Predictions Club Friendlies - Chelsea vs Inter Milan

Club Friendlies - Chelsea vs Inter Milan
Match Time: 11-08-2024 21:00 Sunday (GMT+7)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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This is Chelsea's final friendly before they play title winners Manchester City in their opening game of the 2024-25 Premier League season on August 18.

Despite a strong end to the Premier League season, in which Chelsea won their last five fixtures and lost just once in their last 15 top-flight games, manager Mauricio Pochettino was dismissed at the end of the season.

Leicester City boss Maresca was appointed in place of Pochettino, with promises of an attractive style of football akin to that of Pep Guardiola.

However, if pre-season results are anything to go by, then fans will need to be patient while the players adapt to Maresca's system.

Chelsea have only won one of their five friendly matches so far and were beaten 4-2 by Manchester City on August 3.

Maresca himself has noted that his side have been defensively vulnerable, and has publicly stated he is trying to mitigate these issues by positioning the Blues' defensive line somewhat deeper.

More positively, the Blues have been strongly linked with Wolves star Pedro Neto, and his signature would complement the creativity of Cole Palmer in the forward line.

Opponents Inter won their second title in four seasons last term, and this match against Chelsea is their final game before they begin their 2024-25 Serie A campaign against Genoa on August 17.

In truth, the Nerazzurri ran away with the league title in 2023-24 and finished 19 points clear of second-placed AC Milan, as well as 41 points clear of 2022-23 title-winners Napoli.

Simone Inzaghi's side scored 89 goals and conceded 22 times, and this made them the division's best offensive and defensive team.

Inter were also excellent away from home in the league last term and in fact only lost once on the road in Serie A.

Inzaghi's side have won three, drawn one and lost one of their five pre-season fixtures so far, including a 2-0 defeat against Al Ittihad last time out on August 7.

Prediction: Chelsea 1-3 Inter Milan