Chelsea continue their Asian pre-season tour with a friendly against AC Milan at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Saturday, a historic first meeting between the two clubs on Indonesian soil. The Blues head into the match on the back of consecutive defeats, while Milan remain winless through their own opening friendlies.
Xabi Alonso's start at Chelsea has been mixed at best. A 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers exposed defensive issues that resurfaced in a 2-1 loss to Tottenham and a 1-0 defeat to Juventus in Hong Kong. With 16 days until the Premier League opener at Fulham, the manager will want a marked improvement before the tour concludes against Johor Darul Ta'zim and Real Sociedad.
Milan are similarly adjusting under Ruben Amorim, who replaced Massimiliano Allegri after a fifth-place finish last season. His opening two friendlies produced draws against Celtic and city rivals Inter, having trailed by two at half-time against the former. A first win of pre-season would be a welcome boost before facing Manchester United, Amorim's former club.
Chelsea vs AC Milan: Key Stats
Chelsea have lost just 2 of their last 13 meetings with Milan, 8 wins and 3 draws
Chelsea beat Milan 4-1 in their most recent friendly meeting last August
Chelsea have lost their last 2 pre-season matches, to Tottenham and Juventus
Milan are winless in their opening 2 friendlies, drawing both
Milan have won just 2 of their last 14 meetings with English sides since 2012
Photo Credit (Getty Images)
What to Expect
Chelsea's squad remains short of several key figures. Lacroix, Enzo Fernandez, Gusto, Rogers and Reece James have yet to report for pre-season following their World Cup involvement. Palmer and Colwill missed the Juventus game with minor issues but are hopeful of being available. New signing Danny Welbeck made his debut in Hong Kong and should feature again, likely from the bench.
Alonso continues to assess his goalkeeping options, with Robert Sanchez and Mike Penders both in contention for the number one shirt next season. Mudryk returned from his doping ban with a substitute appearance against Juventus, offering a boost to the squad's attacking depth.
Milan will be missing only Maignan among their World Cup contingent, with Lorenzo Torriani continuing in goal. Christopher Nkunku faces his former club for the first time since leaving last summer, while Tomori and Loftus-Cheek should feature against familiar opposition. Goncalo Ramos, who debuted off the bench against Inter, could be handed a first start, and Rafael Leao and Luka Modric may see their first minutes of the tour after returning post-World Cup.
Predicted Lineups
Chelsea (4-2-3-1)
Penders; Palestra, Colwill, Acheampong, James; Caicedo, Lavia; Estevao, Palmer, Gittens; Pedro
AC Milan (4-2-3-1)
Torriani; Terracciano, Gabbia, Tomori, Estupinan; Fofana, Jashari; Saelemaekers, Nkunku, Chukwueze; Ramos
Players to Watch
Cole Palmer - Expected to return after missing the Juventus game and remains the creative focal point of Alonso's side when fit. His presence alone lifts the quality of Chelsea's final third.
Christopher Nkunku - Returns to face his old club for the first time and will be eager to make a mark in front of Chelsea supporters who remember him fondly. His movement between the lines suits Milan's approach under Amorim.
Estevao - Continues to be one of Chelsea's most exciting attacking options and offers directness that has been lacking in defeats to Tottenham and Juventus. He remains a genuine threat against most Serie A defences.
Goncalo Ramos - Could earn his first start for Milan after impressing off the bench against Inter. A strong performance would further embed him as Amorim's first-choice striker heading into the season.
Prediction
Prediction: Chelsea to win and both teams to score @ 2.60
Chelsea's head-to-head record against Milan is strong, having lost just twice in 13 meetings and won comfortably when the sides met last August. Despite recent defeats, the underlying quality in Alonso's squad should be enough to end the losing run against opposition Chelsea have historically handled well.
Milan's own defensive uncertainty, evident in draws against Celtic and Inter after conceding first in both, suggests further goals are likely. With key attacking players returning for both sides and neither defence fully settled, an open contest with goals at both ends looks the most probable outcome, with Chelsea's historical edge in this fixture tipping the balance.
