Chelsea to play this weekend as opponents for secret friendly revealed

Standard Sport understands that the Blues have arranged to meet Championship opposition in a match that will take place this weekend.

The game will help to boost the fitness of players not away with their respective countries during the current extended international break.

The match will not be open to spectators and will be played behind closed doors.

It will not be the first time that Chelsea have played an unofficial friendly since Xabi Alonso began work as their new manager on July 9.

Before they embarked on their pre-season tour of south-east Asia and Australia this summer, Chelsea played behind closed doors at their Cobham training ground against both League Two side Crawley Town and League One outfit Bromley, winning those games 3-1 and 3-0 respectively.

Chelsea and Portsmouth have not met in a competitive contest since a 4-0 win for Chelsea in the FA Cup third round at Stamford Bridge back in January 2012.

Struggle: Portsmouth currently sit 19th in the Championship after a disappointing start

PA

Chelsea currently sit 10th in the Premier League after a three-match winless run that followed an initially strong start by Alonso, while Portsmouth lie 19th in the Championship table after winning only two of their first seven matches this term under John Mousinho, drawing 2-2 with Blackburn at Fratton Park last time out.