Chelsea Dominate AC Milan 4-1 in Pre-Season Thriller at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea wrapped up their pre-season on a high note with an impressive 4-1 victory over a ten-man AC Milan side at Stamford Bridge. This win marks their second straight success following a 2-0 triumph against Bayer Leverkusen just 48 hours earlier, showing that despite a hectic schedule, the Blues’ squad depth is looking solid ahead of the new Premier League season.
From the outset, Chelsea took control. The first goal came early when a Milan defender, Andrei Coubis—making his senior debut—unfortunately turned a cross from Reece James into his own net. Although unlucky, it gave Chelsea the perfect start. Just minutes later, Joao Pedro doubled the lead by heading in a precise pass from Pedro Neto, making it clear the home team meant business.
Things got even more chaotic for Milan shortly after. Coubis, trying to stop another Chelsea attack, was sent off just 18 minutes in after a reckless tackle. This red card left the visitors with ten men and made Chelsea’s task much easier. Despite the man advantage, Chelsea’s young talents continued to press hard. Cole Palmer had several chances to increase the lead with some impressive free-kicks and a near goal from a scissor-kick, but the score remained 2-0 at halftime.
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Milan, meanwhile, looked somewhat toothless in the first half, with Rafael Leao the only player posing a consistent threat. His shots were well saved by Chelsea’s keeper Robert Sanchez, and one of his goals was disallowed for offside.
The introduction of Luka Modric in the second half brought some much-needed control and creativity to Milan, and the visitors began to apply more pressure. But Chelsea quickly regained the upper hand after Estevao came off the bench and won a penalty following a foul in the box. Liam Delap calmly converted the spot-kick, making it 3-0.
Milan did manage to pull one back shortly after when Alexis Saelemaekers set up Youssouf Fofana, who finished with composure to make it 3-1. However, this was merely a consolation goal. Chelsea sealed the victory in the dying moments with another goal from Liam Delap, who smashed home a quick finish following a clever flick from Andrey Santos.
Despite some injury concerns, particularly for Trevoh Chalobah who left the pitch with an ankle issue, Chelsea’s pre-season performance sends a strong message. With key players like Levi Colwill still out long-term, the team’s resilience and squad strength have been encouraging for manager Enzo Maresca.
Now, all eyes turn to the Premier League opener next week when Crystal Palace visit Stamford Bridge. Chelsea will be looking to carry this momentum forward and start their campaign on a winning note after a well-rounded pre-season effort.
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