Chelsea ran out comfortable 3-1 winners against AC Milan in their final pre-season runout before the start of the Premier League campaign.
An Andrei Coubis own goal, followed by a Joao Pedro header and Liam Delap double ensured Enzo Maresca’s side go into Sunday’s home match against Crystal Palace on the back of a victory.
Milan, who were reduced to 10 men part way through the first half, rarely threatened the Blues’ backline but did pull a goal back through Youssouf Fofana.
Chelsea vs Milan: Blues begin brightly
It took just five minutes for the Club World Cup champions to take the lead. Some neat footwork down the left from new signing Jamie Gittens yielded a free-kick for the Blues which was floated in by Reece James.
The delivery caused confusion inside the six-yard box, the ball eventually ricocheting off Milan debutant Coubis into his own net.
Less than two minutes later, Chelsea doubled their advantage. This time the goal came from down the hosts’ right-hand side, the speedy Neto swinging in a teasing cross towards Joao Pedro.
The in-form Brazil international made no mistake, finishing with a tidy header to make it five goals in five games.
Coubis’ afternoon then went from bad to worse when the Romania youth international was sent for an early bath on 18 minutes.
With Chelsea countering at pace through Pedro, Coubis recklessly hauled down the striker as he ran clear, giving the referee little option but to dismiss the 21-year-old.
Maresca’s men might have had the numerical advantage, but they were bringing the swagger to Stamford Bridge.
Cole Palmer rattled the outside of the woodwork before twice going close as Milan’s unbeaten pre-season record looked to be under serious threat.
Chelsea’s Estevao impresses once again
The Serie A side introduced Luka Modric after the restart. But even the presence of the 39-year-old former Real Madrid and Tottenham playmaker did little to sway the momentum of the match.
Gittens blasted over from a narrow angle before Enzo Fernandez shot into the arms of Mike Maignan.
On the hour mark, Maresca brought on Estevao and it took all of five minutes for the young Brazilian to make an impact.
The 18-year-old was fouled in the box and fellow substitute Delap fired home the spot-kick.
Not long after, Milan pulled one back courtesy of Fofana after some nice work on out wide from Alexis Saelemaekers.
With a minute of the 90 left to play, Delap doubled his tally by sweeping the ball past Maignan following a neat swivel pass from Andrey Santos.
