Friendly | Chelsea 0-1 Juventus: Zhegrova magic seals victory

A spectacular Edon Zhegrova curler proved enough for Juventus to beat Chelsea 1-0 in a pre-season friendly, defeating Marco Palestra’s Premier League side.

The Bianconeri started new signing Zeki Celik in Hong Kong, but otherwise it was still a very long way from the side Luciano Spalletti will use this season.

Andrea Cambiaso scuffed from a promising position, while Danny Welbeck nodded just wide from a Geovany Quenda cross, and Pierre Kalulu was crucial in cutting out a Marco Palestra pull-back.

HONG KONG, CHINA – AUGUST 5: Jeremie Boga of Juventus FC (L) and Marco Palestra of Chelsea FC (R) competes to the ball during the Chelsea v Juventus – Pre-Season Friendly at the Kai Tak Stadium on August 5, 2026 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Jamie Gittens didn’t get enough on the Caicedo assist to trouble Michele Di Gregorio, then Jeremie Boga had a couple of dangerous runs just before half-time, forcing a difficult save.

Italy international Palestra showed some impressive bursts of pace and stung the goalkeeper’s gloves.

HONG KONG, CHINA – AUGUST 5: Edon Zhegrova of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring his goal during the Chelsea v Juventus – Pre-Season Friendly at the Kai Tak Stadium on August 5, 2026 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Juventus took the lead with a moment of extraordinary skill, as Kenan Yildiz laid it off for Zhegrova, whose sensational left-foot curler from the edge of the area bent into the far top corner. It was an unstoppable effort and a rare sight for a player who hadn’t scored in almost two years.

There was some tension between Gleison Bremer and Romeo Lavia, plus emotional scenes as Chelsea welcomed back Mykhaylo Mudryk for the first appearance since his doping ban was overturned, not stepping onto the field since November 2024.

HONG KONG, CHINA – AUGUST 5: Zeki Çelik of Juventus FC (L) and Joao Pedro of Chelsea FC (C) compete for the ball during the Chelsea v Juventus – Pre-Season Friendly at the Kai Tak Stadium on August 5, 2026 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

It was the second consecutive pre-season defeat for Chelsea, who also lost to Tottenham Hotspur, but the fourth clean sheet in as many summer games for Juve.

Chelsea 0-1 Juventus

Zhegrova 68 (J)

Juventus: Di Gregorio (Perin 46); Kalulu (Koopmeiners 63), Gatti (Rugani 75), Kelly, Celik; Locatelli (Owusu 46, Arthur 75), Douglas Luiz (Cabal 63); Boga (Zhegrova 46), Miretti (Yildiz 63), Cambiaso (Bremer 46); Milik (David 46, Durmisi 75)

Chelsea: Sanchez (Penders 46); Palestra (Acheampong 65), Adarabioyo (Sarr 46), Fofana (Subuloye 68), Hato (Anselmino 65); Jazuli (Essugo 65), Caicedo (Lavia 65); Geovani (Estevao 46), Welbeck (Jackson 46, Mudryk 82), Gittens (Satpayev 65); Pedro (Delap 65)