On a buzzing Friday night at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea returned home just 26 days after their FIFA Club World Cup triumph, eager to showcase their latest talents and test their mettle against Bayer Leverkusen in a pre-season friendly. With anticipation high and the stands packed, the Blues delivered a 2-0 victory, highlighted by the dazzling debut of Estevao, Chelsea’s new Brazilian wonderkid.
From the outset, Chelsea looked sharp and determined, pressing Leverkusen with relentless energy. The starting lineup featured a blend of established stars and promising youth, but all eyes were on Estevao, the teenager who had finally arrived after a much-anticipated transfer from Palmeiras for a reported £29 million (€34 million). Fans didn’t have to wait long to see why the hype was justified.
Less than 18 minutes into the match, Estevao pounced on a golden opportunity. Cole Palmer, ever the creative force, unleashed a shot that thundered off the crossbar and rebounded perfectly into the path of the Brazilian. Without hesitation, Estevao slotted the ball home from close range, sending the Stamford Bridge faithful into raptures. The celebration was pure passion—Estevao kissed the Chelsea badge, drawing a raucous response from supporters who were already dreaming of what he could bring to the club.
As the first half wore on, Chelsea continued to dominate possession and create chances. Estevao, lively down the right flank, was a constant menace, linking up well with Palmer and threatening the Leverkusen defense at every turn. Mark Flekken, Leverkusen’s goalkeeper, was called into action repeatedly, making fine saves to deny both Liam Delap and Estevao before halftime. The visitors, managed by Erik ten Hag, had a handful of half-chances but nothing that truly troubled Filip Jorgensen in the Chelsea goal.
The match saw its fair share of physicality early on. Robert Andrich of Leverkusen received a yellow card in the seventh minute for a hard foul, followed by Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah getting booked in the 13th minute for misconduct. Jarell Quansah also found his name in the referee’s book in the 26th minute. Yet, Chelsea’s composure and technical superiority shone through, keeping them firmly in control as the half ended with a deserved 1-0 lead.
After the break, manager Enzo Maresca made a flurry of substitutions to give more players a run-out and keep legs fresh. Jorrel Hato replaced Marc Cucurella at left back, Dario Essugo came on for Moises Caicedo, and Pedro Neto entered for Cole Palmer. Estevao shifted more centrally, continuing to influence play, while Jamie Gittens’ introduction added even more pace and trickery to the attack. Gittens almost made an instant impact, beating three defenders before setting up Jorrel Hato, whose shot went just wide.
Leverkusen, for their part, tried to mount a response. Patrik Schick had a golden chance early in the second half, but Tosin Adarabioyo produced a crucial block to preserve Chelsea’s lead. The German side made their own substitutions, bringing on Axel Tape and Christian Michel Kofane, but struggled to break down Chelsea’s organized defense. Viktor Boniface replaced Schick in a bid to inject fresh attacking impetus, yet the Blues’ backline stood firm.
Chelsea’s attacking momentum continued, with Estevao coming close to a second goal just after the hour mark. Meanwhile, Pedro Neto forced another sharp save from Flekken, who did his best to keep Leverkusen within touching distance. As the match wore on, the substitutions slowed the tempo, but Chelsea’s control never wavered.
The icing on the cake arrived in stoppage time. Samuel Rak-Sakyi, one of several young substitutes introduced late on, worked space down the right and delivered a cross that found Joao Pedro at the edge of the box. With calm precision, Joao Pedro fired a low shot into the bottom right corner, sealing the 2-0 win and capping off a promising cameo that saw him show off his flair—at one point even nutmegging Jerry Mensah to the delight of the crowd.
Statistically, Chelsea’s dominance was clear. They racked up 24 shots for an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.83, compared to Leverkusen’s four attempts and 0.22 xG. Estevao led the team in shots (seven), touches in the opponent’s box (nine), and attempted dribbles (three), while also creating three chances—matching left back Marc Cucurella. The Blues’ performance suggested no hangover from their Club World Cup exploits, as they looked fit, focused, and hungry for more silverware.
Manager Enzo Maresca, animated on the touchline, was seen remonstrating with the officials after a contentious free kick in the first half, underlining the competitive edge even in a friendly fixture. There were also flashes of tension on the pitch, notably when Cole Palmer reacted to a hard challenge from Jarell Quansah, leading to a brief confrontation that was quickly diffused by players from both sides.
“Estevao has had a debut to remember. Threatening at every turn, he isn’t shy of confidence and hasn’t been afraid to get efforts off on goal,” reported James St Denis live from Stamford Bridge. The teenager’s sharpness and composure in front of goal have already sparked debate among fans and pundits about his role in the squad, especially with strong competition for places from Pedro Neto, Palmer, Jamie Gittens, and potential new arrivals Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho.
Looking ahead, Chelsea have just one week to prepare for their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on August 17. But first, they’ll face AC Milan in their final pre-season match on August 10, giving Maresca one last chance to fine-tune his lineup. If Estevao maintains this form, he could force his way into the starting eleven sooner rather than later, providing an exciting new dimension to Chelsea’s attack.
For Chelsea fans, this win was more than just a pre-season tune-up. It was a glimpse into a bright future, with Estevao’s star already beginning to rise. As the final whistle blew and the players applauded the supporters, the message was clear: the Blues are ready for the challenges ahead, and Stamford Bridge has a new hero to cheer for.
