Chelsea certainly ticked a lot of boxes during their first game of a condensed pre-season.
After a busy summer with the Club World Cup, the Blues play just two friendlies before their Premier League season kicks off at home to Crystal Palace on 17 August.
Enzo Maresca’s side produced a strong performance to beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Friday night. Next, they host AC Milan on Sunday afternoon before attention turns towards the league opener.
Leverkusen manager Erik ten Hag thinks Chelsea can challenge for the Premier League after his side’s defeat against them.
It was certainly an impressive display from the Blues, with several individuals throwing down an early marker. In fact, we’ve picked out the four biggest winners from within Chelsea’s camp following the Leverkusen result.
Estevao Willian celebrates during Chelsea FC v Bayer 04 Leverkusen - Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Estevao Willian
It was quite obvious that Estevao Willian, 18, was the star of the show against Leverkusen during his first-ever Chelsea appearance.
The versatile attacker scored the opening goal when he popped up in space in the penalty box. However, it was the youngster’s general game and confidence with the ball at his feet that injected huge excitement within the home crowd.
MORE CHELSEA STORIES
Pat Nevin described Estevao as “superb” for the way he immediately looked at complete ease in his new home.
Estevao was definitely a big winner from Friday night’s friendly because he’s chucked his name into the conversation to start against Palace next weekend.
Joao Pedro
In terms of quick starts at a new club, Joao Pedro hasn’t put a foot wrong since he joined Chelsea from Brighton in July.
The 23-year-old forward scored three goals in three appearances at the Club World Cup, firing them to the trophy. Last night, he came off the bench in the friendly against Leverkusen and fired a superb low finish into the bottom corner late on.
While Liam Delap huffed and puffed as Chelsea’s starting centre-forward against Leverkusen, Pedro needed less than half an hour on the pitch to make his mark. It underlined the feeling that Pedro is the first-choice striker going into the 2025/26 season.
Jamie O’Hara thinks Pedro can be a “world-class” signing for Chelsea, and the more we see of him, the more we agree.
Jamie Gittens
Even though Jamie Gittens only had 27 minutes off the bench during his first Chelsea appearance, he used the time very wisely.
The 21-year-old left-winger, who joined from Borussia Dortmund this summer, demonstrated a snippet of what makes him such an exciting wide player.
Gittens was convinced to join Chelsea by Maresca after conversations with him. At this very early stage, we sense the Englishman will thrive in the system as a flying winger with so much pace and directness.
Gittens should feel like a big winner from yesterday’s game because he made a huge impression while rival teammate Tyrique George struggled in the same position.
Jamie Gittens playing for Chelsea against Bayer Leverkusen in a pre-season friendly at Stamford Bridge.
Photo by Domenic Aquilina/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Josh Acheampong
Finally, Chelsea youngster Josh Acheampong should be pleased with his contribution against Leverkusen, even if one slip did nearly cost his side a goal.
The 19-year-old defender, who’s an academy graduate, will be hoping for a big season after breaking into the first-team squad last term. We’re confident that he can grow into an important senior option, too.
Overall, Acheampong looked pretty assured as the right-sided central defender during the first half of the pre-season win. It was also impressive to see him move in the second period to the role of the left-sided centre-back, where there is a huge void because of Levi Colwill’s ACL injury.
Minutes played Accurate passes Tackles won Interceptions Ground duels won Aerial duels won Dribbled past Match rating
76 76/76 (100%) 2/2 (100%) 1 2/2 (100%) 0/2 (0%) 0 7.2
Josh Acheampong during Chelsea vs Bayer Leverkusen via FOTMOB
At his young age, Acheampong definitely isn’t the finished article yet. But he continues to look the part when he plays, particularly with how comfortable he is in possession.