Half-time: AC Milan 0 Chelsea 1

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Chelsea lead in New Jersey courtesy of Kevin de Bruyne’s tidy finish.

The Belgian wide-man was handed a starting place after recovering from an injury he picked up during the Blues’ recent tour of Asia.

And he resumed his encouraging pre-season form, firing past keeper Christian Abbiati following Eden Hazard’s terrific run.

Playing for a place against Real Madrid in Wednesday’s final of the Guinness International Champions Cup, Chelsea made a lively start at the MetLife Stadium.

Oscar went close in the opening minute and Branislav Ivanovic missed a chance when he headed wide after being found by Hazard.

De Bruyne then found the net after good work from Marko Van Ginkel but was offside.

However, there was no doubt about the goal which broke the deadlock shortly before the half-hour mark.

AC Milan had been enjoying a good spell – Petr Cech saved from Stephan El Shaarawy and Ivanovic did superbly to prevent former Manchester City man Mario Balotelli getting to the rebound.

John Terry, who played 90 minutes against Inter Milan on Thursday, is among the Chelsea substitutes, while a tight hamstring was the reason given for David Luiz’s absence from the squad.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1):: Cech; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Bertrand; Essien, Van Ginkel; De Bruyne, Oscar, Hazard, Ba.

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