There was little to separate the teams across the 90 minutes but first-half goals from Dani Ceballos and Brahim Diaz proved to be the deciding factor in front of 62,617 fans at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

Noni Madueke's header just before the break had given the Blues hope but they were unable to find the goals needed and now turn their attention to Saturday's friendly with Inter Milan at Stamford Bridge.

Five changes

Head coach Enzo Maresca changed almost half of his line-up following Saturday's 4-2 defeat to Manchester City.

Filip Jorgensen was brought into the starting XI for the first time, as Benoit Badiashile replaced Tosin Adarabioyo in the centre of defence.

Reece James, Levi Colwill and Malo Gusto all retained their place, as did Romeo Lavia in the deep-lying midfield role. The Belgian has started all five of our pre-season games this summer.

Christopher Nkunku, who started as striker against City, was back in the position he has occupied for most of pre-season, alongside Enzo Fernandez in the two 'pocket' roles in advance of Lavia.

That meant the three other changes all came in the attacking positions, as Raheem Sterling started on the left, Noni Madueke was on the right and talented teenager Marc Guiu was back leading the line, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Moises Caicedo and Mykhailo Mudryk all dropping out.

Real Madrid's XI included two former Blues in Thibaut Courtois and Antonio Rudiger, with another, double-winning Carlo Ancelotti, as the head coach.

The Spanish side were without Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe but did name a strong XI, with Vinicius Jnr, Luka Modric and Rodrygo among those to start.

Bright start

Chelsea started brightly and created a great chance inside the opening four minutes, as Madueke chipped the ball from the right to the far post and Sterling headed over from close range.

The Blues went close again on 13 minutes when some neat build-up play saw Gusto released on the left wing and although his pull-back was slightly behind the runners, Madueke gathered, laid it off to Sterling and his goal-bound shot was blocked.

Real were posing a threat going forward though and Vinicius Jr would have scored had it not been for an excellent last-ditch recovery tackle from Reece James six yards from goal.

Brahim then shot wide from close range after Colwill was dispossessed inside his own six-yard box.

Real ahead

Real Madrid's pressure ultimately told in the 19th minute when a deflected shot squirmed its way towards the far post and Dani Ceballos slid in to poke home from close range.

It was then 2-0 eight minutes later when a classy Vinicius Jnr through-ball picked out the run of Brahim and he skipped past the dive of Jorgensen to side-foot into the empty net from a tight angle.

Chelsea were inches away from pulling a goal back ten minutes before the break when a lovely through pass from Gusto found Sterling on the left-hand side of the penalty box and his low cross was just too far in front of the unmarked Nkunku.

The Blues did reduce the deficit shortly before the interval when Fernandez's in-swinging cross from the left-hand side was nodded in at the far post by Madueke.

Fernandez then went close himself moments later when he shot wide of the near post from the edge of the area.

The Blues started the second half well as Nkunku almost scored inside the first minute after being slipped through on goal but Andrii Lunin rushed out to save.

Brahim and Guiu both failed to test the opposition goalkeeper with shots from the edge of the penalty area in quick succession as the play became end-to-end for a brief period.

Chelsea's teenage striker did force Lunin into a save around the hour but his 20-yard effort was too central.

The goalmouth action slowed up as the half wore on and it was a while until Jorgensen was forced to save Nico Paz's long-range shot.

Mario Martin went close with a low drive from 20 yards, after some neat play by Paz, but the second half was to end goalless.

Next up

Chelsea's 2024 USA tour may have concluded but preparations for the new season continue with an exciting clash against Italian giants Inter Milan on Saturday at Stamford Bridge. Tickets are still available here.

The teams

Chelsea starting XI: 12 Filip Jorgensen, 24 Reece James (C), 6 Levi Colwill, 5 Benoit Badiashile, 27 Malo Gusto; 45 Romeo Lavia, 8 Enzo Fernandez, 18 Christopher Nkunku; 11 Noni Madueke, 38 Marc Guiu, 7 Raheem Sterling

Substitutes: 25 Moises Caicedo for Lavia 58, 10 Mykhailo Mudryk for Sterling 58, 22 Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for Guiu 66, 29 Wesley Fofana for James 70

Substitutes not used: 1 Robert Sanchez, 13 Marcus Bettinelli, 34 Josh Acheampong, 4 Tosin Adarabioyo, 21 Ben Chilwell, 40 Renato Veiga, 16 Lesley Ugochukwu, 17 Carney Chukwuemeka, 32 Tyrique George

Head coach: Enzo Maresca

Goals: Madueke 39

Real Madrid starting XI: 1 Courtois, 17 Lucas V., 3 Militão, 22 Rüdiger, 20 Fran García, 28 Mario Martín, 10 Modrić, 19 D. Ceballos, 11 Rodrygo, 21 Brahim, 7 Vinicius Jr.

Substitutes: 13 Lunin for Courtois 46, Raul for Militao 66, 29 Latasa for Rodrygo 66, 27 Nico Paz for Vinicius Jnr 66, 31 Jacobo Ramón for Rudiger 78, 33 Obrador for Diaz 78, 32 Lorenzo for Modric 83

Substitutes not used: 26 Fran González, 15 Arda Güler, 16 Endrick, 18 Vallejo, 35 Asencio, 36 Jeremy de León, 37 Joan Martínez

Head coach: Carlo Ancelotti

Goals: Ceballos 19, Brahim 27