Chelsea have announced they will take on Premier League rivals Aston Villa in Abu Dhabi next month in a match for the CBF | Al Wahda Challenge Cup.
A makeshift Blues squad – which will not include those players representing their countries at the World Cup – will undertake a warm-weather training camp in the UAE in order to remain match-fit ahead of the resumption of Chelsea's Premier League campaign on December 27.
A friendly was always expected to take place during Chelsea's time in Abu Dhabi and the Blues have confirmed they will take on familiar opposition in Villa on Sunday, December 11, at the Al Nahyan Stadium. Kick-off will be at 6.10pm local time, which is 2.10pm UK time.
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Speaking earlier this month about Chelsea's plans during the World Cup break, head coach Graham Potter said: "We will have a bit of a break and then reconvene, a bit of training, and are off to a warm weather camp. There will be [potentially] a couple of games to prepare for the restart."
The match will be an opportunity for Chelsea to claim a piece of silverware under Potter and the Blues have already defeated Aston Villa under the Englishman since he replaced Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge in September.
It was in October that Chelsea went to Villa Park and recorded a 2-0 victory courtesy of a brace from Mason Mount.
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