JuventusTeam·Juventus emerged victorious in a pre-season friendly against ChelseaTeam·Chelsea, securing a 1-0 win in Hong KongVenue·Hong Kong as both clubs continued their preparations for the upcoming 2026/27 season. The decisive moment arrived courtesy of Edon ZhegrovaPlayer·Edon Zhegrova, whose solitary goal separated the two European giants.
The fixture provided an early look at ChelseaTeam·Chelsea's new acquisitions, with Danny WelbeckPlayer·Danny Welbeck and Geovany QuendaPlayer·Geovany Quenda making their debuts for the London club. Notably, Mykhailo Mudryk also returned to the pitch for the first time since November 2024, following the resolution of his anti-doping proceedings. Xabi AlonsoCoach·Xabi Alonso oversaw ChelseaTeam·Chelsea's performance for this friendly encounter, offering insights into the squad's early tactical adjustments.
This pre-season clash follows a challenging 2025/26 campaign for ChelseaTeam·Chelsea, who finished 10th in the Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League with 52 points, recording 14 wins, 10 draws, and 14 losses. Their season also saw them reach the FA CupCompetition·FA Cup final, where they were defeated by Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City, and the semi-finals of the EFL CupCompetition·EFL Cup, losing to ArsenalTeam·Arsenal. The club also marked a return to the UEFA Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League for the first time since the 2022/23 season, though their journey concluded in the Round of 16 against Paris Saint-GermainTeam·Paris Saint-Germain. The 2025/26 season also featured a series of managerial changes for ChelseaTeam·Chelsea, with Enzo Maresca at the helm until January 1, 2026, followed by Liam RoseniorCoach·Liam Rosenior from January 8 to April 22, 2026, and then Calum McFarlane from April 22, 2026.
JuventusTeam·Juventus, meanwhile, concluded their 2025/26 Serie ACompetition·Serie A season in 6th position, accumulating 69 points from 19 wins, 12 draws, and 7 losses. This league finish would typically secure them a spot in the UEFA Europa LeagueCompetition·Europa League for the forthcoming season. InterTeam·Inter claimed the Serie ACompetition·Serie A title for the 2025/26 campaign.
The friendly in Hong KongVenue·Hong Kong serves as a crucial step for both clubs in building match fitness and integrating new strategies ahead of the competitive fixtures of the 2026/27 season, offering valuable minutes to key players and new faces alike.
Juventus' Edon Zhegrova with his Player of the Match trophy after their 1-0 win over Chelsea. Nexpher Images/IMAGO
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