Chelsea will play their first match since being crowned world champions this week when they take on Bayer Leverkusen in a pre-season friendly.
The match, which is scheduled for Saturday, 8 August, will also see Erik Ten Hag face English opposition for the first time since he was sacked by Manchester United last October.
As part of our ongoing selection of pre-season friendly betting tips, check out our Chelsea vs Bayer Leverkusen prediction below.
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Chelsea vs Bayer Leverkusen prediction: A score draw at the Bridge
Key stats
- Bayer Leverkusen have scored two or more goals in seven of their last eight matches in all competitions.
- Chelsea have scored two or more goals in each of their last five matches.
- Patrick Schick scored 27 goals in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen last season.
Correct score prediction: Chelsea 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Neither of these two teams have found scoring goals difficult in recent times, and while Chelsea are better than any of the teams that Bayer Leverkusen have played this summer, their ring rust will be a factor. The Blues haven't played a match in four weeks, and in the same time frame, Leverkusen have played four.
Pre-game odds and win probability: No odds available
- HOME: N/A
- DRAW: N/A
- AWAY: N/A
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
No odds are currently available for the match between Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen, but we will update this page when they are released. In the meantime, feel free to check out more of our best betting tips for matches being played this week.
Most recent H2Hs: A first meeting in 14 years
Although Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen have regularly competed in European football in recent years, this will be the first time that they have met since 2011. Back then, the two teams went head-to-head in the group stages of the 2011/12 Champions League, with Chelsea winning at Stamford Bridge and Bayer Leverkusen winning at the BayArena.
Chelsea preview: Plenty of players in line for home debuts
Chelsea have gone big again this summer in respect to summer signings, and several players could don the blue shirt at Stamford Bridge for the first time on Friday night. This includes Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, and Liam Delap, who have all been signed to add more goals to the team. Nicolas Jackson, who is being tipped for a move elsewhere, is unlikely to feature.
Predicted lineup: Sanchez (GK), James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella, Fernandez, Caicedo, Neto, Palmer, Gittens, Delap
England Premier League 11/05/25
L
Newcastle
2
Chelsea
0
UEFA Conference League 08/05/25
W
Djurgarden
0
Chelsea
1
England Premier League 04/05/25
W
Liverpool
1
Chelsea
3
UEFA Conference League 01/05/25
W
Djurgarden
1
Chelsea
4
England Premier League 26/04/25
W
Everton
0
Chelsea
1
Bayer Leverkusen preview: Tillman to make his first appearance
Malik Tillman is expected to make his first appearance for Bayer Leverkusen since signing for the club from PSV earlier in the summer. Fellow summer signing, Jarell Quensah, is also expected to start, as Ten Hag ushers the club into a new era without Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Granit Xhaka.
Predicted lineup: Flekken (GK), Tapsoba, Quansah, Hincapie, Arthur, Palacios, Andrich, Grimaldo, Tillman, Tella, Kofane
Germany Bundesliga I 11/05/25
L
Borussia Dortmund
4
Bayer Leverkusen
2
Germany Bundesliga I 04/05/25
D
SC Freiburg
2
Bayer Leverkusen
2
Germany Bundesliga I 26/04/25
W
Augsburg
0
Bayer Leverkusen
2
Germany Bundesliga I 20/04/25
D
St Pauli
1
Bayer Leverkusen
1
Germany Bundesliga I 12/04/25
D
Union Berlin
0
Bayer Leverkusen
0
Player to watch: Joao Pedro
Joao Pedro was signed by Chelsea just in time for the latter stages of the Club World Cup, and the Brazilian went on to have a brilliant time in the USA. Pedro scored three goals in three matches at the tournament, including one in the final against PSG. The 23-year-old will now look to build on that ahead of the new Premier League campaign.