On an eventful Saturday afternoon of pre-season football, Premier League title hopefuls Chelsea put down a marker with an impressive 3-0 win over Serie A giants AC Milan.
With the early Premier League 2026 betting odds predicting a top-four place for the Blues this was certainly an encouraging win, against the Rossoneri who have their own title aspirations after a couple of disappointing campaigns. Chelsea were among a number of top English clubs in action on Saturday, but football started on Friday night when Crystal Palace edged a 2-1 London Derby over Fulham in a match behind closed doors at Motspur Park.
The Cottagers gave new signings Gonzalo García and César Palacios some game time and went ahead through Antonee Robinson, but goals from Ismaila Sarr and Matheus Franca gave the Eagles a confidence boosting victory, giving them hope they can pick up the Premier League 2026 results they will need to survive once again in the top flight.
Then it was over to Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea who took on AC Milan in Jakarta and the Blues ran out comfortable winners after in-form striker Joao Pedro gave them a lead on the stroke of half time. He had already spurned a couple of good openings, but the Brazil star was clinical with his stoppage time header. It was Pedro again who made it 2-0, meeting a cross from Pedro Neto at the far post and then midfield anchor Moises Caicedo added a third with a sweetly taken volley.
Alonso will be happy with this performance after his side had slipped to a late defeat against Tottenham Hotpsur, but new Milan boss Ruben Amorin has plenty to think about.
Amorin’s former club Manchester United were also in action on Saturday and they pulled off an impressive 1-1 draw with European champions Paris Saint-Germain in Sweden. Bryan Mbeumo, the Red Devils’ best signing last season was in superb form and, after PSG had taken an early lead through Ibrahim Mbaye Mbeumo levelled when he met a cross from Amad Diallo.
PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia came close to bagging a second for the French giants, but his effort sailed inches wide, while Patrick Dorgu almost scored with a header before Mbeumo fired home his equaliser.
Winning start for Jaissle
Newcastle have appointed Matthias Jaissle as their new head coach following Eddie Howe’s departure, and the Magpies’ new manager was in the hot seat for a bad-tempered battle away to Valencia, which Newcastle edged 2-1. Jaissle was previously manager of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli but he has no experience of managing a top-flight club in a major league, so he will need to learn quickly. But the 38 year-old will be pleased by the way his team responded to a hostile environment at the legendary Mestalla Stadium and an uncompromising approach from their hosts.
Mbeumo’s former Brentford strike partner Yoane Wissa scored a second-half double to win the game, and he will hope for a profitable campaign after he missed much of last season through injury. But the game was marred by a first half shocker of a tackle from Jose Gaya, which earned him a red card, saw Anthony Elanga stretchered off and led to a melee between the two sides.
There’s no such thing as a friendly at the Mestalla!
Elsewhere Nottingham Forest faced La Liga champions Barcelona in the Friuli Venezia Giullia Cup in a 45 minute bout which the Blaugrana won thanks to a Raphinha strike, and Tottenham Hotpsur continued their unbeaten run in pre-season, drawing with La Liga side Getafe. Roberto De Zerbi’s side has won four and drawn one of their warm-up games, Getafe being the first club to hold them to a stalemate.
And it was the Spaniards who went ahead through an Alberto Risco volley before midfield ace Conor Gallagher levelled late on with a smart finish. Lucas Bergvall was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet and Richarlsion almost won it at the death, but his header was brilliantly saved by Getafe keeper David Soria.
Tottenham will round up their pre-season schedule with a match against Bundesiga side TSG Hoffenheim before the serious business of their Premier League campaign begins on 22nd August with an all London clash against Brentford.
In the meantime, there’s more friendly action to come for SBOTOP football fans as Liverpool host AS Monaco on Sunday and Manchester City take on Atletico Madrid, as two more Premier League title hopefuls will try to match Chelsea, who took the plaudits on Saturday.
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