Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea are about to face Juventus in Hong Kong in what is their third official pre-season friendly, but Xabi Alonso is without key players Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill.
The Blues have travelled to Hong Kong to take on Juventus at the impressive Kai Tak Stadium, having spent the last fortnight in Australia. They beat Western Sydney 6-4 down under, before losing to Spurs.
Chelsea FC v FC Barcelona - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5
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Now, Chelsea are doing battle with Jeremie Boga’s Juventus. A side that includes recently linked Chelsea targets Francisco Conceicao and Andrea Cambiaso, though new signing Kerim Alajbegovic is absent.
Joining the Bosnian in missing the game are two of Chelsea’s more important players, in Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill. On Tuesday, Palmer was seen training by himself, and he has been left out as a precaution.
Why Colwill and Palmer are missing from Chelsea’s squad
After the team was announced on social platforms, it was reported by BBC Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella that Palmer and Colwill’s absences from the XI were just precautionary, and the injuries described as minor.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Chelsea FC: Sydney Super Cup
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It comes after The Athletic’s Simon Phillips reported earlier this morning that he had been told about minor injuries sustained by the duo, with Colwill sitting out Tuesday’s training and Palmer, by himself.
He said on X: “Been told Cole Palmer (individual training) and Levi Colwill (sat out session) had minor issues yesterday and was precautionary. Let’s see if they start or are on the bench versus Juve.”
Hopefully, it is just a knock for both players. But there is obvious concern there, given how important Palmer and Colwill are, and that both players endured injury difficulties during the 2025-26 campaign.
Chelsea XI v Juventus: Robert Sanchez; Marco Palestra, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato; Moises Caicedo, Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli; Geovany Quenda, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens; Danny Welbeck.