Juventus claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Chelsea in an entertaining pre-season friendly on Wednesday, with Edon Zhegrova’s second-half strike proving to be the difference between the two European giants.

The opening 45 minutes saw both teams create chances without finding a breakthrough. Chelsea enjoyed more of the possession and looked comfortable in midfield, but Juventus remained disciplined at the back, limiting the Blues to only a handful of clear-cut opportunities.

After the restart, both managers made wholesale changes to give several players valuable minutes ahead of the new season.

Chelsea introduced the likes of Nicolas Jackson, Estevão and Liam Delap, while Juventus brought on Jonathan David, Edon Zhegrova and Kenan Yildiz.

The decisive moment arrived in the 68th minute when Zhegrova finished a well-worked move after receiving an assist from Kenan Yildiz. The goal capped an impressive attacking sequence and handed Juventus the advantage they would ultimately protect until the final whistle.

Chelsea responded by increasing the pressure in search of an equaliser. The Premier League side controlled 57 percent of possession, completed over 480 passes, and won five corner kicks, but struggled to convert their dominance into meaningful chances against a resolute Juventus defence.

The match also featured a physical battle in midfield, with five yellow cards issued. Douglas Luiz, Federico Gatti and Bremer were booked for Juventus, while Moisés Caicedo and Roméo Lavia received cautions for Chelsea.

Defensively, Juventus remained organised throughout the contest, with their goalkeeper making several key saves to preserve the clean sheet.

Chelsea registered nine shots but managed only two on target, highlighting the Italian side’s defensive discipline.

The victory provides another confidence boost for Juventus as they continue preparations for the upcoming campaign, while Chelsea will view the encounter as another useful opportunity to assess new signings and tactical combinations before competitive football resumes.

Despite the defeat, the Blues showed encouraging spells of possession and intensity, giving their coaching staff plenty of positives to build on ahead of the new season.