Zhegrova's stunning goal spoiled Mudryk's return to the pitch in Chelsea colors.

Mykhailo Mudryk finally stepped back onto the field for Chelsea following an absence of almost 20 months, yet his highly anticipated reappearance did not delight the team's supporters, as Xabi Alonso's squad lost 0-1 to Juventus during a Hong Kong friendly.

The game's biggest highlight came in the 68th minute, when Edon Zhegrova produced a moment of class to secure victory for the Serie A side. Receiving a pass from Kenan Yildiz just outside the box, the Kosovo striker curled a beautiful shot into the top corner, leaving the Chelsea goalkeeper with no chance. That was the finest play in a rather tight match that lacked many clear-cut opportunities.

Chelsea enjoyed more possession for most of the game but struggled to break down Juventus's defense. The London club's best chance in the first half came from Danny Welbeck, whose header went just wide of the post after a cross from new signing Geovany Quenda. Quenda was also Chelsea's most impressive player before being substituted at halftime.

In the second half, Xabi Alonso made several changes, bringing on Nicolas Jackson, Estevao, Romeo Lavia, and others to speed up the attack. Chelsea dominated play but still lacked sharpness in the final third. Both Marco Palestra and Estevao had shooting opportunities, but neither could beat goalkeeper Mattia Perin.

In the 82nd minute, the Hong Kong stadium erupted as Mudryk came on to replace Nicolas Jackson. This was the Ukrainian winger's first appearance for Chelsea since November 2024, following his suspension for a positive test for the banned substance meldonium. Despite only playing a few minutes, Mudryk showed his hunger with his characteristic bursts of speed, but didn't have enough time to make a difference.

In the final minutes, Estevao attempted a through ball for Mudryk to run onto, but the pass was a bit too strong, and the chance slipped away regrettably.

The loss to Juventus serves as a warning for Chelsea, with the 2026/27 Premier League season set to start in just two weeks.