A second-half flash from Zhegrova, created by Yildiz, was enough to round off a mature and disciplined display. Juventus beat Chelsea 1-0 in Hong Kong’s prestigious friendly, making it four wins from four in pre-season while keeping another clean sheet. This time against one of Europe’s elite sides — even if Chelsea remain very much a team still taking shape. There is always a danger in reading too much into pre-season. But at least Spalletti’s Juventus are playing football, and enjoying it. The supporters in Hong Kong embraced that too, energised by the presence of Serie A clubs on this Asian tour.
The early signs had already arrived from Inter, who beat Manchester City in Hong Kong in a friendly rematch of the 2023 Champions League final. Between them, the two Italian clubs brought around 86,000 spectators to the new, multi-purpose Kai Tak Stadium, evenly divided across the two fixtures. The local supporters showed that their attachment to Serie A goes far beyond the league’s current difficulties, from financial pressures to a lack of results. Nerazzurri and Bianconeri still bring everyone together, at least in Asia. Banners. Photos. Autographs. Open training sessions. The enthusiasm was everywhere.
From a commercial and audience perspective, the signals are significant — and increasingly familiar. Last year it was Milan against Liverpool that filled the stands, another success built on the enduring football connection between Italy and England. Chinese football may have gradually abandoned the ambitious growth plans that once surrounded it, overtaken in recent years by Saudi Arabia’s arrival as the new financial force in the game. The passion of Chinese supporters, however, has not faded. The audience remains enormous, and the most recognisable clubs can reach it well beyond the summer friendly circuit. Those tours still bring several million euros into the accounts of each club involved.
Next stop: Australia. More specifically, Perth, the city that last February was preparing to host the Serie A meeting between Milan and Como. The first taste of the 2026/27 season will be a Derby d’Italia with real prestige attached: Juventus and Inter meet on Saturday at Optus Stadium in front of an expected crowd of 50,000 to 60,000, with a near sell-out forecast. Juventus have also opened Casa Juventus in recent days, a dedicated space for supporters, families and the local community, where fans can follow every moment around the team. From China to Australia, Italian football still travels.