Chelsea Face Leverkusen in Preseason Test at Home

Chelsea are set to host Bayer Leverkusen in a pre-season friendly at Stamford Bridge, their first match since winning the Club World Cup against PSG. The fixture comes after a shortened break, with Chelsea having just 13 days to prepare for their Premier League opener. New signings Estevao and Jorrel Hato are expected to play, as manager Enzo Maresca focuses on integrating arrivals and managing player recovery following a demanding 64-match campaign. Chelsea's preparations are challenged by a serious injury to Levi Colwill and ongoing transfer speculation surrounding Nicolas Jackson. Leverkusen, led by new manager Erik ten Hag after Xabi Alonso's departure, are also undergoing a squad transition following several key departures. Both clubs view the match as an important test of their readiness for the upcoming season.