Good morning and welcome to live coverage of Chelsea's winter-friendly against Aston Villa for the inaugural CBF | Al Wahda Challenge Cup at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The match is an opportunity for several members of the Blues' first team to increase their match sharpness ahead of the resumption of the Premier League later this month. Head coach Graham Potter, meanwhile, can run the rule over a number of players from the club's Development Squad, 12 of whom have spent the week in the Middle East.
There is silverware to be won with the CBF | Al Wahda Challenge Cup up for grabs – and given the form that Chelsea went into the World Cup break in, Potter will not want his side to suffer another mood-altering defeat against Premier League opposition in Aston Villa.
We will have live coverage of the contest at the Al Nahyan Stadium – kick off is at 2.10 GMT – and plenty more from across the football.london website before and after the match with our chief Chelsea correspondent Adam Newson on hand. Updates will appear below.
Key Events
Full time: Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
It's a defeat for the youthful Chelsea side. But the match is overshadowed by that potential injury to Broja.
Elliott close [1-0]
Chelsea almost snatch a late equaliser as Elliott has a shot deflected over by Chambers.
Bettinelli again [1-0]
Aston Villa pushing for a late second and Bettinelli does well to deny Ings.
Augustinsson denied [1-0]
Another low stop from the Chelsea goalkeeper to deny Villa.
Ben Elliott has been introduced for Josh Brooking. Lewis Hall has dropped into centre-back.
15 minutes to play [1-0]
Largely an Under-21 Chelsea side now, plus Bettinelli, Jorginho and Cucurella.
Can they find an equaliser?
Good stop Bettinelli [1-0]
McGinn opens up the Chelsea defence and finds Bailey, whose low shot is pushed wide by Bettinelli. Humphreys helps clear the ball after its put back into the box.
McGinn over [1-0]
The Aston Villa midfielder looking for his second of the game but fires his shot well over the crossbar.
Hall denied [1-0]
Almost an equaliser for Chelsea as Rankine lays the ball off to Hall, whose shot is tipped wide from Olsen.
Half time: Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
The youthful Blues side go into the interval behind after McGinn's goal.
Unfortunately, the biggest talking point so far is Broja's injury.
Raikhy off the post [1-0]
Almost a second for Villa as Raikhy clips the post late on in the half.
Aubameyang denied [1-0]
Attempt from the edge of the box from Aubameyang but it's straight at Olsen who saves easily.
Broja down [1-0]
Screams of pain from Armando Broja after going down. He's holding his knee. Hope that isn't anywhere near as bad as it looks and sounds.
So close from Hutchinson [1-0]
Absolutely brilliant from the Chelsea winger as he skips beyond Lucas Digne, and another challenge, before he whips a shot against the far post. So unlucky for the 19-year-old.
Goal McGinn [1-0]
Aston Villa take the lead in Abu Dhabi as McGinn slides a finish beyond Bettinelli.
Good from Hutchinson [0-0]
Bright start from the winger as he comes inside, exchanges passes with Aubameyang, and has his shot saved.
Confirmed Aston Villa side
Aston Villa: Olsen, Young, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Luiz, McGinn; Rikhy, Watkins, Bailey
Aston Villa substitutes: Marschall, Zych, Feeney, Chambers, Bogarde, Augustinsson, Reven, Nakamba, K.Young, O'Reilly, Archer, Ings
Confirmed Chelsea side
Chelsea: Bettinelli, Brooking, Humphreys, Chalobah, Cucurella; Webster, Jorginho, Hall; Hutchinson, Broja, Aubameyang
Chelsea substitutes: Beach, Gilchrist, Casadei, Elliott, Rankine, Burstow, Mothersille
Team news very shortly
We're a little more than an hour away from kick-off in Abu Dhabi, so the Chelsea team news will be dropping soon.
Who would you like to see in the starting XI?
