This isn't just any pre-season friendly match. European powerhouses Baghdad once again after the covid pandemic, Chelsea and AC Milan win at our own Stamford Bridge in one final pre-season sit before the start of the 2025/26 league campaign.
For Chelsea, they come into the match off the back of winning the FIFA Club World Cup and a solid preseason match vs Bayer Leverkusen 48 hours earlier. For Milan, this follows on from their rebuild in the off-season under the leadership of returning head honcho Massimiliano Allegri after a sorry affair in Serie A last year.
Match Summary
- Date: Sunday, August 9th, 2025
- Kick-Off Time: 02:00 PM (UTC)
- Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
- Competition: Pre-Season Club Friendly
Chelsea vs. AC Milan Team News
Chelsea—Rotations & Injury Updates
Chelsea is going to be without Levi Colwill due to his dreadful ACL injury sustained in training last week. Manager Enzo Maresca will most likely rotate heavily after his side's game against Bayer Leverkusen less than 2 days prior.
Unavailable: Levi Colwill, Enzo Fernandez, Wesley Fofana, and Benoit Badiashile (injury).
Likely to Start: Robert Sanchez, Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Liam Delap.
AC Milan—A Fully Fit Squad
Milan comes into the match with a fully fit squad, the only question mark being whether Luka Modric is in the starting XI or comes in off the bench. On the other side of the pitch, Christian Pulisic will be hoping to feature against his former club, while Rafael Leao continues to be their biggest threat in an attacking sense.
Head-to-Head Record
Total Meetings: 7
Chelsea Wins: 4
AC Milan Wins: 1
Draws: 2
Last Competitive Meetings: 2022/23 Champions League – Chelsea won both encounters (home 3-0, away 2-0).
Recent Form & Momentum
Chelsea's Last Five Matches (All Competitions)
W vs PSG (3-0, FIFA Club World Final) - 1st match round & winners of the Club World Cup
W vs Bayer Leverkusen (2-0, Friendly)
W vs Villarreal (2-1, Friendly)
W vs Real Betis (1-0, Friendly)
W vs River Plate (4-0, Club World Semi-Final)
AC Milan's Last Five Matches
W vs Perth Glory (9-0, Friendly)
W vs Liverpool (4-2, Friendly)
L vs Arsenal (0-1, Friendly) – won in penalties after losing within regulation time
W vs Bologna (2-0, Serie A)
L vs Roma (1-3)
Tactical Analysis
Chelsea—Maresca's Rotational Depth
Despite making significant changes, overall, Chelsea has one of the strongest rotational depths in Europe, especially with the likes of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, and Estevao to show what they can do before the Premier League season starts up against Crystal Palace.
AC Milan—Allegri's Rebuild
Allegri is creating a more compact, counterattacking side to Milan, with the pace of players like Rafael Leao out wide and creativity in the middle with Luka Modric and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Some Key Players
Chelsea
Liam Delap—Has a clinical finishing touch to go with his physical presence that terrifies defenders.
Cole Palmer – A creative spark that can unlock any defense.
Reece James – As captain, he'll be key for his leadership and versatility.
AC Milan
Rafael Leao – A dangerous winger capable of changing a game in a split second.
Fikayo Tomori – A former Chelsea player with something to prove.
Luka Modric—An experienced playmaker that controls the tempo of the game.
Betting Tips
Match Result Betting Tips
Chelsea to win—their home advantage and depth of this squad gave them the edge.
BTTS – No – Milan has had trouble historically scoring against Chelsea.
Over 3.5 Goals—The friendly nature (and potentially open scoreline) gives opportunity for goals to be scored.
Liam Delap to Score Anytime—In form and expected to start.
Prediction – Chelsea 3-1 AC Milan
This should be an easy win for Chelsea given their depth, home advantage, and that Milan's pre-season has seen mixed results. Expect goals, some quick transitions, and a few mistakes defensively, as both teams try to assess their depth in the final warmup before the start of the competitive season.
