Less than four weeks have passed since Reece James lifted the Club World Cup trophy in New Jersey. Yet our focus is fully on what's ahead with the 2025/26 campaign firmly on the horizon.

And there were undoubtedly many positives for Enzo Maresca to take from an entertaining and productive 90 minutes in SW6. Estevao impressed throughout his time on the pitch and opened the scoring in the 17th minute after Cole Palmer had struck the crossbar.

We held that lead until the final moments, and then doubled it as Joao Pedro drilled a shot into the corner to make it a winning return.

With this the first of just two pre-season matches for the Blues, Maresca utilised the majority of this matchday squad.

There were first Stamford Bridge outings for Andrey Santos, Estevao and Liam Delap, and they were joined in the starting XI by Filip Jorgensen, Malo Gusto, Josh Acheampong, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer and Tyrique George.

Having only had four days of work at Cobham, a sluggish start would have been excused. Yet there was energy to our performance from the first whistle, and we carried an instant threat.

Estevao quickly looked at home on the right flank and dovetailed nicely with Palmer throughout the opening 45 minutes. The young Brazilian fashioned an early chance for Cucurella that was blocked and forced a corner from which Gusto fired over.

Mark Flekken in the Leverkusen goal was soon forced into action. There was a routine stop to deny an effort from distance from Caicedo, before he positioned himself well to deny Delap after the striker was teed up following neat work from George and Cucurella.

But the goal our start warranted soon arrived – and it was Estevao who scored it.

It came after a moment of ingenuity from Palmer, as the England international opted to guide a bouncing ball inside the penalty area over the head of Flekken.

Our No.10's shot struck the crossbar, but rebounded into the path of Estevao, who finished coolly. A passionate celebration followed.

A second goal was almost fashioned. George was this time the architect, as he clipped a wonderful cross into the path of Delap. The striker managed to guide the ball toward the corner, but it struck Flekken and bounced wide.

Leverkusen's threat was limited throughout the first half. A pair of Alex Grimaldo free-kicks, both saved by Jorgensen, were the best the German side mustered.

And the half ended as it had started, with Estevao surging into the box and threatening the Bayer goal. On this occasion, he rasped a shot toward the near post, but Flekken threw up a strong left hand to save.

Changes were made at the interval. Tosin, summer addition Jorrel Hato, Dario Essugo and Pedro Neto were introduced. Chalobah, Cucurella, Caicedo and Palmer were withdrawn. The alterations saw Estevao move into the number ten role after the break.

We began the second period in a more controlled manner, but continued to probe the Bayer defence. The Blues found it more resolute than in the opening period.

The German side, meanwhile, had their clearest sight of goal as a slip from Acheampong enabled Ibrahim Maza to square for Patrik Schick, but Tosin did excellently to divert the striker's attempt wide.

More substitutions were made just after the hour mark by Maresca. James replaced Gusto while Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro made their Stamford Bridge bows, replacing George and Delap.

Gittens' impact was instantaneous as his first action was to collect possession, breeze beyond a defender into the box, and cut the ball back for Estevao. The 18-year-old drove his shot across goal, but it flew wide of the post.

With further alterations soon made – Aaron Anselmino for Acheampong, Sam Rak-Sayki for Andrey Santos, and Gensis Antwi for Estevao – the Blues were not quite as cohesive in the final third of the match.

Yet there were bright moments. Joao Pedro forced Flekken into a smart stop with an attempt from distance and Pedro Neto almost beat the goalkeeper with a powerful low drive after shifting the ball inside onto his left foot in the penalty area.

Maresca's side kept pushing for a second and, in the final moments, it arrived. Antwi did well to break down the right and cut a pass back to the edge of the box. Joao Pedro arrived, took a touch, and fired into the bottom corner to seal victory.

The trophy lift followed. Our skipper is getting used to those.

What comes next...

The Blues are back at Stamford Bridge on Sunday for our second and final game of pre-season, as we face AC Milan in the second match of the VisitMalta Weekender. Kick off is at 3pm.

The teams

Chelsea: Jorgensen; Gusto (James 64), Acheampong (Anselmino 76), Chalobah (Tosin 46), Cucurella (Hato 46); Caicedo (Essugo 46), Andrey Santos (Rak-Sakyi 76); Estevao (Antwi 67), Palmer (Pedro Neto 46), George (Gittens 64); Delap (Joao Pedro 64)
Chelsea substitutes: Sanchez, Slonina, Fernandez
Booked: Chalobah 13
Goalscorers: Estevao 17, Joao Pedro 90

Bayer Leverkusen: Flekken; Tapsoba, Quansah, Hincapie (Kofane 60); Tella (Culbreath 83), Garcia (Mensah 45), Andrich, Grimaldo (Hawighorst 81); Maza (Tape 60), Schick (Boniface 72), Adli (Sarco 87)
Bayer Leverkusen substitutes: Lomb, Rapsch, Alfa-Ruprecht, Buono, Traore, Pohl
Booked: Andrich 7, Quansah 26