Real Madrid beat Chelsea to end preseason U.S. tour

Real Madrid closed out their tour of the U.S. with a 2-1 friendly win over Chelsea at Bank of America Stadium on Charlotte, North Carolina, on Tuesday night.

New arrival Kylian Mbappé and last year's standout performer Jude Bellingham did not take part in Madrid's tour of the U.S., with the pair resting after a busy summer at the European Championship.

But despite being without two of the game's biggest names, their was still plenty of star power on the field for the defending LaLiga champions, who went in front before 20 minutes when Lucas Vázquez poked home from close range following a goalmouth scramble.

Madrid doubled the lead shortly after when Brahim Díaz ran down a through ball from Vinícius Júnior and rounded Chelsea keeper Filip Jörgensen before slotting home from a tight angle.

Chelsea, who'd made very few trips into Madrid's end of the field, pulled a goal back before the break with Noni Madueke's towering header at the back post from an Enzo Fernández cross.

The second half finished goalless.

Carlo Ancelotti's side begin the 2024-25 campaign in earnest on Aug. 14 against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup, a match featuring last year's Champions and Europa League winners. Chelsea have one more club friendly on Aug. 11 before starting their Premier League season at home to Manchester City on Aug. 18.