Chelsea lose 1-0 to Juventus in Hong Kong friendly

Chelsea's preseason preparations were dealt a second consecutive blow with a 1-0 defeat to Juventus in a friendly in Hong Kong on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. The result follows a 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, August 1, raising questions about the team's readiness less than a week before their next scheduled friendly.

The match's only goal came in the 68th minute from Juventus forward Edon Zhegrova, who curled a long-range effort into the top corner. Chelsea controlled 57 percent of possession and matched Juventus with nine total shots, but managed only two on target compared to the Italian side's four. The defeat extended Juventus' strong preseason run, marking their third straight win without conceding a goal.

For Chelsea, the match featured the long-awaited return of winger Mykhailo Mudryk, who entered as an 82nd-minute substitute. Mudryk had been sidelined for 20 months following a provisional suspension related to an anti-doping case, which has now been resolved with the Football Association. New signing Danny Welbeck, who joined from Brighton last week, also made his first appearance for the club, starting the match before being substituted at halftime as part...