Udinese 1-3 Chelsea FC LIVE! Preseason friendly result, match stream and latest updates today

Chelsea vs Udinese LIVE!

Raheem Sterling scored his first Chelsea goal as Thomas Tuchel’s side ended what had been a turbulent preseason on a relative high against Udinese.

While this was not exactly the most prolific performance in the world, Chelsea did at least restore some order after being beaten 4-0 by Arsenal in Orlando, a result that left Tuchel questioning the commitment of some of his players.

No such queries could be made in north-eastern Italy on Friday night, however. Throughout, Tuchel’s team made up for their shortcomings in front of goal with some energetic pressing, swarming the home side into mistakes.

N’Golo Kante opened the scoring with a brilliant strike from outside the box after taking the game by the scruff of the neck, before Sterling enjoyed a slice of luck as his saved shot looped back over the ‘keeper.

Gerard Deulofeu made things interesting just before half-time by pouncing on a poor Edouard Mendy save to tap into an empty net, although Mason Mount would wrap up the game with a tap in during the dying embers.

Udinese vs Chelsea latest news

• Full match report

• What we learned

Goodnight

22:59 , Jonathan Gorrie

Goodnight and thank you for Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Chelsea’s preseason win over Udinese on Friday night.

What we learned

22:30 , Jonathan Gorrie

Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Udinese breathes positivity in their pre-season after a mixed tour of the United States, writes Nizaar Kinsella.

New signings Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly started and performed well away at the Italian side.

However, for all their dominance, they only had two goals to show for it and the game remained in the balance until Mason Mount added a 90th minute goal to N’Golo Kante and Raheem Sterling’s first half strikes.

The Blues played a team close to the one which will face Everton next week, with a team of fringe players set to play Udinese’s fringe and reserve team tomorrow in another friendly which will be behind closed doors.

With the usual caveats that this was a pre-season friendly - and against a weaker side in a weaker league - here are the key takeaways from the match...

Full match report

22:22 , Jonathan Gorrie

Raheem Sterling scored his first goal for Chelsea as Thomas Tuchel’s side finished preseason with a win away at Udinese on Friday night.

Tuchel last season hailed N’Golo Kante as Chelsea’s Mohamed Salah and, with goals like the opener in north-eastern Italy, it’s easy to see why.

Driving through the lines, the midfielder chose not to free Marcos Alonso (often Chelsea’s most creative player despite wanting to leave for Barcelona) and instead opted to shoot himself, firing beyond Marco Silvestri and into the bottom right corner.

Read our full match report here!

FT: Udinese 1-3 Chelsea

21:57 , Jonathan Gorrie

GOAL! Udinese 1-3 Chelsea | Mason Mount ‘89

21:49 , Jonathan Gorrie

89:00 - Hudson-Odoi drops his shoulder, takes on the defender and crosses for Mason Mount to score an easy tap-in.

21:43 , Jonathan Gorrie

Kenedy watch

21:41 , Jonathan Gorrie

81:00 - Kenedy coming on the last 10 minutes or so.

What a strange Chelsea career he’s had...

Chelsea changes

21:32 , Jonathan Gorrie

CHANCE FOR CHELSEA

21:26 , Jonathan Gorrie

66:00 - Havertz, though under pressure and from a tight angle, can’t finish from point-blank range.

CHANCE FOR CHELSEA!

21:19 , Jonathan Gorrie

60:00 - Sterling almost has his second but his deflected shot from outside the box hits the post!

CHANCE FOR UDINESE

21:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

58:00 - Success looks through on goal but pulls a shot well wide.

CHANCE FOR CHELSEA!

21:14 , Jonathan Gorrie

54:00 - Sterling tries a backheel but it’s blocked by a defender with the goalkeeper nowhere to be seen!

CHANCE FOR CHELSEA

21:10 , Jonathan Gorrie

51:00 - Super turn from Kante leads to a shot, although it’s well-saved.

Slight injury concern

21:08 , Jonathan Gorrie

49:00 - A worry as Kai Havertz hobbles off holding his shoulder but, luckily, the German is back in action.

Back underway!

21:04 , Jonathan Gorrie

Here we go!

HT: Udinese 1-2 Chelsea

20:51 , Jonathan Gorrie

GOAL! Udinese 1-2 Chelsea | Gerard Deulofeu ‘42

20:44 , Jonathan Gorrie

42:00 - Mendy pushes Perrerya’s shot straight into Deulofeu’s path and the former Watford man taps into an empty net.

Chelsea expert Nizaar Kinsella

20:42 , Jonathan Gorrie

Chelsea have reacted after a poor run of pre-season matches in the United States with a brilliant first 30 minutes away at Udinese.

Their intensity has returned in Italy after Tuchel criticised them for a lack of commitment after the 4-0 loss to Arsenal in Orlando, adding that he was worried his side wouldn’t be ready to face Everton.

The squad had Sunday and Monday off after the match, with the coaching staff searching for solutions as their players reset after a hot and humid tour across the Atlantic.

It has been a tough week of double sessions back at Cobham Training Centre and Chelsea now look far more ready to take on Everton in their opening Premier League match.

20:41 , Jonathan Gorrie

GOAL! Udinese 0-2 Chelsea | Raheem Sterling ‘37

20:39 , Jonathan Gorrie

37:00 - Played in by Jorginho, Sterling dummies the ‘keeper and shoots, although the ball deflects back off him and into the back of the net.

Brilliant defending from Koulibaly

20:37 , Jonathan Gorrie

36:00 - Delefeuo (remember him?!) is seemingly clear through on goal but brilliant defending, and a very scary lookng challenge, from Koulibaly stops him in his tracks.

In other news....

20:33 , Jonathan Gorrie

The Frenchman has been refered to as “a certain Mr Kounde” on Chelsea TV...

Alonso heavily involved

20:30 , Jonathan Gorrie

29:00 - Brilliant pass from Jorginho finds Alonso breaking behind the lines on the left, although no one has kept up with the Spaniard’s cutback.

Drinks break

20:27 , Jonathan Gorrie

25:00 - Comes at a bad time for Chelsea, who looked like they were going through the gears.

Chelsea missed chances

20:24 , Jonathan Gorrie

22:00 - In the minutes after Kante’s goal, Chelsea have been guility of missing chances.

Mount and Havertz both guilty of wasting good openings.

GOAL! Udinese 0-1 Chelsea | N’Golo Kante ‘19

20:21 , Jonathan Gorrie

19:00 - He’s back!

Kante drives through midfield, chooses not to pass while in stride and fires a shot into the bottom right corner from just outside the box.

Clinical!

CHANCE FOR CHELSEA

20:19 , Jonathan Gorrie

17:00 - Up the other end of the field now and Jorginho plays Havertz in at a tight angle, although he fires wide off while off-balance.

CHANCE FOR UDINESE

20:18 , Jonathan Gorrie

16:00 - A worry for Chelsea!

First time the home side pick up the ball in midfield and they’re through, catching Chelsea cold and turning their defenders. Mendy, luckily, clears up.

CHANCE FOR CHELSEA

20:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

15:00 - Poor free-kick from James, though the ball bounces out to Kante, who volleys over.

Dangerous free-kick

20:15 , Jonathan Gorrie

14:00 - Mount hauled over from just outside the box, slightly to the left.

Will be a few candidates to take this one...

CHANCE FOR CHELSEA

20:14 , Jonathan Gorrie

12:00 - James pushes to the byline, forcing a fairly low cross in and Mount connects.

Can’t quite direct it goalward, however.

Chelsea dominating

20:10 , Jonathan Gorrie

08:00 - Sterling shot the only real chance so far but Chelsea are bossing the ball, looking to stretch the away side.

CHANCE FOR CHELSEA

20:07 , Jonathan Gorrie

05:00 - What a move!

Mount and Alonso combine well on the left and the latter drives towards the box, playing Sterling in on the penalty spot.

His shot, however, is well-saved.

Penalty claim!

20:06 , Jonathan Gorrie

04:00 - Brilliant pressing from Mount catches the home side on the ball just outside their box.

Havertz looks to pounce and his brought down, but the claim is waved away.

Looked as if the German should have been rewarded!

Brilliant from Kante

20:05 , Jonathan Gorrie

03:00 - Kante might have struggled with injury last season but the Frenchman looked at his best just then.

Taking the ball on the half-turn, the midfielder looks to play Havertz in after breaking through the lines but his pass is slightly overhit.

Sloppy start from both sides

20:02 , Jonathan Gorrie

01:00 - To be expected perhaps, although both sides with some sloppy passes and touches in the opening exchanges.

KICK-OFF

20:01 , Jonathan Gorrie

00:00 - We’re underway in Udine!

Can Chelsea end preseason on a high? It feels like they need to.

19:53 , Jonathan Gorrie

An update on some of the Chelsea players not involved tonight

19:39 , Jonathan Gorrie

Udinese starting lineup

19:25 , Jonathan Gorrie

Chelsea expert Nizaar Kinsella

19:10 , Jonathan Gorrie

It’s worth keeping in mind that, although this is a strong team to face Udinese, Chelsea have left out big names like Ben Chilwell, Christian Pulisic and Mateo Kovacic.That’s not a slight on their ability but there’s a second friendly against an Udinese XI behind closed doors at the training ground tomorrow.Those not involved today will play in that match with Thomas Tuchel keen to get as many of his players doing 90 minutes as possible over the two matches.With a 28 man squad at his disposal in Italy, almost all his players will have a full match under their belt ahead of the upcoming Premier League season kick-off away at Everton.

Confirmed Chelsea lineup

19:00 , Jonathan Gorrie

Why has Timo Werner not traveled?

18:52 , Jonathan Gorrie

According to the club’s official website, Timo Werner stayed behind due to a slight injury.

Chelsea’s squad for tonight

18:48 , Jonathan Gorrie

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Marcos Alonso

Jorginho

Thiago Silva

N’Golo Kante

Mateo Kovacic

Christian Pulisic

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Marcus Bettinelli

Trevoh Chalobah

Conor Gallagher

Edouard Mendy

Raheem Sterling

Mason Mount

Callum Hudson-Odoi

Ben Chilwell

Hakim Ziyech

Kenedy

Reece James

Kalidou Koulibaly

Cesar Azpilicueta

Kai Havertz

Malang Sarr

Emerson Palmieri

Billy Gilmour

Harvey Vale

Armando Broja

Ethan Ampadu

Sevilla reveal how Barcelona beat Chelsea to Jules Kounde

18:37 , Jonathan Gorrie

Sevilla director of football Monchi has confirmed Chelsea had agreed a deal to sign Jules Kounde in place before Barcelona stole a march to secure his signature.

Standard Sport reported last week that the Blues were edging towards a deal for the 23-year-old, only to see the situation change over the weekend.

Monchi went on to explain how the Catalan giants signed the France international under Chelsea noses for £42million, with a host of sizeable add-ons.

Read the full story here!

Real Madrid make move to sign Armando Broja from Chelsea

18:21 , Jonathan Gorrie

Real Madrid have enquired about the availability of Chelsea striker Armando Broja.

The Spanish giants are looking to offload several forwards and hope to add a number of young strikers to their squad for the coming season, with Broja among their targets.

Chelsea, though, are now preparing Broja to be part of Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the coming season after initially considering bids for the 20-year-old.

The striker is back training with the first team ahead of tonight’s friendly against Udinese, having been promoted back into the group after transfer interest from elsewhere.

Read the full story here!

Prediction

18:10 , Jonathan Gorrie

With the Premier League season fast approaching, Tuchel and Chelsea can be expected to take this match seriously.

Goals have proved a problem for the Blues, an ongoing problem, and they will de desperate for things to click into gear up front in Italy. Chelsea should have enough to ensure they go into the serious business off the back of a win.

Chelsea to win, 2-0.

Chelsea team news

17:57 , Jonathan Gorrie

Ruben Loftus-Cheek and N’Golo Kante were unable to travel to America so this will be their first chance to be involved in a pre-season match with their team-mates, and Tuchel is likely to take the opportunity to give the pair minutes in what should be a strong team in the final pre-season match.

Kalidou Koulibaly featured off the bench against Arsenal and will be pushing for his first start in a Chelsea shirt, while Raheem Sterling is also expected to be involved.

Cesar Azpilicueta continues to be heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, so Tuchel has a decision to make over whether or not he involves the Spaniard.

How to watch

17:41 , Jonathan Gorrie

TV channel: Tonight’s match will not be televised live on TV in the UK.

Live stream: However, Chelsea are streaming the game for free via their website and 5th Stand app.

Live blog: You can follow all the action as it happens via Standard Sport’s live blog.

Welcome

17:21 , Jonathan Gorrie

Good evening and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Chelsea’s final preseason game of the summer against Udinese.

The summer break has been a difficult one for Thomas Tuchel and the German needs a big performance to raise spirits heading into their Premier League season opener away at Everton next week.

Kick-off from the Dacia Arena - or the Stadio Friuli - in Udine is at 8pm BST and Nizaar Kinsella will be providing expert analysis tonight.