Mudryk makes comeback as Chelsea falls to Juventus in Hong Kong

Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk played for the first time in 20 months as a substitute in their 1-0 loss to Juventus in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

The match, reported by PUNCH Online, saw the Ukrainian player come on in the 82nd minute at Kai Tak Stadium. He got a warm welcome from the 43,000 fans present, just five days after his suspension for testing positive for the banned substance meldonium ended.

Mudryk, who is 25 years old, quickly showed his attacking skills. He almost connected with a long pass from Estevao Willian and put pressure on the Juventus defenders while playing on the left wing.

He also sent in a late left-footed cross, marking his return to competitive football 615 days after his last game. He scored in Chelsea's Conference League win over Heidenheim back in November 2024.

The forward joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023. Supporters welcomed him back, wearing shirts with his name and number. Messages celebrating his return flashed on the stadium screens.

Mudryk's comeback followed his participation in an open training session and another closed session. This convinced new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso that he was fit to play.

But Chelsea faced their second straight defeat under Alonso. Edon Zhegrova scored a brilliant curling goal in the 68th minute, giving Juventus the win.

The Blues had several chances but could not score. Danny Welbeck, Jamie Gittens, and Italian full-back Marco Palestra were among those who missed opportunities.

Nicolas Jackson also came back to action after his loan at Bayern Munich. He made his first Chelsea appearance in over a year before being replaced by Mudryk after a 37-minute performance.