Chelsea vs Bayer Leverkusen friendly
Pre‑Season Showdown at Stamford Bridge
Match Snapshot
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Date: Friday, August 8, 2025
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Time: 7:00 p.m. BST (UK) / 2:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m.
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Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
This high-profile fixture opens the VisitMalta Weekender, a two-match pre-season tournament featuring AC Milan later on August 10.
Why This Friendly Matters
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Chelsea return to the pitch as reigning FIFA Club World Cup champions, having triumphed over Paris Saint-Germain on July 13.
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Bayer Leverkusen, under Erik ten Hag, arrive fresh from a summer tour and face the challenge of re-establishing cohesion following key departures.
Team News & Key Debuts
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Chelsea: Expect the first Stamford Bridge appearances from new signings like Jamie Gittens, Jorrel Hato, and Estêvão. After fitness doubts, players such as Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo, and Enzo Fernandez may return. Wesley Fofana remains sidelined.
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Leverkusen: Ten Hag continues to integrate new recruits amid significant summer exits as the club rebuilds.
How to Watch
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United Kingdom: Watch the match live for free on DAZN or via Channel 5, with pre-match coverage starting around 6:30 p.m. BST.
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International: Streaming also available on Chelsea’s 5th Stand app, Paramount+, and CBS Sports Golazo depending on the region.
Head-to-Head & Recent Form
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Head-to-Head: Both clubs have one win each in their two previous meetings—no draws.
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Recent Performances:
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Chelsea: Riding a wave of success from their Club World Cup campaign.
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Leverkusen: On a three-match winning streak in pre-season friendlies.
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Predictions & Insights
Tactical analysts and pundits lean in favor of Chelsea kicking off their pre-season with a strong statement. A common prediction:
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Chelsea 3–1 Bayer Leverkusen, reflecting their current form and home advantage
Match Highlights & Overview
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When & Where: Chelsea welcomed Bayer Leverkusen at Stamford Bridge on Friday, August 8, 2025, with a 7:00 p.m. BST kick-off .
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First Goal for Chelsea: Young winger Estêvão scored his inaugural goal for Chelsea around the 18–28th minute, marking a memorable debut .
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Daily News Coverage: The friendly reflected Chelsea’s return to action after their Club World Cup triumph, with fans tuning into DAZN and Channel 5 broadcasts .
Squad News & Debuts
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Chelsea Absentees: Defender Levi Colwill is out for most of 2025 due to ACL surgery, while Wesley Fofana edges toward fitness but wasn’t included in the squad .
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Debutants on Display:
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Estêvão made an immediate impact with a debut goal .
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Jamie Gittens, Jorrel Hato, João Pedro, and Liam Delap were all either in the starting lineup or on the bench on match night .
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Managerial Insights:
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Enzo Maresca emphasized squad rotation and giving new signings meaningful minutes as the team gears up for the new season .
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Leverkusen Notes:
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Manager Erik ten Hag is navigating departures and integrating new arrivals, aiming to rebuild ahead of the season .
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Watching the Action
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Streaming & Broadcasts:
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UK viewers enjoyed free live coverage on DAZN and Channel 5 .
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International streaming included platforms like DAZN (global) and StarTimes in Nigeria .
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Why This Friendly Matters
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High Stakes Warm‑up: This match precedes Chelsea’s season opener against Crystal Palace on August 17 and follows their triumphant Club World Cup campaign .
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Showcasing Talent: The friendly served as a stage for new signings—especially youth stars like Estêvão, Gittens, and Hato—to show their worth in front of home fans.
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Brand & Sponsorship Spotlight: Chelsea enters the new season with blank home kits, continuing the search for a lucrative front-of-shirt sponsor—a deal expected to exceed £60 million
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