Chelsea Host Leverkusen in Preseason Friendly

Chelsea, fresh from defeating Paris Saint-Germain to win the FIFA Club World Cup, are set to host Bayer Leverkusen in a prominent pre-season friendly at Stamford Bridge. Under new manager Enzo Maresca, Chelsea are integrating signings such as Joao Pedro and Jorrel Hato, while managing injuries to key players like Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana. Bayer Leverkusen, who have appointed Erik ten Hag as manager after Xabi Alonso's departure, are in a transitional phase, having lost several core players and brought in new arrivals, including Mark Flekken and the currently injured Malik Tillman. Both teams are using the match to assess squad fitness and tactics ahead of the Premier League season. Bookmakers see Chelsea as slight favorites, and the mood in their camp remains positive after recent successes. The match is part of both clubs' final preparations before the league campaign begins.