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.