Chelsea 1-1 Inter Milan: Blues rescue late draw in final pre-season game as new signing Pedro Neto introduced at Stamford Bridge
2024 Club Friendlies
1-1
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
15' Highlight from Chelsea vs Inter
17' Match Event for Chelsea vs Inter
22' Highlight from Chelsea vs Inter
25' GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Inter (Marcus Thuram)
32' Highlight from Chelsea vs Inter
38' Match Event for Chelsea vs Inter
52' Highlight from Chelsea vs Inter
54' Match Event for Chelsea vs Inter
55' Match Event for Chelsea vs Inter
65' Match Event for Chelsea vs Inter
80' Match Event for Chelsea vs Inter
89' GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Inter
Match Report
Chelsea rescued a late 1-1 draw with Inter Milan in their final game of a rather underwhelming pre-season period, courtesy of a last minute Lesley Ugochukwu equaliser.
The leveller was scored on the stroke of full-time to atone for some more lax Chelsea defending, which saw them concede their 13th goal across six pre-season friendlies.
It came after the signing of Pedro Neto from Wolves was announced at half-time.
Inter's opener was crafted beautifully, involving a surging run from Yann Bisseck, a deft pass from the left boot of Joaquin Correa and a thunderbolt finish from Marcus Thuram. It only took three Inter players to carve through the heart of Chelsea, who looked open and disorganised.
Enzo Maresca grew agitated as the game progressed, singling out Enzo Fernandez to relay instruction. He clapped the only meaningful Chelsea move of the first period with genuine enthusiasm, but Noni Madueke's cross towards Mykhailo Mudryk was met with a familiarly erratic attempt at goal.
Thuram was delivering a lesson in exactly what Chelsea lack - a definitive No 9 - prompting some half-time changes, which included Cole Palmer, getting his first minutes since returning from Euros duty, and Christopher Nkunku. The latter nearly produced something spectacular 10 minutes into the half, denied by Yann Sommer, before Levi Colwill rattled the post.
Positivity built, without ever really reaching a crescendo. Palmer was typically bright on the ball, while forgotten man Mudryk enjoyed a few bright touches but no end product. Nkunku went close a handful of times too, before Ugochukwu slammed home in the 90th minute from a poorly-defended corner.
Chelsea end their pre-season campaign with just one win (against Mexican side Club America).
What's coming up in the Premier League?
The wait is nearly over. Chelsea will kick off the new Premier League season at home to champions Manchester City next weekend, live on Sky Sports Super Sunday, kick-off 4.30pm.
That game is one of five matches live on Sky Sports on opening weekend, including Man United vs Fulham on Friday Night Football, West Ham vs Aston Villa on Saturday Night Football, Brentford vs Crystal Palace completes Super Sunday, before Leicester vs Tottenham round off the action on Monday Night Football.
Line-ups
Chelsea XI: Marc Cucurella, Robert Sánchez, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Wesley Fofana, Noni Madueke, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Enzo Fernández, Levi Colwill, Malo Gusto, Roméo Lavia, Marc Guiu
Subs: Sterling, Marcus Bettinelli, T.Adarabioyo, Nkunku, Chilwell, Axel Disasi, Benoît Badiashile, Cole Palmer, Filip Jørgensen, Moisés Caicedo, Carney Chukwuemeka, L. Ugochukwu, Nicolas Jackson, Renato Veiga
Inter XI: Sommer, Darmian, Mkhitaryan, Acerbi, Correa, Dimarco, Barella, Thuram, Yann Bisseck, Carlos Augusto, Kristjan Asllani
Subs: Raffaele Di Gennaro, Dumfries, Pavard, Bastoni, Frattesi, Josep Martínez, Salcedo, Alessandro Fontanarosa, Daniele Quieto, Leonardo Bovo, Thomas Berenbruch, Luka Topalovic