Chelsea began their pre-season with a 2-0 win over Erik ten Hag’s Bayer Leverkusen at Stamford Bridge to clinch the VisitMalta Weekender Cup, with several debutants catching the eye and early selection battles beginning to take shape.
Joao Pedro Lands First Blow in Striker Battle
Liam Delap’s audition to be Chelsea’s first-choice striker began before kick-off, boosted by news that Nicolas Jackson had told the club he wanted to explore a move this summer.
Given a first start at Stamford Bridge, Delap struggled to make an impact — his first touch didn’t arrive until the 15th minute, and when chances came, he couldn’t convert.
Chelsea striker Liam Delap only had 13 touches against Bayer Leverkusen
Twice denied by Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken, Delap’s missed opportunities left the door open for Joao Pedro. The Brazilian forward made no such mistake, finding the bottom-left corner with composure to put Chelsea ahead and claim the early advantage in the striker race.
Joao Pedro scored for Chelsea against Bayer Leverkusen on his first appearance at Stamford Bridge
Estevao’s Dazzling Debut
Expectations were high for Estevao Willian following his move from Palmeiras, and the 18-year-old winger exceeded them with a sparkling first display. Linking superbly with Cole Palmer from the outset, he opened the scoring after reacting quickest to Palmer’s effort that bounced off the bar.
Cole Palmer linked up nicely with Chelsea youngster Estevao
Confident, direct, and technically sharp, Estevao’s performance has already given manager Enzo Maresca food for thought ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Crystal Palace next weekend.
Gittens Stakes His Claim
Another summer signing, Jamie Gittens, made an instant impression after replacing Tyrique George in the 64th minute. The £51.5m arrival from Borussia Dortmund was direct and purposeful, drifting into dangerous areas and creating space for team-mates.
With Chelsea still linked to high-profile attackers including Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho, competition for wide positions is fierce — but Gittens’ lively cameo could force Maresca to keep him in the mix.
Tosin Favourite to Fill Colwill Void
The loss of Levi Colwill to an ACL injury has left a gap at the heart of Chelsea’s defence. Josh Acheampong started alongside Trevoh Chalobah against Leverkusen, completing all 76 passes but offering little long-range distribution.
Tosin Adarabioyo, on at half-time, matched Acheampong’s passing accuracy and added four accurate long balls. More importantly, he made a crucial block after Acheampong’s slip almost gifted Leverkusen an equaliser.
With 163 Premier League appearances to his name, the 27-year-old’s experience could make him Maresca’s go-to option when the season begins.
Chelsea continue their preparations on Sunday, with several key selection battles already heating up.