Chelsea face AC Milan in Jakarta on Saturday August 8, 2026, during their pre-season tour of Asia.
Pre-Season Momentum and Defensive Struggles Under Xabi Alonso
Chelsea arrive in Jakarta for their Saturday fixture looking to recover stability following two consecutive defeats on their tour of Asia. The Blues opened their preparations with three straight victories against Crawley, Bromley, and Western Sydney Wanderers, but subsequently stumbled. They suffered a 1-0 defeat against Juventus at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, sealed by a stunning second-half strike from Kosovo winger Edon Zhegrova. Prior to that encounter, Chelsea were stunned in the final seconds by 10-man rivals Tottenham in Australia.
Manager Xabi Alonso has faced defensive challenges since taking charge, though he points out that an unsettled backline has contributed to shaky performances. The return of Levi Colwill offers potential relief after the defender missed the majority of the previous season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Along with Cole Palmer, Colwill was held out of the Juventus fixture on a patchy playing surface as a precautionary measure, making both players contenders for minutes this weekend. Alonso is expected to rotate his squad heavily across a demanding schedule that features two matches in the space of 24 hours across different countries, with a subsequent game against Johor Darul Ta’zim in Malaysia on Sunday.
Squad News, Rising Talents, and AC Milan Opposition
The defeat against Juventus highlighted several personnel developments for Chelsea. Mykhailo Mudryk returned to the squad after resolving his anti-doping disciplinary proceedings with the Football Association, putting the Ukrainian winger firmly in the shop window with several clubs interested in signing him on loan. Meanwhile, 16-year-old midfielder Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli earned praise after making his first senior start, partnering Moises Caicedo in central midfield ahead of both Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo. Geovany Quenda also impressed during the Hong Kong fixture, with the 19-year-old winger proving ready to make an immediate impact following his £40million move from Sporting.
In goal, Robert Sanchez returned from injury against Juventus, but young Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders also waits in contention as both battle for the number one jersey under Alonso. Across the pitch, Milan enter the fixture following a 1-1 draw in the Milan derby. Inter Milan remain unbeaten on their current pre-season run, though they traveled without Lautaro Martínez, Marcus Thuram, and Manuel Akanji due to their participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Match Details, Broadcasting, and Projected Lineups
Saturday’s friendly kicks off at 1:00 PM BST on August 8, 2026. The match takes place at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, with live coverage broadcast through CFC+. Alonso is expected to field a near full-strength team for the clash against the Serie A giants.
| Team | Predicted Starting XI |
|---|---|
| Chelsea | Penders; Palestra, Fofana, Colwill, Hato; Lavia, Caicedo; Estevao, Palmer, Mudryk; Joao Pedro |
| AC Milan / Inter Milan Context | While Chelsea meet AC Milan in Jakarta, fellow Serie A side Inter Milan prepare for a separate fixture against Juventus at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia, on the same day |
While Chelsea test themselves against AC Milan in Indonesia, the broader pre-season landscape sees Juventus and Inter Milan locking horns in Perth. Juventus enter that contest boasting four consecutive clean sheets on their tour. The contrasting fortunes of the Italian and English clubs highlight the different tactical questions managers face with only two weeks remaining before the domestic leagues resume.
