Chelsea FC AC Milan produced a decisive preseason result on Saturday, August 8, as Chelsea defeated AC Milan 3-0 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia. João Pedro scored twice around halftime, while Moisés Caicedo added a superb third goal as Chelsea produced a controlled performance under manager Xabi Alonso.
The friendly formed part of Chelsea’s 2026 preseason tour across Australia and Asia. It was the fourth match of the club’s scheduled five-game tour and came just three days after Chelsea faced Juventus in Hong Kong.
For AC Milan, the match was another important test during preparations for the 2026-27 campaign. Rúben Amorim’s side struggled to create clear chances and finished the contest without registering a shot on target.
The result gave Chelsea a clean sheet and another encouraging performance before the final preseason fixture of the tour.
Chelsea 3-0 AC Milan: Match Details
- Date: Saturday, August 8, 2026
- Venue: Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta
- Competition: Preseason friendly
- Final score: Chelsea 3-0 AC Milan
- Chelsea scorers: João Pedro, João Pedro, Moisés Caicedo
- Half-time score: Chelsea 1-0 AC Milan
- Possession: 50%-50%
- Shots: Chelsea 18, AC Milan 5
- Shots on target: Chelsea 8, AC Milan 0
The scoreline reflected Chelsea’s stronger attacking performance, particularly after halftime. Milan stayed competitive during the opening period but struggled once Chelsea found the breakthrough.
João Pedro Delivers the Breakthrough
Chelsea had to wait until stoppage time in the first half to take the lead.
João Pedro opened the scoring with a header after Chelsea won a corner. The Brazilian forward connected with the delivery and sent the ball beyond Milan goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani.
The goal arrived at 45+2 minutes.
That timing was important because the first half had remained relatively close. Milan had limited Chelsea’s opportunities for long stretches, but the late goal changed the situation before the interval.
Chelsea entered halftime with a 1-0 advantage.
João Pedro then needed less than a minute of the second half to score again.
The forward doubled Chelsea’s lead shortly after the restart, finishing an attacking move involving Pedro Neto. The second goal put Chelsea firmly in control and forced Milan to chase the match.
João Pedro’s two-goal performance became the defining individual contribution of the contest.
His movement also caused problems for Milan’s defensive structure. Chelsea repeatedly looked dangerous when moving the ball quickly into advanced areas.
Caicedo Produces a Brilliant Third Goal
Chelsea extended its advantage again soon after João Pedro’s second goal.
Moisés Caicedo scored the third in the opening stages of the second half with a first-time volley from a corner routine.
The Ecuadorian midfielder met Romeo Lavia’s delivery and produced a superb finish that found the bottom corner.
The goal capped a strong individual display from Caicedo.
He also played a role in Chelsea’s opening goal, making his contribution especially significant across the match.
Chelsea’s success from corners was one of the clearest tactical features of the performance. Two of the three goals came from set-piece situations.
The work of Chelsea’s set-piece staff therefore attracted attention during the match. The team showed greater variety and precision from dead-ball situations, giving Milan another problem to handle.
Chelsea Control the Match After Going Ahead
Once Chelsea established a three-goal advantage, Milan struggled to respond.
The Italian club had opportunities to build attacks but could not turn possession into dangerous attempts. Chelsea’s defensive organization helped keep Milan away from goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.
The final statistics showed the difference.
Chelsea recorded 18 shots, with eight finding the target. Milan managed only five shots and failed to put any of them on target.
Possession was evenly split at 50 percent.
That balance is important because Chelsea’s superiority did not simply come from having more of the ball. The Blues were more effective when they reached attacking positions.
Chelsea also won more corners, creating additional opportunities to threaten from set pieces.
Milan needed a goal to regain momentum after Chelsea’s rapid second-half start. Instead, Chelsea remained organized and protected its clean sheet.
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Chelsea’s Starting XI
Xabi Alonso selected a 4-2-3-1 formation for the meeting with Milan.
Robert Sánchez started in goal, with Marco Palestra, Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana and Jorrel Hato forming the defensive line.
Romeo Lavia and Moisés Caicedo operated in midfield. Caicedo also wore the captain’s armband.
Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer and Danny Welbeck supported João Pedro in the attacking structure.
Chelsea’s starting lineup was:
- Robert Sánchez
- Marco Palestra
- Josh Acheampong
- Wesley Fofana
- Jorrel Hato
- Romeo Lavia
- Moisés Caicedo
- Pedro Neto
- Cole Palmer
- Danny Welbeck
- João Pedro
The lineup gave Alonso another opportunity to assess his preferred combinations before competitive matches begin.
Several players also used the fixture to build fitness and gain additional minutes during a demanding preseason schedule.
Milan’s Lineup Includes Modrić and Leão
AC Milan entered the game with a lineup featuring experienced and young players.
Lorenzo Torriani started in goal. Filippo Terracciano, Koni De Winter and Strahinja Pavlović formed the defensive group.
Samuel Chukwueze, Luka Modrić, Mattia Comotto and Pervis Estupiñán operated across the midfield.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Rafael Leão played in advanced positions behind Francesco Camarda.
The starting XI was:
- Lorenzo Torriani
- Filippo Terracciano
- Koni De Winter
- Strahinja Pavlović
- Samuel Chukwueze
- Luka Modrić
- Mattia Comotto
- Pervis Estupiñán
- Ruben Loftus-Cheek
- Rafael Leão
- Francesco Camarda
Modrić’s inclusion added considerable experience to the Milan midfield, while Leão represented one of the team’s most dangerous attacking outlets.
Chelsea, however, managed to limit Milan’s attacking influence.
Milan Fails to Register a Shot on Target
The most concerning statistic for AC Milan was its lack of shots on target.
The Rossoneri attempted only five shots throughout the match. None forced Sánchez into a save.
Chelsea’s defense stayed compact and prevented Milan from creating consistent opportunities around the penalty area.
The lack of attacking production became increasingly significant after Chelsea scored twice within a short period around halftime.
Milan needed to respond quickly, but Chelsea controlled the important areas of the field.
Leão was unable to make the kind of attacking impact Milan would have wanted. Chelsea’s defensive structure limited his opportunities to run at defenders or create dangerous situations.
The result also highlighted the difference in finishing efficiency.
Chelsea produced eight shots on target and scored three times. Milan could not test the Chelsea goalkeeper once.
A Positive Result for Xabi Alonso
The victory provided Xabi Alonso with another useful preseason performance.
Chelsea’s preparation has included several demanding matches during the club’s tour.
The team began the trip in Australia before moving through Hong Kong and Indonesia. The schedule has allowed Alonso to work with his squad in different match situations while also managing player fitness.
Chelsea had already faced Western Sydney Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus during the tour.
The Milan victory gave the Blues a strong response after their earlier preseason defeat to Juventus.
The result also came at an important stage of preparations. Chelsea’s Premier League campaign is approaching, leaving Alonso with limited opportunities to test combinations before competitive football begins.
The 3-0 scoreline does not carry league points because this was a friendly. Still, the performance provides useful evidence for the coaching staff.
A clean sheet, three goals and strong set-piece execution offer several positives to take into the remaining preseason work.
Chelsea’s Set-Piece Improvement Stands Out
Chelsea’s goals from corners were among the most notable features of the match.
João Pedro’s opener came from a corner, while Caicedo’s third goal also followed a carefully worked corner routine.
Set pieces can play an important role during a Premier League season. They often provide scoring opportunities when open-play chances are limited.
Chelsea’s performance against Milan showed that the team can create different types of danger from corners.
The delivery and movement around the penalty area caused Milan problems.
Caicedo’s goal was especially impressive because of the quality of the volley. The midfielder attacked the delivery with confidence and found the bottom corner.
The success also gives Chelsea another attacking option to develop as the season approaches.
Jakarta Provides a Major Football Occasion
The match carried significance beyond Chelsea and Milan’s preseason preparations.
Jakarta hosted two major European clubs at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, bringing Premier League and Serie A football to Indonesian supporters.
For Chelsea, the fixture marked a return to Indonesia 13 years after the club’s previous visit.
Chelsea first played in Indonesia in 2013. More than 80,000 supporters attended that match at the same stadium, where Chelsea defeated an Indonesia All-Stars team 8-1.
The 2026 meeting with Milan therefore represented another major occasion for Chelsea supporters in the country.
AC Milan also has a significant following in Indonesia. The club selected Jakarta as part of its preseason plans and described the match as a major event for its supporters.
The fixture was also the first meeting between Chelsea and Milan in Indonesia.
Chelsea’s Preseason Tour Continues
The Milan game was not the final match of Chelsea’s summer tour.
Chelsea is scheduled to face Johor Darul Ta’zim in Malaysia on Sunday, August 9.
That fixture comes only one day after the victory over Milan, making squad management an important consideration.
The five-match tour was designed to provide preparation ahead of the new season.
Chelsea’s schedule began against Western Sydney Wanderers on July 28. The Blues then played Tottenham on August 1 and Juventus on August 5 before meeting Milan in Jakarta.
The final game against Johor Darul Ta’zim will bring the tour to a close.
The short turnaround between matches also means Alonso has another immediate opportunity to evaluate players.
What the Chelsea Victory Shows
The 3-0 scoreline against Milan highlights several areas that will interest Chelsea supporters.
First, João Pedro showed his finishing quality by scoring twice.
Second, Caicedo produced an influential midfield performance while also finding the net.
Third, Chelsea’s set pieces created two goals.
Finally, the defense completed the match without conceding and Milan failed to register a shot on target.
Those statistics provide a clear picture of Chelsea’s superiority.
The Blues also created additional chances during the second half. Palmer, Estevão and Noni Quenda were among the players who came close to scoring, while Quenda and Nicolas Jackson hit the woodwork.
Chelsea therefore had opportunities to make the final score even larger.
Milan’s inability to create a shot on target prevented the Italian side from putting pressure on Chelsea during the closing stages.
The Importance of João Pedro’s Form
João Pedro’s display will be one of the biggest talking points from the match.
Scoring twice against a major European opponent gives the forward valuable momentum during preseason.
His first goal demonstrated his ability to attack a cross inside the penalty area. His second showed his effectiveness when Chelsea moved quickly after the restart.
The two finishes also arrived at crucial moments.
The opener came immediately before halftime, while the second arrived almost immediately after the break.
Those goals gave Chelsea control of the match and changed Milan’s tactical situation.
For Alonso, João Pedro’s movement and finishing provide another encouraging attacking option ahead of the Premier League opener.
Chelsea FC AC Milan: Final Takeaway
Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over AC Milan in Jakarta delivered one of the strongest performances of the club’s preseason tour.
João Pedro supplied two goals, Caicedo added a spectacular third, and Chelsea kept Milan without a shot on target.
The result also showed Chelsea’s growing effectiveness from set pieces. Two goals came from corner routines, while the team’s defensive organization remained strong throughout the contest.
For Milan, the match exposed problems in attacking production. The Rossoneri will have to address those issues during the remainder of their preparations.
Chelsea now turns toward its final tour fixture against Johor Darul Ta’zim before returning its attention to the start of the competitive season.
The Jakarta meeting was only a preseason friendly, but Chelsea will take plenty of confidence from a performance that combined efficient finishing, defensive discipline and strong set-piece execution.
Chelsea’s emphatic win over AC Milan gives supporters plenty to discuss as the new season approaches, and the next performances will show whether this momentum continues into competitive football.