by Pamela Schembri from Stamford Bridge, London

Chelsea defeated Bayer Leverkusen 2-0, in the opening match of the VisitMalta Weekender taking place this weekend at Stamford Bridge.

This was also Chelsea’s first friendly match since winning the FIFA Club World Cup for the second time in their history. Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca opted to change six players from the starting line-up that played in the FIFA Club World Cup final against PSG, starting only Palmer, Caicedo, Chalobah, Cucurella, and Gusto in this friendly. One of the changes was forced, as earlier this week — on the very first day of pre-season training — Levi Colwill suffered an injury and underwent surgery yesterday.

Chelsea was the better side on the pitch and began threatening from the opening minutes. In the 18th minute, Chelsea opened the score. Cole Palmer, currently in brilliant form, hit the upright, and from the rebound, the Blues’ new signing Estevao fired home with his first touch, to the delight of the fans. Meanwhile, Erik Ten Hag’s team rarely threatened Jorgensen’s goal, with the Blues dominating this first of two friendlies they have scheduled. The match served as a good test for both teams ahead of the new football season.

In the final minutes, Chelsea made it 2-0 when Joao Pedro, positioned centrally, latched onto a diagonal pass and, with a low but powerful shot, beat the German side’s goalkeeper to seal the 2-0 win.

Chelsea will be back in action next Sunday, this time against AC Milan (Kick-off 16:00), with the match once again being broadcast on TVM Sports+.

At the end of the game, Malta Tourism Authority CEO Carlo Micallef presented the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James. Also present was the Authority’s Chairperson, Charles Mangion. The MTA, through VisitMalta, are the official sponsors of the VisitMalta Weekender, with Malta being presented as a vibrant, world-class destination. The collaboration between Chelsea and VisitMalta continues to offer fans a unique mix of sport, culture, and tourism. Those attending also had the opportunity to see visuals of Malta in several key locations, including Stamford Bridge and Fulham Broadway Underground station.

Line ups

Chelsea: Filip Jorgensen, Marc Cucurella, Liam Delap, Andrey Santos, Trevoh Chalobah, Moises Caicedo (C), Malo Gusto, Tyrique George, Josh Acheampong, Estevao, Cole Palmer.

Subs: Robert Sanchez, Gabriel Slonina, Tosin Adarabioyo, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernandez, Jamie Gittens, Dario Eussugo, Joao Pedro, Jorrel Hato, Reece James, Aaron Ansilmino, Samule Rak-Sayki, Genesiz Antwi.

Bayer Leverkusen: Mark Flekken, Piero Hincapie, Jarell Quansah, Robert Andrich (C), Edmond Tapsoba, Patrik Schick, Alejandro Grimaldo, Amine Adli, Nathan Tella, Aleix Garcia, Ibrahim Maza.

Subs: Niklas Lomb, Simeon Rapsch, Axel Tape, Farid Alfa-Ruprecht, Alejo Sarco, Victor Boniface, Christian Kofane, Francesco Buono, Jerry Mensah, Issa Traore, Ferdinand Pohl, Montrell Culbreath, Ben Hawighorst.

Referee: Stuart Attwell

minn Pamela Schembri fi Stamford Bridge, Londra

Fl-ewwel logħba mill-VisitMalta Weekender li qed issir dan tmiem il-ġimgħa fi Stamford Bridge, Chelsea għelbu lil Bayer Leverkusen 2-0.

Din kienet ukoll l-ewwel logħba ta’ ħbiberija għal Chelsea, minn mindu rebħu l-FIFA Club World Cup għat-tieni darba fl-istorja tagħhom.   Il-Coach ta’ Chelsea, Enzo Maresca għażel li jbiddel 6 plejers mill-formazzjoni inizjali li niżel biha fil-finali tal-FIFA Club World Cup kontra PSG, hekk kif rajna li beda biss lil Palmer, Caicedo, Chalobah, Cucurella u Gusto f’din il-logħba ta’ ħbiberija.  Waħda mill-bidliet ġiet sfurzata fuqu hekk kif aktar kmieni din il-ġimgħa, eżattament fl-ewwel ġurnata tal-preseason training, Levi Colwill weġġa’ u saritlu operazzjoni lbieraħ.

Chelsea kienu l-aħjar tim fil-pitch, u bdew ikunu perikolużi sa mill-ewwel minuti tal-logħba.  Kien fit-18-il minuta li Chelsea fetħu l-iskor.  Cole Palmer, li bħalissa għaddej minn forma brillanti, laqat il-lasta l-mimduda u mir-rebound ikun l-akkwist il-ġdid tal-Blues Estevao li b’xutt mal-ewwel tefa’ fix-xibka fost il-ferħ tal-partitarji.   Intant it-tim ta’ Erik Ten Haag, ftit resqu lejn il-lasta difiża minn Jorgensen, bil-Blues jiddominaw din l-ewwel minn żewġ logħbiet ta’ ħbiberija li għandhom.  Din il-logħba serviet ta’ test tajjeb għaż-żewġ timijiet qabel jibdew l-impenji fl-istaġun il-ġdid tal-football.  Fl-aħħar minuti tal-logħba, Chelsea għamluhom 2-0 b’Joao Pedro minn qagħda ċentrali jirċievi xutt diagonali, u b’xutt imkaxkar imma b’saħħtu għeleb għal kollox lil goalkeeper tat-tim Ġermaniż biex Chelsea għalqu l-logħba 2-0 minn fuq.

Chelsea jerġgħu jkunu fl-azzjoni nhar il-Ħadd li ġej, din id-darba kontra AC Milan (Kick-off 16:00).  Logħba li se terġa tintwera fuq TVM Sports+

Fl-aħħar tal-logħba il-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-Awtorità Maltija tat-Turiżmu Carlo Micallef preżenta trofew lil Captain ta’ Chelsea Reese James, rebbieħa ta’ din il-logħba.  Preżenti wkoll iċ-Chairperson tal-Awtorità, Charles Mangion.  L-MTA, permezz ta’ VisitMalta, huma l-isponsors uffiċjali tal-VisitMalta Weekender, b’Malta tkun preżentata bħala destinazzjoni vibranti u ta’ klassi dinjija. Il-kollaborazzjoni bejn Chelsea u VisitMalta, qed tkompli toffri lill-partitarji taħlita unika ta’ sport, kultura u turiżmu.  Dawk li attendew kellhom l-opportunità jaraw viżwali ta’ Malta f’diversi punti ewlenin, fosthom fi Stamford Bridge u fl-istazzjon tal-Underground ta’ Fulham Broadway.

Line ups

Chelsea: Filip Jorgensen, Marc Cucurella, Liam Delap, Andrey Santos, Trevoh Chalobah, Moises Caicedo (C), Malo Gusto, Tyrique George, Josh Acheampong, Estevao, Cole Palmer.

Subs: Robert Sanchez, Gabriel Slonina, Tosin Adarabioyo, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernandez, Jamie Gittens, Dario Eussugo, Joao Pedro, Jorrel Hato, Reece James, Aaron Ansilmino, Samule Rak-Sayki, Genesiz Antwi.

Bayer Leverkusen: Mark Flekken, Piero Hincapie, Jarell Quansah, Robert Andrich (C), Edmond Tapsoba, Patrik Schick, Alejandro Grimaldo, Amine Adli, Nathan Tella, Aleix Garcia, Ibrahim Maza.

Subs: Niklas Lomb, Simeon Rapsch, Axel Tape, Farid Alfa-Ruprecht, Alejo Sarco, Victor Boniface, Christian Kofane, Francesco Buono, Jerry Mensah, Issa Traore, Ferdinand Pohl, Montrell Culbreath, Ben Hawighorst.

Referee: Stuart Attwell