Chelsea dominate AC Milan 4-1 in final pre-season friendly

Chelsea concluded their pre-season preparations with a commanding 4-1 victory over AC Milan at Stamford Bridge, with the visitors playing with 10 men for over 70 minutes. The Blues took control early when AC Milan defender, Andrei Coubiş, deflected Reece James’s set-piece into his own net after just five minutes. João Pedro doubled the advantage two minutes later, guiding Pedro Neto’s cross beyond goalkeeper, Mike Maignan, with a well-timed header.

The match turned decisively in Chelsea’s favour when Coubiş received a red card in the 19th minute following a challenge on Pedro Neto. The Romanian centre-back was penalised after Pedro appeared to fall under minimal contact, earning one of the rarest sights in football – a dismissal during a friendly fixture. Milan’s numerical disadvantage left them struggling to contain Chelsea’s attacking threats for the remainder of the contest.

Milan’s hopes received a boost at half-time when Luka Modrić made his unofficial debut for the Italian club, generating excitement among the Stamford Bridge crowd. However, Chelsea extended their lead in the 67th minute through Liam Delap, who converted from the penalty spot after Estêvão was fouled in the box. The Brazilian winger continued his impressive start to life in London, having caught attention in his previous appearance just two days earlier.

Youssouf Fofana provided Milan with a lifeline in the 70th minute, driving into Chelsea’s penalty area before finishing clinically to reduce the deficit. The goal showed potential defensive concerns for Enzo Maresca’s side, particularly given Levi Colwill’s recent ACL injury that has left gaps in the centre-back position. Chelsea’s backline looked vulnerable during Milan’s brief period of pressure despite their numerical advantage.

Delap sealed the victory with his second goal in the 90th minute, firing a first-time shot into the bottom corner to complete his brace. The striker’s double performance puts pressure on the manager’s selection decisions ahead of Chelsea’s English Premier League opener against Crystal Palace next weekend. With Nicolas Jackson and Pedro Neto also competing for attacking positions, Delap’s late surge could prove crucial in earning a starting berth for the new campaign.