Mudryk makes comeback following 20-month ban as Juventus edge out Chelsea with 1-0 victory

Mykhailo Mudryk, Chelsea's Ukrainian forward, stepped onto the pitch for the first time in 20 months as a substitute in the club's 1-0 loss to Juventus in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

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The 25-year-old's appearance at Kai Tak Stadium, in front of 43,000 spectators, came just five days after serving a suspension for testing positive for the banned substance meldonium, and he was greeted with a warm welcome from the crowd.

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Mudryk's brief time on the field was marked by his attacking prowess, as he nearly connected with a through-ball from Estevao Willian and applied pressure on opponents while playing on the left wing.

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He also made his presence known with a late left-footed cross, capping off his return to competitive action 615 days after his last appearance, which saw him score in Chelsea's Conference League win over Heidenheim in November 2024.

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The Chelsea faithful showed their support for Mudryk, donning shirts with his name and number, while messages celebrating his return appeared on the stadium screens, underscoring the enthusiasm surrounding his comeback.

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Mudryk's return to the pitch followed his participation in an open training session and another closed-door session, which convinced Chelsea's new manager, Xabi Alonso, that he was ready to feature in the match.

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However, Chelsea's outing ended in defeat, their second consecutive loss under Alonso, as Edon Zhegrova's impressive curling strike in the 68th minute sealed the win for Juventus.

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The Blues created multiple scoring opportunities but were unable to capitalize, with players like Danny Welbeck, Jamie Gittens, and Marco Palestra failing to convert their chances.

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Nicolas Jackson, who had been on loan at Bayern Munich, also made his return to action, playing for 37 minutes before being replaced by Mudryk, marking his first Chelsea appearance in over a year.