CHARLOTTE, NC — Chelsea continue building towards the coming Premier League season under new manager Enzo Maresca as they face Champions League winners Real Madrid in North Carolina on Tuesday.
The match is the final leg of a grueling preseason tour, which has seen the Blues play five matches across the United States in the span of just 14 days. They fell to Man City in a mistake-prone 4-2 defeat just three days ago in Columbus, Ohio.
It’s the same for Real Madrid, who are still missing a number of first-team regulars on extended break after a deep Euro 2024 run. Los Blancos were beaten by rivals Barcelona in New Jersey on Saturday, as both teams are logging heavy minutes in quick succession.
The Sporting News is following the Chelsea vs. Real Madrid match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
MORE: All the latest Chelsea news and other EPL news
Chelsea vs. Real Madrid live score
| Score (1H) | Goal scorers | |
| Chelsea | 0 | – |
| Real Madrid | 0 | – |
Kickoff: 7:07 p.m. local (4:07 p.m. PT / 1:07 a.m. UK)
Location: Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC)
Starting lineups:
Chelsea (4-2-4, right to left): Jorgensen (GK) — R. James, Badiashile, Colwill, Gusto — E. Fernandez, Lavia— Madueke, Nkunku, Guiu, Sterling.
Real Madrid (4-4-2, right to left): Courtois (GK) — L. Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, F. Garcia — Modric, Martin, Ceballos, B. Diaz — Rodrygo, Vinicius.
Chelsea vs. Real Madrid live updates, highlights from summer friendly
4th min: Chance, Chelsea! Raheem Sterling heads over the crossbar! He gets a cross from Noni Madueke on the right, but it’s redirected off target!
3rd min: Real Madrid nearly create something out of nothing as Thibaut Courtois almost drops a goal kick in a bucket for Rodrygo on the run, but it’s very well defended by Levi Colwill on the run who shields off the ball and wins the foul.
Kickoff: They’re under way at Bank of America Stadium! The final match for both sides in their preseason tour of the United States. With the season set to begin in under two weeks, they will both head back to Europe after this match and get ready for the beginning of the campaign.
Chelsea vs. Real Madrid.
And here…we…🫰go pic.twitter.com/ts5iaVhx3l
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) August 6, 2024
Chelsea vs. Real Madrid: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more
15 mins to kickoff: The pitch here in Charlotte is a natural grass surface laid on top of the artificial turf which regularly entertains most participants at Bank of America Stadium. This has become a common practice for high-level European soccer matches here in the United States, as well as other international events like this summer’s Copa America.
However, some of the pitches have been criticized for how the ball plays on them and how they’re constructed. Some of it is warranted, but some of it must be accepted by the clubs.
The Sporting News did a deep dive into how these pitches are grown, prepared, and installed, the challenges they face, and how they are actively looking to improve the the surfaces ahead of the 2026 World Cup in this country.
30 mins to kickoff: Real Madrid youngster Mario Martin has picked up a solid amount of minutes this preseason as many of the team’s starting midfielders are out for an extended break. The 20-year-old has been with Los Blancos since 2016 when he was just 12 years old, and he was not called in to Spain’s Olympic squad for this summer, giving him a chance to shine for his club.
It will be interesting to see him perform tonight, and a strong preseason could help him get noticed elsewhere around Europe, given how stacked Madrid’s midfield is with young first-team talent. Reports, however, claim that for now, Martin will remain with the first-team to provide cover.
Another start for Mario Martin.
He has played EVERY minute so far in preseason. ✨ pic.twitter.com/0Mxeqykowk
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) August 6, 2024
45 mins to kickoff: The Chelsea lineup is in, and it’s a very attacking setup from Enzo Maresca. There are only two true midfielders in Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia, while four forwards feature in the lineup. Christopher Nkunku may drop back into midfield to help facilitate the buildup.
New goalkeeper signing Filip Jorgensen starts in net and gets a chance to shine.
Your Chelsea side to face Real Madrid. 💪#BluesInTheUSA pic.twitter.com/8Yy1K0NJui
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 6, 2024
1 hour to kickoff: Chelsea will use their blue marble kits for today, and it has to be said, they are some of the best kits in the Premier League this year. Exceptional look.
Chelsea vs Real Madrid. 👌#BluesInTheUSA pic.twitter.com/Y1NtMqXvBG
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 6, 2024
1 hour 15 mins to kick: This Chelsea fan from North Carolina has crocheted an entire blanket with every single game’s score on it. She got to present her gift to Gary Cahill! This kind of fan outreach is what these tours abroad are all about.
Christine, from Lawrenceville, recently combined her love for Chelsea and crocheting to make a special Chelsea blanket, which she got to present to Gary Cahill. A true Blue. 💙#WeBurnBlue pic.twitter.com/b1Jy0UuAOn
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 6, 2024
1 hour 30 mins to kick: The Real Madrid starting lineup is already out, and their Brazilian duo Vinicius and Rodrygo are both starting up front. The midfield is still gutted by absences, so 20-year-old youth product Mario Martin will get another start at the No. 6.
📋✅ Our starting XI!
🆚 @ChelseaFC #RealMadridOnTour pic.twitter.com/oYv8IemaXZ— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) August 6, 2024
1 hour 45 mins to kick: Weather will be something to watch ahead of tonight’s match, as the very fringes of the precipitation from Hurricane Debby approach. For now, it’s been kept at bay.
At Bank of America Stadium for Real Madrid vs. Chelsea.
You can feel the very edges of the hurricane weather approaching, but for now its holding off. pic.twitter.com/uSjnysi6g9
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) August 6, 2024
2 hours to kickoff: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Chelsea vs. Real Madrid from Charlotte, North Carolina. This one promises to be an intriguing preseason matchup!
Speaking to the media in Charlotte, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti backed fellow Italian Enzo Maresca to succeed at Chelsea, but only if given time for his project.
When asked by The Sporting News if he felt the same way, the new Chelsea boss was appreciative of Ancelotti’s support and agreed, quipping that the idea things will click immediately for the club “is PlayStation, this is not football.”
Chelsea vs. Real Madrid kickoff time
This preseason friendly from the Soccer Champions Tour kicks off from Bank of America Stadium on Tuesday, August 6 at 7 p.m. local time in Charlotte, NC. Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA/Canada | Tue, Aug. 6 | 7 p.m. ET |
| USA/Canada | Tue, Aug. 6 | 4 p.m. PT |
| UK | Wed, Aug. 7 | 12 a.m. BST |
| Australia | Wed, Aug. 7 | 9 a.m. AEST |
| India | Wed, Aug. 7 | 4:30 a.m. IST |
Chelsea vs. Real Madrid lineups, team news, starting 11
Enzo Maresca said that Nico Jackson has just returned to training from an ankle injury, but may need some time to ramp up before seeing the field for game minutes. It leaves Christopher Nkunku and new signing Marc Guiu to compete for the striker position in Charlotte.
Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen gets the start in net after arriving from Villarreal a week ago, as he was with the team but did not take the field against Man City over the weekend.
Chelsea starting lineup (4-2-4): Jorgensen (GK) — R. James, Badiashile, Colwill, Gusto — E. Fernandez, Lavia— Madueke, Nkunku, Guiu, Sterling.
Chelsea subs: (Squads released one hour prior to kickoff)
Real Madrid are still missing a number of internationals, with the midfield incredibly thin. Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, and Aurelien Tchouameni are all absent for a break following a deep Euro 2024 run, while midfield legend Toni Kroos has retired. Defender Dani Carvajal and new signing Kylian Mbappe are also still on their extended breaks, and Nacho has left the club to join Saudi side Al Qadsiah.
David Alaba is still recovering from his ACL tear and is not ready to return to the field. Brazilian duo Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo are back training with the team after their early Copa America exit, and should play a part in this match.
Real Madrid starting lineup (4-3-3): Courtois (GK) — L. Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, F. Garcia — Modric, Martin, Ceballos — B. Diaz, Rodrygo, Vinicius.
Real Madrid subs: (Squads released one hour prior to kickoff)
Chelsea vs. Real Madrid live stream, TV channel
| TV Channel | Streaming | |
| USA | ESPN2, ESPN Deportes | Fubo USA, ESPN+, WatchESPN |
| UK | Premier Sports 1 | Premier Sports app/website |
| Australia | — | Paramount+ |
| Canada | — | Fubo Canada |
| India | — | FanCode |
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