Chita vs Irkutsk - Cup

Chita prepare to host Irkutsk at the home ground on July 30, 2026, with both sides eager to assert their credentials and claim a result that could define their Cup season. Chelsea could do with a morale-boosting win when they face AC Milan in Jakarta.

Both Chita and Irkutsk will be eager to build momentum when they meet in Cup. Chita will be keen to seize the initiative and build some momentum on home soil. Irkutsk will travel with intent, knowing that a positive result here could kick-start their campaign. If he finds a way of those three players gelling and playing together - making one of them run in beyond - then Chelsea will have a very good season.

The tactical subplot is compelling: Chita favour a possession-based game built on patience and control, while Irkutsk are happiest sitting deep and exploding forward on the counter — a classic contrast of philosophies. Hipolito/Europa Press via Getty Images) According to Fabrizio Romano, Man United 'are not proceeding' with a move for the Brighton midfielder.

Individual quality could tip the balance. The league's leading scorer Matheus Reis, with 1 goals to his name this season, is a reminder of the firepower on display. Discipline at the back and sharpness in front of goal will likely tilt the balance one way or the other. However, it has been said that after asking for information on Zirkzee and Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, the Blues forward is a more feasible option.

The fixture has the feel of a coin-flip, and picking a winner with any conviction would require a braver pundit than most. A share of the spoils looks the most probable outcome, with neither side holding a decisive edge — a 1-1 draw feels like a fitting result. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the Cup standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. Joe Gomez is expected to miss the start of Liverpool's Premier League campaign through injury - but it is not likely to impact the Reds' transfer plans.