header went wide.
Mykhailo Mudryk also made his first appearance since November 2024 after his anti-doping proceedings were resolved but his introduction with just under 10 minutes ago could not stop Chelsea suffering consecutive defeats in pre-season.
Edon Zhegrova curled the winner in for Juventus against Chelsea
The key moments in Hong Kong…
- 21: CHANCE! Welbeck header flies wide after latching onto Quenda cross
- 37: NERVY! Sanchez makes unconvincing claim for a cross but Chelsea survive
- 42: SAVE! Sanchez gets down well to stop Boga’s well-hit effort
- 51: CHANCE! Palestra races through on goal but is denied
- 68: WHAT A HIT! Zhegrova curls stunner in to break deadlock
- 82: MUDRYK RETURNS! Forward comes on for first appearance since November 2024
Chelsea pre-season so far
July 28: Chelsea 6-4 Western Sydney Wanderers – Sydney
August 1: Chelsea 1-2 Tottenham, Sydney
August 5: Chelsea 0-1 Juventus, Hong Kong
August 8: Chelsea vs AC Milan – Jakarta, 1pm
August 9: Johor Darul Ta’zim vs Chelsea – Johor, 1pm
August 15: Chelsea vs Real Sociedad – Stamford Bridge, 2pm