Chelsea get their abridged pre-season underway with a routine 2-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues only returned to training on Monday after their Club World Cup triumph in the United States, and have just 13 days to prepare for their first Premier League game against Crystal Palace.
But Enzo Maresca’s side showed no signs of rustiness against Erik ten Hag’s German opposition in south west London.
Debutant Estevao, in particular, caught the eye, with the Brazilian scoring in the first half after several bright moments beforehand.
A heavily-rotated side took their foot off the gas in the second half, but substitute Joao Pedro ensured victory in the closing stages with a fiercly hit effort from just inside the box.
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Chelsea are back in action again on Sunday against AC Milan as they continue their preparations for the new season.
Relive all the action from Stamford Bridge with Metro’s matchday blog:
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FULL-TIME: Chelsea 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen
No need for added time in a friendly and the referee blows up for full-time. A quieter second half for Chelsea but a comfortable win and the perfect start to their abridged pre-season.
Goal! Chelsea 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen (Joao Pedro, 90 Mins)
And that is that!
Antwip makes a great run to the byline and cuts it back to Pedro on the edge of the box, who takes one touch before driving an effort into the bottom corner.
Chelsea 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
89 mins: Jorgensen comes through the crowd to claim a cross from a Leverkusen free-kick.
Chelsea 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
85 mins: Hato’s long-range effort drifts wide of the mark.
Chelsea 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
79 mins: Joao Pedro finds a pocket of space on the edge of the box but drills his effort straight at Flekken who makes the save.
Chelsea 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
76 mins: More changes for Chelsea, now, as Santos, Acheampong and Estevao make way for Anselmino, Rak-Sakyi and Antwi.
Chelsea 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
71 mins: Boniface on for Schick as Ten Hag searches for an equaliser.
Chelsea 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
65 mins: CHANCE! Estevao gathers the ball from Gittens’ cut-back, but the Brazilian drags his effort wide of the far post.
Chelsea 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
63 mins: A triple change for Chelsea as Gittens, James and Joao Pedro come on for Gusto, George and Delap.
Chelsea 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
62 mins: Neto has looked sharp since coming on after the break, but his low cross in the box is collected by Flekken.
Chelsea 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
60 mins: A couple of changes for Leverkusen as Hincapie and Maza make way for Kofane and Tape.
Chelsea 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
56 mins: A great first defensive effort from Hato, who is in the perfect position to block Schik’s effort on goal after Acheampong’s slip gifted the visitors the ball in an advanced position.
Chelsea 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
55 mins: George gets on the ball in a good area but his effort is well, well wide of the mark from the edge of the box.
Chelsea 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
52 mins: A bit of a scramble in the area as Delap looks to get on the end of George’s cross but Leverkusen manage to clear.
Chelsea 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
46 mins: And we’re back underway. A host of changes from both sides as Darrio Essugo, Jorrel Hato, and Pedro Neto come on for the Blues.
HALF-TIME: Chelsea 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
And that will do us for the first 45 minutes, and it has largely been all Chelsea.
Estevao’s goal on his debut separates the teams.
Chelsea 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
43 mins: SAVE! A fierce effort from Estevao but Flekken does superbly to deny the Brazilian a second goal of the half.
Delap was waiting in the middle…
Chelsea 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
40 mins: Grimaldo gets plenty of dip on his effort over the wall, but Jorgensen makes up the ground well to palm it away for a corner.
Chelsea 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
39 mins: A free-kick in a good position for Leverkusen after Andrich draws the foul from Caicedo. Seemed like a perfectly-timed tackle on the replays, mind you…
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