Chelsea 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen: Estevao Willian scores on Blues debut before Joao Pedro nets in pre-season friendly

[ad_1] Estevao Willian scored on his debut earlier than Joao Pedro staked his declare for the beginning striker spot with a late second as Chelsea beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 of their first pre-season pleasant.

Estevao, the 18-year-old Brazilian winger who signed from Palmeiras for £29m, proved why he's so extremely rated, protecting his cool to volley in a close-range opener within the 18th minute earlier than dazzling together with his fast ft and lightning tempo on the appropriate flank and later via the center.

Liam Delap began up entrance for Chelsea with fellow striker Nicolas Jackson not within the squad after telling the membership he needs to discover his switch choices this summer time, however the summer time signing had solely 13 touches in an underwhelming efficiency.

His evening was compounded when Joao Pedro changed him halfway via the second half and wrapped up the victory with a scientific end late on.

How Chelsea lined up...

Chelsea: Jorgensen; Gusto (James, 65), Chalobah (Tosin, 45), Acheampong (Anselmino, 76), Cucurella (Hato, 45); Caicedo (Essugo, 45), Santos (Rak-Sakyi, 76); Estevao (Antwi, 77), Palmer (Neto, 45), George (Gittens, 64); Delap (Joao Pedro, 64). Unused subs: Sanchez, Slonina, Fernandez. <img class="sdc-article-image__item" loading="lazy" intrinsicsize="768x432" src="https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/768x432/skysports-liam-delap-chelsea_6985984.jpg?20250808211433" srcset="https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/384x216/skysports-liam-delap-chelsea_6985984.jpg?20250808211433 380w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/768x432/skysports-liam-delap-chelsea_6985984.jpg?20250808211433 760w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/1600x900/skysports-liam-delap-chelsea_6985984.jpg?20250808211433 1024w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/2048x1152/skysports-liam-delap-chelsea_6985984.jpg?20250808211433 2048w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw" alt="Chelsea striker Liam Delap only had 13 touches against Bayer Leverkusen"/> Picture: Chelsea striker Liam Delap solely had 13 touches towards Bayer Leverkusen Estevao epitomised the freshness Chelsea managed to play with, displaying no signal of a Membership World Cup hangover regardless of ending final season simply 26 days earlier than this fixture.

That they had solely returned to coaching on Monday, but seemed sharper than Erik ten Hag's Bayer Leverkusen and dominated their guests, who started pre-season on July 7 and had already performed 4 matches this summer time.

Enzo Maresca's facet picked up from the place they left off with their flowing soccer that had dismantled Paris Saint-Germain within the Membership World Cup last.

Estevao impressed right away, hugging the appropriate touchline, earlier than handing over after Cole Palmer's lob had come again off the crossbar.

<img class="sdc-article-image__item" loading="lazy" intrinsicsize="768x432" src="https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/768x432/skysports-cole-palmer-estevao_6985983.jpg?20250808211246" srcset="https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/384x216/skysports-cole-palmer-estevao_6985983.jpg?20250808211246 380w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/768x432/skysports-cole-palmer-estevao_6985983.jpg?20250808211246 760w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/1600x900/skysports-cole-palmer-estevao_6985983.jpg?20250808211246 1024w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/2048x1152/skysports-cole-palmer-estevao_6985983.jpg?20250808211246 2048w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw" alt="Cole Palmer linked up nicely with Chelsea youngster Estevao"/> Picture: Cole Palmer linked up properly with Chelsea teen Estevao Delap was then denied by Leverkusen's Mark Flekken, having side-footed an earlier probability straight on the former Brentford goalkeeper.

Delap's efficiency was the one detrimental for the Blues on the evening after they have been lucky to flee a severe damage to Palmer as former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah caught his left leg with a reckless sliding sort out from behind.

Palmer was already linking properly with Estevao, who was denied a second late within the first half by an excellent save from Flekken.

Chelsea followers additionally caught a glimpse of their newest signing Jorell Hato when he got here on at half-time to interchange Marc Cucurella at left-back. The £38.5m signing from Ajax seemed assured on the ball and fired a shot broad late on.

Josh Acheampong auditioned at centre-back in a bid to interchange the injured Levi Colwill, however he was bailed out after falling over the ball by substitute Tosin, who made a vital block to stop a Leverkusen equaliser.

<img class="sdc-article-image__item" loading="lazy" intrinsicsize="768x432" src="https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/768x432/skysports-joao-pedro-chelsea_6985982.jpg?20250808211110" srcset="https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/384x216/skysports-joao-pedro-chelsea_6985982.jpg?20250808211110 380w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/768x432/skysports-joao-pedro-chelsea_6985982.jpg?20250808211110 760w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/1600x900/skysports-joao-pedro-chelsea_6985982.jpg?20250808211110 1024w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/2048x1152/skysports-joao-pedro-chelsea_6985982.jpg?20250808211110 2048w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw" alt="Joao Pedro scored for Chelsea against Bayer Leverkusen on his first appearance at Stamford Bridge "/> Picture: Joao Pedro scored for Chelsea towards Bayer Leverkusen on his first look at Stamford Bridge Jamie Gittens was one other winger and new signing who shone, coming off the bench within the second half and establishing Estevao on the finish of a direct dribble.

Joao Pedro, although, had the ultimate say, burying a shot into the underside left nook with the ultimate kick of the match.

Chelsea face AC Milan on Sunday of their last pre-season fixture earlier than internet hosting Crystal Palace of their Premier League opener on Sunday August 17, reside on Sky Sports activities.

Maresca: Estevao is unbelievable Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca chatting with Channel 5:

"Very pleased with the efficiency, particularly after three or 4 days of coaching. It's good to begin once more.

"We've got one other sport Sunday after which it's the official sport. We've got began like we didn't end."

On the debut of Estevao: "He's very younger. He must play and for certain, he's going to assist. He's a unbelievable participant."

On protecting your entire squad blissful: "Not all of them might be blissful all the time. They've to grasp they're all good. There might be many rotations."

On Levi Colwill's damage: "It's a precedence for me, sure. Levi is a unbelievable participant; what we achieved final season was due to him.

"He performed all video games and I really like him. We're going to miss him. We're looking for completely different options. We'll see [signing a defender]."

Sky Sports activities to point out 215 reside Premier League video games from subsequent season <img class="sdc-article-image__item" loading="lazy" intrinsicsize="768x432" src="https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/768x432/skysports-football-premier-league_6984093.jpg?20250806130155" srcset="https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/384x216/skysports-football-premier-league_6984093.jpg?20250806130155 380w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/768x432/skysports-football-premier-league_6984093.jpg?20250806130155 760w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/1600x900/skysports-football-premier-league_6984093.jpg?20250806130155 1024w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/08/2048x1152/skysports-football-premier-league_6984093.jpg?20250806130155 2048w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw" alt="Sky Sports to show 215 live Premier League games this season"/> Picture: Sky Sports activities to point out 215 reside Premier League video games this season From this season, Sky Sports activities' Premier League protection will improve from 128 matches to a minimum of 215 video games completely reside.