Chelsea vs Juventus: Pre-season Clash Preview, Team Updates, and Lineups

After a tough London derby loss in Australia, Chelsea will continue their pre-season journey in Hong Kong this Wednesday, taking on Italian giants Juventus at Kai Tak Sports Park. The Blues are coming off a defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, while Juventus secured a win against Nice in a quieter friendly.

Season Preparations and Recent Form

This summer has been a period of transition for Chelsea under new manager Xabi Alonso. The coach has focused on blending experience into the youngest squad in the Premier League through various friendlies aimed at building fitness and team cohesion. Veteran forward Danny Welbeck has joined the squad, with 36-year-old Jordan Henderson expected soon. Other recent additions include Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix.

Brazilian youngster Estevao scored in Chelsea's recent Sydney Cup loss to Spurs, following an exciting 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers. Chelsea plans to be fully ready for their league opener against Fulham on August 22, but first they must navigate a busy East Asian tour featuring matches against Juventus, AC Milan in Indonesia, and Johor Darul Ta'zim in Malaysia within eight days.

When these teams last met in 2021 during the Champions League group stage, Chelsea triumphed 4-0 at Stamford Bridge. Juventus had previously won two of three meetings between the clubs. Both teams will miss out on Europe’s top competition this season, as Chelsea struggled last year and Juventus narrowly missed a Champions League spot, ending up in the Europa League instead.

Juventus, coached by interim manager Luciano Spalletti, have started pre-season well with victories over Standard Liege and Nice, plus a goalless draw with Basel. Their former Chelsea target Dusan Vlahovic left after his contract expired, so Milik is expected to spearhead their attack. New signings include Randal Kolo Muani and Bosnian talent Kerim Alajbegovic, along with right-back Zeki Celik from Roma. Some key players like Jeff Ekhator and Khephren Thuram remain sidelined due to injuries.

Team News and Possible Lineups

Chelsea recently welcomed back Mykhaylo Mudryk from suspension, adding him to the squad that includes Welbeck, Pedro Neto, and Geovany Quenda. Goalkeeper Mike Penders could challenge Robert Sanchez for the starting spot, while Teddy Sharman-Lowe might serve as backup. Moises Caicedo and Nicolas Jackson missed the Spurs game but could return here; meanwhile, Enzo Fernandez, Lacroix, and Rogers are not yet match fit. Liam Delap appears likely to depart, leaving Kazakh prospect Dastan Satpaev and Joao Pedro—who scored a hat-trick against Western Sydney—as potential starters upfront.

For Juventus, the absence of Vlahovic marks a change, but Arkadiusz Milik is back to lead the frontline. Spalletti’s squad boasts fresh reinforcements including Kolo Muani, Alajbegovic, and Celik, though injuries to Ekhator and Thuram affect midfield and attacking options.

• Chelsea possible lineup: Sanchez; Palestra, Acheampong, Colwill, Hato; Lavia, Caicedo; Estevao, Palmer, Neto; Pedro
• Juventus possible lineup: Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Gatti, Kelly; Celik, Locatelli, Luiz, Cambiaso; Zhegrova, Boga; Milik

Prediction

With more key players available than in previous friendlies, Chelsea is expected to field a stronger side and likely secure a victory against a Juventus squad still finding its footing. Juve's struggles in recent years contrast with Chelsea's efforts to stabilize under Alonso's guidance.

Predicted score: Chelsea 3-1 Juventus