Jayden Wareham scored our goal with a tidy close-range finish but by that point we had already fallen 2-0 behind after first-half strikes from Matias Soule and Gabriele Mulazzi.

Both sides hit the post in an open and entertaining contest but rather than a grandstand finish, it was Juventus who had the final say when substitute Tommaso Galante fired a third in the penultimate minute of normal time.

The 3-1 loss leaves the Blues on three points from their opening two games in Group H.

The selection

There were three changes for the young Blues from our matchday one victory against Zenit St Petersburg, with the injured Bashir Humphreys replaced by Luke Badley-Morgan in an otherwise unchanged back three in front of goalkeeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe.

Josh Brooking and Joe Haigh also came into the side further forward, while the three goalscorers from our opening win – Jude Soonsup-Bell, Harvey Vale and Charlie Webster – all retaining their places.

Hot and bothered

With the mercury hitting 26C at kick-off and the match being played on an artificial surface at Juve’s training centre, these were unusual conditions for the visitors that required quick adaptation.

The heat, in particular, was intense on a warm and sunny afternoon in Turin, and it was the boys in black and white who had the contest’s first few half-chances through Matias Soule and Riccardo Turricchia.

Yet Giovanni Garofani between the posts for the hosts was the first goalkeeper forced into action, collecting routinely in the end as Soonsup-Bell threatened with a header following a cross from the left.

Sharman-Lowe troubled

Down the other end, Sharman-Lowe was also being kept busy during an eventful opening as the contest developed an end-to-end feel. The 18-year-old saved smartly at his near post from Fabio Miretti before claiming a couple of high balls into the box with impressive composure and command.

Samuel Iling-Junior was a familiar face for those in the Blues ranks having been a team-mate for many years prior to his switch to Italy and the winger went close to netting against his former club inside 15 minutes.

Having cut inside dangerously from the left, he took aim from just inside the 18-yard box with a strike that had the requisite power but lacked the bend to hit the target.

Chances taken, chances spurned

The best Chelsea chance of the first half came midway through as Soonsup-Bell pounced on a mis-hit pass back to the goalkeeper from Felix Nzouango and advanced ominously towards goal.

With Garofani stranded, it looked like the striker would chip the ball over his head but Soonsup-Bell was indecisive and allowed the Italian teenager a chance to pounce at his feet.

Sharman-Lowe thwarted Soule soon after with a great save down low to his right but the Blues were breached moments later as the same player raced on to a pass over the top and lofted the bouncing ball over the keeper with an accomplished finish.

Woodwork and woes

Just like as against Zenit, Chelsea would have to come from behind in the UEFA Youth League and they almost levelled instantly as Vale thumped his strike against the post with a right-footed effort that seemingly had Garofani well beaten.

Lewis Hall then threatened with a purposeful run into the box and a drive that narrowly cleared the Juve crossbar, though it was the young lads from the Old Lady who struck again before the break.

Mulazzi latched on to Ange Chibozo’s tee-up and produced a tidy left-footed finish to find the bottom corner and double the home side’s advantage.

Subs bring energy but risks

Within 10 minutes of the restart, Myers had introduced three fresh faces to add energy and impetus on a draining late summertime afternoon in northern Italy. It left the Blues top heavy in attack but also made a difference as we began the second period on the front foot and Soonsup-Bell saw an effort blocked before Silko Thomas fired off target.

Yet Juve continued to fashion the more clear-cut chances and were left cursing Sharman-Lowe again after 51 minutes when the Chelsea goalkeeper batted away a stinging shot from the lively Soule.

Iling-Junior then missed a great chance to make it 3-0 at the back post after a quick counter-attack down the right before the captain Ervin Omic became the latest to hit the woodwork with a spinning effort that Sharman-Lowe eventually managed to grasp.

Wareham’s instant impact

Within minutes of that shot against the post, Myers threw on another attacker in the form of Wareham and the recent signing from Woking took little time in making his impact on the European stage.

Malik Mothersille, one of our half-time introductions, probed down the right before feeding the ball back to Hall, whose inswinging delivery was dropped in towards the back post. Wing-back Thomas managed to get a decisive touch to keep the danger alive and Wareham was on hand in the six-yard with a predatory striker’s finish, sweeping the ball in left-footed to halve the deficit.

That gave the visitors hope for the final 15 minutes but we were unable to put Garofani’s goal under any sustained pressure and it was Juventus who ended with a flourish when Galante provided the finish at the end of another incisive counter-attack.

Chelsea (3-4-3) Teddy Sharman-Lowe; Brodi Hughes, Sam McClelland, Luke Badley-Morgan (Bryan Fiabema h/t); Josh Brooking, Charlie Webster (Ronnie Stutter 55), Lewis Hall (Leo Castledine 83), Silko Thomas; Joe Haigh (Malik Mothersille h/t), Jude Soonsup-Bell (Jayden Wareham 72), Harvey Vale (c)Unused subs Lucas Bergstrom, Billy GeeScorer Wareham 74Booked Hughes 80

Juventus (4-4-2) Giovanni Garofani; Nicolo Savona, Felix Nzouango, Tarik Muharemovic, Riccardo Turricchia (Tommaso Maressa 90+2); Gabriele Mulazzi, Ervin Omic (c), Fabio Miretti (Andrea Bonetti 67), Samuel Iling-Junior (Luis Hasa 78); Matias Soule (Tommaso Galante 78), Ange Chibozo (Nicolo Turco 67)Unused subs Zsombor Senko, Alessandro CitiScorers Soule 27; Mulazzi 45+1; Galante 89Booked Turricchia 64; Galante 86

Referee Antonio Nobre from Portugal

Earlier in the week, our Under-17 side were beaten 4-2 by holders Brighton in their opening group game of the Premier League Cup for that age group. Edwin Andersson and Tyrique George were the goalscorers for a young Blues side at Cobham.