Estevao and Joao Pedro shine as Chelsea wrap up pre-season in style with emphatic wins over Leverkusen and AC Milan
Following a 4-1 victory over AC Milan at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have ended their pre-season on a high, as the 2025/26 Premier League season looms.
With a summer packed with Club World Cup football, Chelsea have played only two friendlies to prepare for the campaign ahead.
No steins, just goals at the Bridge
After sealing the 2025 Club World Cup title, Chelsea came back from a short holiday to host Bayer Leverkusen at the Bridge for their first pre-season game on Friday, August 8.
Despite it being a friendly, Enzo Maresca’s men played with intensity, dominating the German side.
Wonderkid Estevao was named in the starting XI for his first-ever appearance in Blue, and he wasted no time making an impact.
He opened his Chelsea account with a strong debut, rocking Stamford Bridge by scoring the first goal of the game in just under 18 minutes.
His link-up play with Cole Palmer was refreshing, and could be a preview of a lethal duo ready to take on the Premier League this season.
New signing Joao Pedro continued his stunning streak, scoring the second and final goal just before the full-time whistle.
That strike marked his fifth goal in five games for Chelsea, scoring in four consecutive matches.
Other new signings - Liam Delap, Jorrel Hato, Jamie Gittens and Dario Essugo - also showed their mettle, further justifying Clearlake’s investment in them.
Cobham graduate Josh Acheampong started at centre-back alongside Trevoh Chalobah and impressed, while fellow academy products Sam Rak-Sakyi and Genesis Antwi came on as substitutes, showcasing the depth of talent in Chelsea’s youth ranks.
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The Godfather of pre-season performances
Against AC Milan, Chelsea enjoyed an even more dominant game, thrashing the Italian side 4-1 on Sunday, August 10.
An own goal gave the Blues an early lead, before Joao Pedro headed in an eighth-minute goal from a Pedro Neto cross.
The second half saw more action.
Maresca’s men were awarded a penalty, which Delap confidently converted.
The former Ipswich man wasn’t done yet - he bagged his second and Chelsea’s fourth goal before the final whistle.
Milan managed a consolation in the 70th minute through Youssouf Fofana, but it did little to dent the Blues’ dominance.
The West London club will begin their 2025/26 campaign at Stamford Bridge, kicking it off with a London derby against Crystal Palace on Sunday, August 17, at 14:00 BST.
Can Chelsea carry their glorious summer momentum into the new football season?
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