Chelsea beat Leverkusen and Newcastle draw with Espanyol in pre-season

Chelsea beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 and Newcastle United drew 2-2 with Espanyol in pre-season friendlies, with managerial comments highlighting rotation and squad depth.

Chelsea beat Leverkusen and Newcastle draw with Espanyol in pre-season

Chelsea beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 in a short pre-season clash as Enzo Maresca continues to shape a lean squad after joining this summer. He said players trained only three or four days together and that rotation will be normal as they balance fitness with minutes. Estevao Willian impressed on his outing and Maresca noted the youngster will help the team. The coach also confirmed it remains a priority to strengthen the defence after Levi Colwill's injury and hinted at potential signings this window.

Newcastle United drew 2-2 with Espanyol in their own pre-season clash, a result that showed how managers test options and build cohesion before competitive matches. Both clubs are in a phase where minutes matter more than results, and the next window could shape their backlines and depth.

Pre-season results often reveal more about planning than immediate form. Chelsea's win, driven by youth opportunities and calculated rotations, signals a strategy to gauge depth while keeping players fresh for a demanding schedule. The absence of Levi Colwill adds urgency to the defensive planning and could push the club to act in the transfer window. Newcastle's equaliser against Espanyol underscores a broader trend: teams use friendlies to test systems and bench strengths rather than chase wins at all costs. The coming weeks will show how far both clubs are willing to invest to secure a competitive spine this season.

Highlights

The coming days will reveal how far each club will go to strengthen ahead of the season.