Chelsea defeated AC Milan 3-0 on August 8, 2026, at the Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia. Joao Pedro scored twice and Moises Caicedo added a volley to secure the win, marking a tactical shift under manager Xabi Alonso as the club bounced back from consecutive pre-season losses.
The victory in Jakarta represents a significant pivot for Xabi Alonso’s side. After back-to-back pre-season defeats—including a 1-0 loss to Juventus in Hong Kong—the Blues found a dominant rhythm against Ruben Amorim’s Milan side in front of a 77,000-capacity crowd.
Joao Pedro and the Impact of Set-Piece Coaching
Joao Pedro was the standout performer, netting two goals. His first came just before half-time, when he headed home a cross from Moises Caicedo. Pedro didn’t wait long to double the lead, scoring within a minute of the second-half restart by finishing a cross from Pedro Neto at the back post.
The goals highlighted a sudden efficiency in Chelsea’s dead-ball routines. During the Premier League season in 2025/26, Chelsea scored 10 goals from corners. However, they netted two goals from corners in this single 90-minute match. This improvement follows the recent appointment of set-piece coach Austin McPhee, who joined a couple of weeks back.
Pedro’s form is partly attributed to a summer of rest after being overlooked by Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti for their World Cup squad. The 24-year-old has now scored five times this pre-season, including a hat-trick against Western Sydney Wanderers.
Alonso’s Tactical Shift to a 3-4-2-1
For the first three games of the tour, Alonso had favoured a 4-2-3-1. In Jakarta, he switched to a 3-4-2-1 system, akin to how the manager had Leverkusen operating during his first crack at management from 2022-25. This shift utilized three central defenders, including Josh Acheampong, and allowed wing-backs to push higher.
The versatility of summer signing Marco Palestra was central to this change. Moving from right-back to left wing-back, Palestra provided an offensive threat that stretched the Milan defense.
The system also tested a new attacking alignment, placing Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro in pockets behind central striker Danny Welbeck. While the initial fluidity was described by one source as underwhelming, the structure eventually overwhelmed a disjointed Milan press.
Caicedo’s Volley and Second-Half Dominance
The strike was noted for its technical difficulty, described as roughly 70 per cent a flick with the outside of the right boot.
Chelsea continued to press for more goals throughout the second half. Substitutes Geovany Quenda and Nicolas Jackson both hit the woodwork, with Quenda striking the near post and Jackson hitting the far side. Estevao also had a late chance denied by goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani.
| Statistic | Chelsea | AC Milan |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 50% | 50% |
| Shots on Target | 8 | 0 |
| Big Chances Created | 7 | 0 |
| Corners | 7 | 2 |
| Accurate Passes | 434 (90%) | 434 (87%) |
Pre-Season Momentum and Next Fixtures
This victory provides a morale boost for Alonso after a rocky start to the tour. Chelsea’s trajectory has seen a mix of high-scoring chaos and defensive lapses, beginning with a 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers on July 28, followed by losses to Tottenham (2-1) and Juventus (1-0).
For AC Milan, the result extends a winless pre-season under Ruben Amorim. The Italian side struggled with a slow build-up and a disjointed press, failing to record a single shot on target during the match.
Chelsea’s preparations now move forward, where they will face Johor Darul Ta’zim before concluding their pre-season tour with a match against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on August 15.
