Chelsea return to motion for the primary time since profitable this summer season’s FIFA Membership World Cup once they host Bayer Leverkusen in a preseason pleasant.
The Blues have loved a number of affluent months as they secured Champions League qualification and received the Europa Convention League on the finish of final season, earlier than being topped world champions in the US in mid-July. Nevertheless, consideration now turns to the brand new time period, with Chelsea starting their Premier League marketing campaign at dwelling to Crystal Palace on August 17.
Chelsea will heat up for his or her London showdown by internet hosting Leverkusen after which AC Milan in friendlies, with their band of latest signings in line to make dwelling debuts.
Leverkusen have recovered from their humiliating 5–1 defeat to Flamengo’s Below-20s in Erik ten Hag’s first match in command of the membership, with the ex-Manchester United boss having since secured pleasant wins over Bochum, Fortuna Sittard and Pisa. Having misplaced supervisor Xabi Alonso and various their brightest skills over the summer season, it guarantees to be a difficult season for the German facet.
Right here is Sports activities Illustrated’s information to Friday’s pre-season encounter.
Chelsea vs. Bayer Leverkusen Head-to-Head Report (All Time)
Present Kind (All Competitions)
Chelsea | Bayer Leverkusen |
|---|---|
Chelsea 3–0 PSG – 13/07/25 | Leverkusen 3–0 Pisa – 05/08/25 |
Fluminense 0–2 Chelsea – 08/07/25 | Fortuna Sittard 1–2 Leverkusen – 01/08/25 |
Palmeiras 1–2 Chelsea – 05/07/25 | Bochum 0–2 Leverkusen – 27/07/25 |
Benfica 1–4 Chelsea AET – 28/06/25 | Flamengo U20 5–1 Leverkusen – 18/07/25 |
ES Tunis 0–3 Chelsea – 25/06/25 | Mainz 2–2 Leverkusen – 17/05/25 |
Nation | TV channel/stay stream |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | DAZN, Channel 5 |
United States | Paramount+, DAZN, CBS Sports activities Golazo |
Canada | DAZN |
Chelsea introduced Levi Colwill underwent profitable surgical procedure to restore an ACL harm that’s set to maintain him sidelined for a majority of the upcoming marketing campaign.
Maresca additionally confirmed that Wesley Fofana ought to make his comeback at the start of the brand new Premier League season, however can be unavailable for the upcoming battles with Leverkusen and Milan.
Jorrel Hato, Jamie Gittens and Estêvão will all be eager to make their unofficial debuts, whereas João Pedro, Liam Delap and Dário Essugo ought to prove for the primary time at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea gamers.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs. Leverkusen (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; James, Chalobah, Hato, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Neto, Palmer, Gittens; Pedro.
New signings Axel Tape, Jarell Quansah and Mark Flekken will earn extra minutes in Ten Hag’s defence on Friday night, whereas summer season recruit Malik Tillman can be desperate to make his debut for Die Werkself after his big-money transfer from PSV Eindhoven.
Leverkusen have misplaced Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool this summer season, whereas Granit Xhaka and Jonathan Tah have additionally departed for Sunderland and Bayern Munich respectively. They must adapt shortly to life with out 4 essential gamers.
Leverkusen predicted lineup vs. Arsenal (3-4-2-1): Flekken; Quansah, Tapsoba, Hincapié; Arthur, Palacios, Andrich, Grimaldo; Hofmann, Tella; Schick.
Chelsea may be a tad rusty following a month out of motion however confidence will nonetheless be excessive from their Membership World Cup triumph. Maresca is prone to identify a robust beginning lineup as preparations correctly start for the brand new time period.
This isn’t the identical Leverkusen workforce that dominated the Bundesliga in 2023–24 and so they have bought a bunch of essential performers throughout the pitch. Ten Hag is but to face a problem of Chelsea’s measurement in pre-season and he could also be handed defeat on his return to England.
