Real Madrid are the high-profile opponents for Chelsea’s fifth and last pre-season friendly of their latest USA tour tonight. The Blues head to the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina desperately seeking to finish a tough trip with a morale-boosting victory having been brushed aside by Manchester City and Erling Haaland in Ohio at the weekend.
That 4-2 loss added to the heavy defeat suffered by Celtic in Indiana, with the new Enzo Maresca era having initially begun with a disappointing draw against third-tier Wrexham in California. An impressive 3-0 triumph over Mexican giants Club America in Atlanta has been the only victory of this five-match tour so far, with Chelsea set to face another tough test against a Real Madrid team looking to get back to winning ways after a friendly Clasico loss to Barcelona followed their narrow defeat to AC Milan in Chicago.
Both clubs remain without some key players tonight, including the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham for Madrid, though Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo both start. Chelsea, meanwhile, hand a full debut to new signing Filip Jorgensen as one of five changes made by Maresca. Follow Real Madrid vs Chelsea live below!
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Here is that header from Noni Madueke to reduce the arrears for Chelsea.
Neither Fran Garcia nor Thibaut Courtois covering themselves in glory there...
A lively first half in Charlotte, with Chelsea's alarming defensive shortcomings ruthlessly exposed again by both Dani Ceballos and Brahim Diaz.
But they've been sharper going forward to their credit, the impressive Noni Madueke heading home to bring them back into the game.
Half-time
50 mins: Thankfully Malo Gusto looks okay and is back on after some treatment.
48 mins: Malo Gusto is down for Chelsea and looks to have hurt his neck after a challenge from Eder Militao.
The physios are on and we’ll have a delay at the end of this opening period.
44 mins: Chelsea still look far too vulnerable at the back and are way, way too easy to play through.
Luckily for them, Real Madrid miss the target twice from decent openings.
Three minutes of added time will be played at the end of this lively first half.
41 mins: A bit of confidence about Chelsea now after that Noni Madueke goal.
Raheem Sterling cuts in off the left and finds Marc Guiu, who lays off for Enzo Fernandez to rifle into the side netting.
39 mins: Now the deficit is halved!
It’s slick build-up play from Chelsea, ending in an enticing Enzo Fernandez cross that is headed home by a leaping Noni Madueke at the back post.
Poor defending from Fran Garcia and Thibaut Courtois totally misjudged the flight of the ball.
Game on in Charlotte.
36 mins: Chelsea should reduce the deficit!
Raheem Sterling plays a gorgeous one-two with Malo Gusto.
He’s in behind the Madrid backline, but his squared pass into the six-yard box has too much on it for Christopher Nkunku, who is denied a tap-in.
That had to be a goal.
33 mins: Chelsea started this game pretty sharply, but have gone completely off the boil now.
Filip Jorgensen has to be alert to snuff out the danger again before a sloppy pass inside their own half has Real off to the races once more.
This time Malo Gusto gets back to deal with the danger posed by Brahim Diaz.
