Chelsea and Juventus face off at the Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong on Wednesday as Xabi Alonso’s men look to bounce back after their defeat against Spurs in their last friendly.
Chelsea vs Juventus – Match preview and team news
- Date: Wednesday, 5th August.
- Kick-off: 12:30pm BST.
- Venue: Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong.
Chelsea team news
Chelsea’s squad depth has significantly expanded for the Asian leg of their pre-season tour, with manager Xabi Alonso integrating crucial senior players who had extended leave following the World Cup.
Winger Mykhailo Mudryk is available for selection and expected to see minutes after his 21-month doping ban was officially rescinded, though Alonso confirmed he will not play the full 90 minutes.
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez returns to the matchday squad after missing the Tottenham clash due to a minor knock, facing fresh competition from new signing Mike Penders.
Meanwhile, Moises Caicedo and Nicolas Jackson joined the squad late but are fully expected to feature. Pedro Neto, Geovany Quenda, Gaga Slonina, and veteran striker Danny Welbeck have all integrated into the travelling group.
However, Jordan Henderson remains on mandatory rest after breaking his arm at the World Cup, while Enzo Fernandez, Maxence Lacroix, and Morgan Rogers are not yet ready.
Juventus team news
Juventus are testing out fresh tactical dynamics under Luciano Spalletti following several major roster changes this summer.
Forward Randal Kolo Muani has rejoined the squad and is traveling with the 31-man pre-season roster. New signings, including teenage Bosnian talent Kerim Alajbegovic, right-back Zeki Celik, and winger Justin Oboavwoduo, are deeply integrated into the squad and pushing for minutes.
In attack, following Dusan Vlahovic’s departure after his contract expired, a fully fit Arkadiusz Milik is expected to lead the line.
On the injury front, key midfielder Khéphren Thuram remains sidelined with ongoing knee issues, while young forward Jeff Ekhator is out for approximately three weeks due to a muscular injury.
Furthermore, stars Kenan Yıldız and Weston McKennie are travelling with the group but are still waiting to build up their match fitness before making their first summer appearances.
Form
Chelsea
Chelsea enter this match seeking consistency under manager Xabi Alonso after a mixed pre-season campaign. They kicked off their summer tour with a high-scoring 6-4 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers. However, they suffered their first defeat under Alonso’s tenure last weekend, dropping a close 2-1 result against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney. Alonso is prioritizing fitness as his squad slowly welcomes back core international stars.
Juventus
Juventus are in excellent form under Luciano Spalletti, maintaining an unbeaten record throughout their pre-season preparations. They have displayed stellar defensive discipline, keeping three consecutive clean sheets. Their summer matches began with a 0-0 draw against FC Basel, followed by a tight 1-0 victory over Standard Liège. Most recently, they secured a confident 2-0 win against French side OGC Nice, demonstrating strong tactical progression.
Predicted lineups
Chelsea: Sanchez; Palestra, Acheampong, Colwill, Hato; Lavia, Caicedo; Estevão, Palmer, Neto; Pedro
Juventus: Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Gatti, Kelly; Celik, Locatelli, Luiz, Cambiaso; Zhegrova, Boga; Milik
How to watch Chelsea vs Juventus?
You can watch the entire match live online through Chelsea’s official streaming platform, CFC+.