Chelsea are set to face AC Milan in Jakarta on Saturday as the Blues look to bounce back to form during their pre-season tour of Australia and Asia. The friendly, taking place at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium, marks another stop on Chelsea's extensive summer schedule before they return home to prepare for the new Premier League campaign.
The match will not be broadcast on traditional television but will instead be streamed exclusively through CFC+, Chelsea's official in-house streaming platform. Supporters wishing to watch can subscribe for an annual fee of £14.99, or opt for a one-off match pass priced at £9.99. Kick-off is scheduled for 1pm BST, which corresponds to 7pm local time in Jakarta.
Milan arrive in Indonesia under the guidance of Ruben Amorim, the former Manchester United manager now tasked with leading the Rossoneri. The Italian side head into the fixture on the back of two consecutive draws, having been held by Celtic and then by fierce rivals Inter Milan in their most recent outings. Amorim's squad features several familiar faces for Chelsea followers, with Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christian Pulisic, and Christopher Nkunku all having previously represented the Blues before moving to the San Siro.
The clash represents a notable moment for both clubs as they fine-tune their squads ahead of the new domestic seasons. For Chelsea, the trip to Indonesia is one of the final fixtures on their tour before they head back to England. Once home, the club will host Real Sociedad in their first match at Stamford Bridge under new management, with manager Enzo Maresca's predecessor connections adding extra interest given the Spanish club's history. Chelsea will then begin their Premier League campaign away at London rivals Fulham, with that fixture at Craven Cottage scheduled for August 24.
Milan, meanwhile, have their own significant test on the horizon after this friendly. The Rossoneri are due to face Manchester United in Poland next weekend as part of their own pre-season preparations, before officially kicking off their Serie A campaign away at Torino on August 23. Amorim's reunion with United, albeit from the opposite dugout, will add a layer of intrigue to that fixture given his recent history at Old Trafford.
For supporters, the meeting between Chelsea and Milan offers a chance to see a mix of established stars and emerging talents on both sides as the two European heavyweights continue their preparations for the competitive campaigns ahead. Chelsea's current squad includes forward Joao Pedro, who will likely be looking to make an impression against a Milan defense that includes his former teammate Tomori.
With both clubs eager to build momentum before their respective league openers, the Jakarta friendly serves as an important benchmark. Chelsea will be keen to secure a positive result after their recent pre-season form, while Milan will look to carry any momentum from their draws with Celtic and Inter into a strong showing against a Premier League opponent.
As the tour draws to a close, attention will increasingly turn to how both sides shape their squads before the competitive action begins in earnest later this month.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.