Estevao Willian scores as Chelsea beat Bayer Leverkusen in pre-season opener

Chelsea kicked off their pre-season campaign in style with a commanding 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen, showcasing attacking sharpness and promising debuts.

The spotlight fell on 18-year-old Brazilian winger Estevao Willian, who marked his first appearance with a composed 18th-minute volley, justifying his £29 million move from Palmeiras.

Displaying pace, flair, and versatility, Estevao initially operated on the right before shifting centrally, linking well with Cole Palmer—whose clever lob set up the opener after striking the crossbar.

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The teenager nearly doubled his tally later in the match but was denied by Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken.

Joao Pedro, introduced in the second half for an underwhelming Liam Delap, sealed the victory with a precise late strike. His clinical finish strengthened his case for the starting striker role, especially with Nicolas Jackson reportedly exploring transfer options.

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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will have been encouraged by his side’s fluidity and intensity, particularly given they had only resumed training days earlier. In contrast, Leverkusen—further along in their pre-season—looked sluggish and struggled to create clear chances.

There were further positives for the Blues as new £38.5m signing Jorell Hato impressed at left-back after replacing Marc Cucurella at half-time, while substitute Jamie Gittens injected creativity, creating another chance for Estevao.

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Defensively, Josh Acheampong, trialling at centre-back in the absence of Levi Colwill, benefitted from Tosin Adarabioyo’s crucial block to preserve the clean sheet.

Chelsea’s confident performance built on the momentum from their Club World Cup final win over Paris Saint-Germain, showing no signs of fatigue despite the quick turnaround.

What Is Next For The Blues

The Blues now turn their attention to their final pre-season test against AC Milan before their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on August 17.