Chelsea will play their first pre-season friendly against Brighton at Amex Stadium on Saturday with limited access for the home fans.
It will be an interesting friendly match, not only because it will be part of of the trial the lifting of the government ban on mass gatherings, but also because the two sides will face each other again in a few weeks for their Premier League opening fixture.
Chelsea will once again visit the Amex Stadium on September 14 before hosting Liverpool on September 19 at Stamford Bridge.
As many as 2,500 Brighton season ticket holders and members will be allowed to watch the pre-season friendly, although the Chelsea fans will not be permitted at the stadium.
The official statement from Chelsea reads: “The match will allow the government and clubs to trial methods for keeping fans safe inside stadiums, as well as implementing track and trace procedures, while allowing a reduced number of supporters to return to professional sports venues with as little risk as possible.”
Some of the measures being trialed including cashless stadiums, face masks at stands, socially distanced seatings, and random temperature checks by stewards.
As previously reported, Chelsea have cancelled their pre-season trip to the United States as they opt against travelling overseas due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Instead, Chelsea will likely have pre-season friendlies against local teams, similar to what they had prior to the Premier League restart.