Chelsea XI vs AC Milan: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for pre-season friendly today | OneFootball

Blues face more Serie A opposition in Jakarta after Juventus defeat

Chelsea face AC Milan in Jakarta this afternoon in the first of back-to-back friendlies on their pre-season tour of Asia.

The bulk of Chelsea’s first-team squad are now back following the World Cup, and Alonso is expected to field a strong team against AC Milan as the new season draws closer. The Blues also face Johor Darul Ta'zim in Malaysia on Sunday.

Robert Sanchez made his return from injury against Juventus. But with young Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders waiting in the wings, it will be interesting to see who Alonso opts for from the start against Milan as both battle for the No1 jersey.

Results in pre-season are often overstated, and while Alonso will have learned a few lessons, there have also been plenty of positives so far.

Chief among those has been the rise of 16-year-old midfielder Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, who impressed on his first senior start against Juventus.

The Sydney-born England youth international was selected ahead of both Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo to partner Moises Caicedo as Alonso put his faith in the Cobham graduate.

Geovany Quenda was another who impressed in an otherwise flat Chelsea performance, with the 19-year-old winger proving he is ready to make an immediate impact following his £40million move from Sporting.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Palestra, Acheampong, Fofana, Hato, Caicedo, Lavia, Palmer, Joao Pedro, Neto, Welbeck

Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Penders, Sarr, Anselmino, Tosin, Subuloye, Essugo, Nicoll-Jazuli, Watson, Walsh, Satpayev, Quenda, Gittens, Estevao, Mudryk, Jackson, Delap

Subs: Ricci, G. Ramos, Diawara, Nkunku, Fofana, Tomori, Athekame, Odogu, Jashari, Bartesaghi, Vladimirov, Pittarella, Gabbia, Saelemakers, Cisse, Musah