Reigning Club World Cup champions Chelsea will conclude their brief but successful pre-season schedule on Sunday when they host Italian giants AC Milan at Stamford Bridge in their final warm-up game.
Expectations are increasing in West London. After their triumph in the USA, the Blues looked sharp in a convincing 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen on Friday, a match that was highlighted by a stunning debut goal from Brazilian wonderkid Estêvão.
Despite the short turnaround between games, manager Enzo Maresca could still field a strong side for at least the first half to build rhythm. New signings like Dutch defender Jorrel Hato and English winger Jamie Gittens are expected to feature once again. The major absentee for the Blues remains key defender Levi Colwill, who is out long-term with an ACL injury.
AC Milan, on the other hand, face a monumental physical task. They are playing their second friendly in as many days after playing out a 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Saturday in a quick turnaround. Manager Massimiliano Allegri will be forced to rotate his squad heavily. They will also be without star winger Christian Pulisic, who misses out on an emotional return to his former club through injury.
Predicted Lineups
- Chelsea Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; James, Chalobah, Hato, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Neto, Palmer, Gittens; Pedro.
- AC Milan Predicted Lineado (3-4-2-1): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Ricci, Modric, Dutu; Sa, Gimenez.
Score Prediction Chelsea enter this game as the overwhelming favourites. They are in excellent form, brimming with confidence after their recent trophy win, and have the home advantage. In stark contrast, AC Milan will be heavily fatigued from their grueling schedule and are missing key players. The Blues should secure a comfortable win to end their pre-season on a high.
Prediction: Chelsea 2–0 AC Milan