Chelsea Clash With AC Milan: Bold Predictions, Key Lineups, and What to Expect

Chelsea will look to bounce back from two straight preseason losses when they take on AC Milan in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta this Saturday.

This is the second-to-last match of the Blues' summer tour, which kicked off with a wild 6–4 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers. Chelsea then fell to a late Richarlison strike, going down 2–1 to a 10-man Tottenham Hotspur, before Edon Zhegrova's stunning effort proved decisive in a forgettable friendly against Juventus on Wednesday.

While preseason results carry limited weight, Xabi Alonso would have been somewhat troubled by his side's lack of creativity and sharpness in the loss to Juve. Without injured playmaker Cole Palmer, his team struggled to seriously threaten either of the Bianconeri's goalkeepers.

Milan's tour is expected to be brief, with the Rossoneri heading back to Europe following Saturday's friendly. They first stopped in Perth for an unusual summer Derby della Madonnina against Inter, which finished level at one goal apiece.

Chelsea vs. AC Milan Score Prediction

Blues' Winless Run Continues

New Milan manager Ruben Amorim acknowledged the need for improvement after the draw with Inter, but was largely satisfied with his team's display and the outcome.

He faces a fellow manager at the beginning of a new chapter in Alonso, whose Chelsea side has now slipped to consecutive defeats. They were unlucky to fall to London rivals Spurs and showed promising control at times against Juventus. However, the Blues lacked a clinical edge and were punished by a brilliant goal.

The more meaningful challenges lie ahead, but Chelsea will want to head back to west London carrying some positive momentum. Alonso won't want defeat to become a recurring theme. That said, with key figures absent — including new signing Morgan Rogers and captain Reece James — the Blues appear somewhat toothless.

Amorim's stock may have dipped following his time at Manchester United, but Milan appears to be a fitting environment for his philosophy, and his side are likely to make life difficult for Chelsea in Jakarta.

Prediction: Chelsea 1–1 AC Milan

Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs. AC Milan

Alonso managed the minutes of Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill against Juventus, with both players left out of the matchday squad due to minor injuries. Whether either will be available for the Jakarta fixture remains uncertain.

Palmer had a difficult 2025–26 campaign due to a persistent groin problem, while Colwill missed a large portion of the season following an ACL injury.

Robert Sánchez was fit to start in goal against Juventus and the Spaniard is expected to keep his spot here. Mike Penders made his unofficial Chelsea debut as a substitute.

Geovany Quenda was a standout performer in Hong Kong, though Danny Welbeck failed to make an impression on his club debut. Mykhailo Mudryk also made his first Chelsea appearance in 20 months following the lifting of his doping ban, and Alonso will carefully manage the Ukrainian's return to full fitness.

The Blues boss is likely to rotate his squad again for their penultimate tour friendly, with fans eager to see more of the promising Cobham academy talents at Alonso's disposal.

Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs. Milan (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Palestra, Acheampong, Sarr, Hato; Caicedo, Lavia; Estêvão, Pedro, Gittens; Welbeck.

AC Milan Predicted Lineup vs. Chelsea

The Rossoneri are currently missing USMNT star Christian Pulisic, who picked up an injury at the World Cup. Whether "Captain America" will be ready for the Serie A season opener remains to be seen.

On a brighter note, Gonçalo Ramos made an impact off the bench in the preseason Milan derby on Wednesday and could earn his first start for the club since joining from Paris Saint-Germain in an $84 million transfer.

Rafael Leão remains in Amorim's plans despite ongoing transfer speculation, and the Portuguese boss can also call upon several academy prospects, including 18-year-old forward Francesco Camarda.

Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Christopher Nkunku form a notable group of former Chelsea players in the squad.

Milan Predicted Lineup vs. Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Torriani; Tomori, Gabbia, Vladimirov; Saelemaekers, Modrić, Fofana, Bartesaghi; Loftus-Cheek, Nkunku; Ramos.

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