Mudryk’s return to action
Mykhailo Mudryk made his return to the pitch for Chelsea during a 1-0 friendly defeat against Juventus in Hong Kong. This marked his first appearance for the club in nearly two years, following a provisional suspension. Mudryk entered the match as a substitute for Nicolas Jackson in the 82nd minute, receiving applause from his teammates and a warm reception from the Chelsea supporters among the 43,575 attendees at Kai Tak Sports Park.
The Ukraine international had not participated in a competitive match since November 2024. His absence was due to a provisional suspension after an “adverse finding” for meldonium, a banned substance. The 25-year-old was subsequently cleared to resume playing after resolving the matter with the Football Association.
Despite a spirited performance on the left side, Mudryk was unable to prevent Juventus from securing the victory. Xabi Alonso, Chelsea‘s manager, expressed his satisfaction with Mudryk’s return, describing it as “emotional” for both the player and the club. Alonso noted that Mudryk was “thrilled” to be back on the pitch after such an extended period away from competitive play.
Match details and key moments
The friendly match saw both teams struggle to create significant scoring opportunities in a largely uneventful first half. Danny Welbeck, making his first appearance in a Chelsea shirt, had an early chance but was unable to direct his header on target. Mike Penders, Geovany Quenda, and Welbeck were among those making their initial outings for Chelsea in the match.
Early in the second half, a long pass from Moisés Caicedo set up new signing Marco Palestra, whose shot was saved by Mattia Perin. Juventus eventually broke the deadlock in the 68th minute when Kenan Yildiz set up Edon Zhegrova, who scored with a strike from outside the box.
Chelsea made numerous substitutions throughout the game, which Alonso acknowledged affected the control and stability of the match. He stated that the team started well, maintaining good control and creating chances in the first 30 to 35 minutes. Despite the changes and the push for an equaliser, Chelsea could not find a way to level the score. Late opportunities for Estevao Willian and Romeo Lavia did not result in a goal.
The starting lineup for Chelsea featured several new faces and returning players. Robert Sanchez returned from injury in goal, protected by a back four consisting of Marco Palestra, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabiyo, and Jorrel Hato. Moises Caicedo captained the side and played in midfield alongside 16-year-old Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli. The attack included Quenda, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, and Welbeck.
Quenda was a notable presence on the right wing, combining effectively with Palestra. He created one of Chelsea‘s early chances with a cross that Joao Pedro headed wide, and later had a shot from the edge of the box go over. Juventus‘ primary threat came from counter-attacks, with Fabio Miretti and Jeremie Boga testing Sanchez in the first half.
At halftime, Alonso made four changes: Penders replaced Sanchez, Mamdou Sarr came on for Tosin, Estevao for Quenda, and Nicolas Jackson for Welbeck. Jackson was immediately involved, setting up Palestra, whose attempt was blocked. Palestra later forced a save from Perin after receiving a pass from Caicedo.
Further substitutions were made around the hour mark, with Josh Acheampong, Tayo Subuloye, Aaron Anselmino, Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia, Dastan Satpayev, and Liam Delap entering the game. These changes saw Palestra, Fofana, Hato, Caicedo, Nicoll-Jazuli, Gittens, and Joao Pedro replaced.
In the closing stages, Estevao had a free-kick saved by Perin, and Anselmino also forced a save. The final action of the game saw Lavia curl a shot over the crossbar from 20 yards out, confirming the defeat for Chelsea.
Upcoming fixtures and other preseason action
Chelsea‘s preseason tour continues with a match against Milan in Jakarta on Saturday. The team will then conclude their preseason schedule with games against Malaysia‘s Johor Darul Ta’zim and Spain‘s Real Sociedad.
In other preseason news, Christopher Nkunku converted a late penalty to secure a draw for Milan against Inter in a derby match held in Perth. This game was Milan‘s first since the passing of Franco Baresi, a former captain of the club. A minute of silence was observed before the match, with players from both teams linking arms in tribute. Inter had initially taken the lead through Federico Dimarco‘s strike in the 52nd minute before Nkunku‘s penalty in the 83rd minute, following a foul by Carlos Augusto, equalised the contest.
Source: theguardian.com
Adam Rutherford is a Senior Football Correspondent at News-UK. He spent his early career filing match reports across the North West. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Manchester Metropolitan University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Manchester, he coaches a youth team and watches grassroots football. “Every transfer window hides a dozen real stories.”
