Chelsea welcome Bayer Leverkusen to Stamford Bridge on Friday, in a friendly that carries more weight than most.
The Blues are back in action for the first time since their Club World Cup triumph. For Leverkusen, it's about keeping momentum.
This will be only the third-ever meeting between the sides — and it comes at a crucial stage of their respective pre-seasons.
♻️ Chelsea vs Leverkusen Key Stats 📊:
📊 Head-to-head: Chelsea 1 win, Leverkusen 1 win, Draws 0.
📊 Last meeting: Bayern Leverkusen won 2-1.
📊 Bayer Leverkusen are on a three-match winning streak.
📊 Chelsea are playing their first pre-season game of 2025.
📊 Chelsea’s last match: FIFA Club World Cup Final vs PSG (Win).
Chelsea’s form minus indoor friendly lost to Sholing: W-W-W-W-W.
📊 Leverkusen’s pre-season form: L-W-W-W.
🔬 What to Expect From Both Teams 🔥:
Chelsea:
Fresh from lifting the Club World Cup, Chelsea step into pre-season with confidence. Cole Palmer remains their talisman after his brace in the final. Joao Pedro looks likely to start up front. Manager Maresca will be looking to get his side back into their CWC shape.
Bayer Leverkusen:
With Erik ten Hag now in charge, Leverkusen are a team looking like they’re in form, at least on paper. They've won three games on the bounce in pre-season after their humiliating 5-1 defeat to Flamengo U20.
Without serious signings to replace the big names they lost this summer, this game will be a crucial reality check for Ten Hag.
👥 Predicted Lineups 👥:
Chelsea (4-2-3-1):
Sánchez (GK); James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Dewsbury-Hall, Caicedo; Palmer, Santos, Neto; Joao Pedro.
Bayer Leverkusen (3-4-2-1):
Hradecky (GK); Hincapie, Quansah, Tape-Kobrissa; Arthur, Palacios, Andrich, Grimaldo; Hofmann, Tella; Schick.
🔥 Matchups & Players to Watch 👀:
🔹 Cole Palmer – Chelsea's most reliable attacking outlet.
🔹 Patrik Schick – Quiet last game, but always a threat.
🔹 Caicedo vs Andrich – Key midfield battle of control vs chaos.
🔹 James vs Grimaldo – Battle of attacking fullbacks.
💵 Odds Market on MSport 💵:
💵 Chelsea/Home to win = 1.75 ✅
💵 Bayer Leverkusen/Away to win = 3.95 ✅
💵 Over 3.5 total goals = 2.11 ✅
This won’t just be a warm-up — it’s a statement opportunity for both sides. Chelsea will want to show they can build off their global success. Leverkusen will be itching to upset the hosts and show their Bundesliga-winning pedigree under new management.
Europe watches. Stamford Bridge hosts. Who takes this one? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
🔗 You can follow the Chelsea vs Bayer Leverkusen pre-season friendly here on MSport.
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