Chelsea ended their Hong Kong stay with a narrow 1-0 defeat by Juventus, but Mykhailo Mudryk’s long-awaited return provided Xabi Alonso with one major positive.
Edon Zhegrova settled a tight contest with a fine second-half winner as Chelsea suffered back-to-back pre-season defeats following last weekend’s loss to Tottenham.
Alonso was already without two of his most important players. Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill were both left out as a precaution after minor fitness concerns, with ReadChelsea explaining their absences before kick-off.
That gave others an opportunity.
Danny Welbeck was handed his Chelsea debut, while 16-year-old Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli made his first start as Alonso continued to spread minutes across a squad still building towards the Premier League opener.
Neither side found much space during a cagey first half.
Chelsea enjoyed spells of control but struggled to turn possession into clear chances, while Juventus carried enough threat on the break to keep Alonso’s defence alert.
The visitors eventually found the moment of quality the game had been missing.
Zhegrova punishes Chelsea after the break
Zhegrova broke the deadlock in the second half with a superb left-footed strike, cutting inside before bending his effort beyond the goalkeeper and into the top corner.
It was a goal worthy of deciding a game which had otherwise been short on clear openings.
Chelsea pushed for a response, but Juventus defended their lead well and denied Alonso’s side the space they needed around the penalty area.
The Evening Standard’s live match coverage tracked Chelsea’s attempts to find an equaliser as Alonso continued to make changes and manage his players’ workloads.
The most significant substitution came late on.
Mudryk was introduced from the bench to make his first Chelsea appearance since November 2024 following his lengthy absence.
The winger immediately looked eager to get involved, offering Chelsea pace down the left and making several direct runs as Juventus dropped deeper to protect their advantage.
Chelsea were unable to find a way through before the final whistle, leaving Alonso with a second successive defeat to assess as preparations for the new season continue.
Pre-season results will matter far less to the Spaniard than fitness and understanding, but Chelsea will still want greater sharpness in the final third when competitive football begins.
Mudryk’s return, Welbeck’s debut and another opportunity for Nicoll-Jazuli at least gave Alonso something positive to take from an otherwise frustrating evening in Hong Kong.
