Kawasaki Frontale vs Chelsea
J-League World Challenge 2019
Venue: Nissan Stadium, Yokohama, Japan
Date: Friday July 19, 2019
Kick-off time: 7pm JST, 11am BST
Chelsea contest the first of two pre-season fixtures in Japan on Friday as they face current J1 League champions Kawasaki Frontale in Yokohama.
The Blues began life under new boss Frank Lampard with a nine-day stay in Ireland, where they drew 1-1 with Bohemians before a stronger side thrashed St Patrick's Athletic 4-0 thanks to goals from returning loanee Mason Mount, Emerson Palmieri and Olivier Giroud.
Making their first trip to Japan since 2012, Chelsea face a high-profile clash with reigning LaLiga champions Barcelona in Saitama on Tuesday, but first will look to win the J-League World Challenge at Nissan Stadium - venue for the 2002 World Cup Final between Brazil and Germany.
Here is what you need to know...
Chelsea team news and tour squad
Chelsea supporters will be eager to catch a glimpse of new arrival Christian Pulisic, who joined up with his team-mates earlier this week after helping the United States reach the final of the Gold Cup.
He is expected to feature from the bench in Yokohama.
N'Golo Kante missed both friendlies in Ireland due to a lingering knee injury, but has made the trip to Japan and Lampard expressed hope that he will feature in one of the next two matches.
Chelsea are without Willian, who missed the Copa America Final with Brazil due to his own knee problem.
Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Antonio Rudiger and Reece James are all sidelined, while Ethan Ampadu was left at home as he prepares for a loan move.
Lampard is likely to continue to experiment with his squad and potentially field different XIs in each half.
Predicted Chelsea starting XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Luiz, Alonso; Jorginho, Kovacic; Pedro, Barkley, Mount; Giroud.
Chelsea's 25-man Japan tour squad
Goalkeepers: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Willy Caballero, Jamie Cumming
Defenders: Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Davide Zappacosta, Kurt Zouma, Marcos Alonso, Andreas Christensen, Emerson Palmieri, Fikayo Tomori
Midfielders: Kenedy, N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Danny Drinkwater, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Ross Barkley, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, Kasey Palmer
Forwards: Pedro, Michy Batshuayi, Olivier Giroud, Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic
Prediction: Kawasaki Frontale 1-2 Chelsea
In 2018, Kawasaki Frontale became the first team to win back-to-back J-League titles since 2013.
This season, they currently sit third in the standings behind FC Tokyo and Yokohama F. Marinos - four points off the summit but with a game in hand.
Winners of three of their last four matches across all competitions, Toru Oniki's outfit - who boast the likes of Brazilian forward Leandro Damiao - will be eager to cause a shock.
Fitness certainly should not be an issue given that they are in the middle of their domestic season, though Chelsea's superior quality should win out in a close contest.
Tickets
Click here for more information about tickets to the match.
TV channel and live stream information
The match can be viewed via a live stream on Chelsea's official website or on the 5th Stand app.
Fans in the UK and Ireland can watch all pre-season games via the website for £10.99, while on the app games are available from £1.99 each.
Per Chelsea, each friendly can be purchased from four hours before kick-off.
Standard Sport will also have full coverage of the contest via our live blog.
