Chelsea vs Real Sociedad

Here's how Chelsea's pre-season has shaped up:
28 July: Western Sydney Wanderers 4-6 Chelsea (Accor Stadium, Sydney)
1 August: Chelsea 1-2 Tottenham (Accor Stadium, Sydney)
5 August: Chelsea 0-1 Juventus (Kai Tak Stadium, Hong Kong)
8 August: Chelsea 3-0 AC Milan (Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta)
11 August: Johor Darul Ta'zim 3-3 Chelsea (Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Johor)
15 August: Chelsea 3-1 Real Sociedad (Stamford Bridge)
Confirmed lineups
Chelsea
Starting XI
- GKSánchez
- CBFofana
- CBLacroix
- CBColwill
- RWBJames (c)
- LWBPalestra
- CDMCaicedo
- CAMPalmer
- RWNeto
- LWRogers
- STJoão Pedro
Substitutes
- GKPenders
- GKSlonina
- CBAcheampong
- CBHato
- RWBGusto
- LWBChavarría
- CMBarco
- CMEssugo
- CMFernández
- CMLavia
- RWQuenda
- RWEstêvão
- LWGittens
Real Sociedad
Starting XI
Full-time: a much better second half than first from Chelsea, and they get the win in their final pre-season game before the Premier League season starts next week.
Into the final minute, and it's gone pretty flat since those changes.
Three minutes added on at the end of this one.
A nice ball from Romeo Lavia sets João Pedro away, who lays it off to Estêvão just inside the box. The crowd wants a shot, and he obliges, but it flies over the bar.
Good work down the left from Real Sociedad, and a shirt pull gives away a free-kick of their own.
Jamie Gittens is brought down on the left side of the box. Just over five minutes to go, plus stoppages.
João Pedro has his second of the afternoon! Comfortably Chelsea's best player since the restart, he chases down a ball from Malo Gusto and finishes with a pinpoint effort into the bottom far corner. A really impressive second-half showing. Chelsea 3-1 Real Sociedad.
The game had gone a little quiet, and Xabi Alonso responds with five changes at once. Off go Moisés Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Pedro Neto and Marco Palestra, with Estêvão, Jamie Gittens, Pep Chavarría, Jorrel Hato and Romeo Lavia all introduced.
One detail worth noting: Fernández has been wearing the captain's armband since coming on, with Reece James, subbed off earlier, now watching from the bench.
A second hydration break, with the Stamford Bridge heat still very much a factor.
Fernández rises well to meet a corner and heads it narrowly wide. An interesting subplot developing: would this crowd even celebrate if he'd scored?
The boos for Fernández continue. If the reaction here is anything to go by, he may hear something similar from opposition crowds elsewhere this season too, for reasons that go beyond the transfer talk.
Enzo Fernández hears it from a section of the home support as he gets on the ball, whistles mixed with some scattered cheers. Hard to say whether it's the Manchester City links or something else entirely behind it, but it's not the reception a returning midfielder would hope for.
A triple change for Chelsea. Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix and Reece James make way for Enzo Fernández, Josh Acheampong and Malo Gusto. Fernández gets a warm reception from the Stamford Bridge crowd as he strips off, regardless of how his transfer saga eventually plays out.
A couple of half-chances for Chelsea here. It starts with a lovely floated pass from Reece James, and Cole Palmer eventually gets a bending effort away, but it drifts wide of the far post.
João Pedro goes looking for a second. Under pressure ten yards out, he digs out a shot but can't quite keep it on target. He does win a corner out of it, though.
João Pedro's finish takes him to seven goals in seven games this pre-season, including the behind-closed-doors friendlies. Whatever the opposition, the form is real.
Better from Chelsea, who are maintaining the pressure after restoring their lead. João Pedro looks really lively, twisting and turning down the left before getting another effort away, but the goalkeeper is equal to it this time.
Chelsea are back in front! Cole Palmer keeps the move alive down the right, running out of space before resetting it with a bit of clever footwork. He lays it back to Reece James, whose ball to the far post is glorious, floated straight onto João Pedro's head for a powerful finish past the goalkeeper. Chelsea 2-1 Real Sociedad.
Chelsea can have few complaints there. It's been coming for Real Sociedad over the last 20 minutes or so.
Real Sociedad are level! Robert Sánchez has been busy since the hydration break and parries a shot away, but it falls straight to Jon Aramburu on the edge of the box. The full-back finishes beautifully with his left foot, nothing Sánchez could do about that one. Chelsea 1-1 Real Sociedad.
Chelsea have started to regain some control. Morgan Rogers looks to slip in João Pedro, but the Brazilian can't get there before the goalkeeper.
Under 10 minutes to go until the break. Xabi Alonso will be happy to get his side in at 1-0, knowing Chelsea have been second best for large periods since Morgan Rogers' opener.
Sánchez to the rescue again! Sloppy defending from Chelsea opens up a big chance, and the goalkeeper comes to the rescue once more, this time getting down well to block. Real Sociedad will feel they should be level.
Real Sociedad have found their footing over the last few minutes and force a big moment. Robert Sánchez is called into action and produces a brilliant reaction save, tipping a close-range effort over the crossbar.
A hydration break is met with boos around Stamford Bridge, understandable given the heat. Xabi Alonso uses the stoppage to talk tactics with his players, with new set-piece coach Austin MacPhee also involved.
Alonso's 3-4-2-1 shape is looking both solid and threatening early on. New signing Maxence Lacroix has given the back line real physical presence, and the front three are already finding a nice balance around Morgan Rogers. On this evidence, it could well be the template for the trip to Fulham in nine days.
A lovely ball over the top sends João Pedro clear near the byline. He squares it across the box, but there's no one there to turn it in.
Chelsea win a corner and new set-piece coach Austin MacPhee, brought in from Aston Villa, gets to his feet in anticipation. The delivery comes to nothing and MacPhee sits back down.
Moisés Caicedo takes out Yangel Herrera in midfield and gets a stern word from the referee. Nothing more than a warning, but a reminder that Real Sociedad aren't here to make up the numbers.
The Stamford Bridge crowd are already singing his name, a chant of "oh, Morgan Rogers" rings out. It's a near-full house for Chelsea's pre-season finale, with a healthy away following from the Basque Country too.
Could that just be the start for Morgan Rogers? Xabi Alonso will be delighted with how his side are playing early on.
Morgan Rogers opens the scoring on his Stamford Bridge debut! Pedro Neto cuts inside and picks out João Pedro, whose header is well saved, but Rogers reacts fastest to tap home the rebound. A dream start for the club's big summer signing. Chelsea 1-0 Real Sociedad.
Kick-off at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea's final pre-season fixture, and a personal one for Xabi Alonso against his boyhood club, is under way.
Head to Head
Season so far · Pre-Season
Form guide
All competitions
Chelsea
- D J v Johor Darul Ta'zim Pre-Season 3-3
- W A v AC Milan Pre-Season 3-0
- L J v Juventus Club Friendlies 0-1
- L T v Tottenham Hotspur Sydney Super Cup 1-2
- W W v Western Sydney Wanderers Sydney Super Cup 6-4
Real Sociedad
No recent form logged.