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Chelsea vs Real Sociedad

15 August 2026·Pre-Season
Chelsea
Chelsea
3 - 1 Completed
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
FT
M. Rogers (10')  João Pedro (47', 76')
HT 1-1
J. Aramburu (45')
R. James (47'), M. Gusto (76')
Assists
02/09/2026 6:45 pm
📝 Preview: Chelsea close their pre-season programme at home to Real Sociedad, with Xabi Alonso facing the club where he came through as a player and first started out as a coach.
02/09/2026 6:45 pm
📝 Real Sociedad arrive at Stamford Bridge as the reigning Copa del Rey winners, giving Alonso's side a meaningful test before the Premier League campaign begins.
02/09/2026 6:45 pm
📝 This is Chelsea's final pre-season fixture before the competitive season opens away at Fulham on Monday 24 August.
02/09/2026 6:45 pm
📝 Chelsea round off their pre-season tour in style, beating Real Sociedad 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in Xabi Alonso's emotional return to the club where his career began. A much-improved second-half display, sparked by a João Pedro brace, sent the Bridge home happy ahead of next week's Premier League opener.
02/09/2026 6:45 pm
📝 A less comfortable afternoon for Enzo Fernández, jeered by sections of his own supporters after coming on as a substitute, with his Manchester City transfer speculation still very much unresolved. He was still handed the captain's armband for his time on the pitch.
02/09/2026 6:45 pm
📝 João Pedro continues to look unstoppable in pre-season, his second-half brace taking him to seven goals in seven outings across the tour, including behind-closed-doors friendlies. If that form travels into the league, Chelsea have a serious problem for opposition defences.
02/09/2026 6:45 pm
📝 Man of the Match: João Pedro. Morgan Rogers deserves a mention here, while Chelsea captain Reece James was also brilliant, but Pedro was the star of the show for Alonso's side on Saturday afternoon. The forward scored two brilliant goals in the second period and caused Real Sociedad all sorts of problems throughout the pre-season clash.
02/09/2026 6:45 pm
📝

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)

FT'
📝

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.

76'

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.

15/08/2026 3:13 pm
📝

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.

47'

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.

45'

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.

32'

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.

30'

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.

15/08/2026 2:27 pm
📝

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.

15/08/2026 2:25 pm
📝

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.

15/08/2026 2:14 pm
📝

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.

10'

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.

15/08/2026 2:00 pm
📝

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.

13'
📝

Could that just be the start for Morgan Rogers? Xabi Alonso will be delighted with how his side are playing early on.

16'
📝

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.

19'
📝

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.

22'

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.

38'
📝

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.

42'

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.

45+1'
📝

Chelsea can have few complaints there. It's been coming for Real Sociedad over the last 20 minutes or so.

51'

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.

54'

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.

60'

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.

62'
🔄

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.

63'
📝

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.

64'
📝

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.

67'

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?

69'
📝

A second hydration break, with the Stamford Bridge heat still very much a factor.

74'
📝

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.

75'
🔄

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.

83'
📝

Jamie Gittens is brought down on the left side of the box. Just over five minutes to go, plus stoppages.

85'
📝

Good work down the left from Real Sociedad, and a shirt pull gives away a free-kick of their own.

88'

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.

90'
📝

Three minutes added on at the end of this one.

90+2'
📝

Into the final minute, and it's gone pretty flat since those changes.

Head to Head & Form

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.

The full match report lands here once the game finishes.

Player ratings land here once the game finishes.

Kick-off
14:00 local
15 August 2026
Venue
Stamford Bridge
London
TV Channel
TBC
Live Stream
TBC

How to watch details land here closer to kick-off.

Confirmed Lineups

Chelsea

Starting XI

  1. GKSánchez
  2. CBFofana
  3. CBLacroix
  4. CBColwill
  5. RWBJames (c)
  6. LWBPalestra
  7. CDMCaicedo
  8. CAMPalmer
  9. RWNeto
  10. LWRogers
  11. STJoão Pedro

Substitutes

  1. GKPenders
  2. GKSlonina
  3. CBAcheampong
  4. CBHato
  5. RWBGusto
  6. LWBChavarría
  7. CMBarco
  8. CMEssugo
  9. CMFernández
  10. CMLavia
  11. RWQuenda
  12. RWEstêvão
  13. LWGittens

Real Sociedad

Starting XI

    Team News

    15/08/2026 12:30 pm
    Confirmed XI: Sánchez starts in goal behind a back line of Fofana, Lacroix, Colwill and Palestra, with Reece James wearing the captain's armband. Caicedo anchors midfield, with Neto, Palmer and Rogers in support of João Pedro up front. Enzo Fernández, Romeo Lavia and Estêvão are among those named among the substitutes.
    Overall Possession
    Chelsea Chelsea 59%
    41% Real Sociedad Real Sociedad
    Match Intensity (illustrative, based on key moments)
    0'15'30'45'60'75'90'
    5 Shots on Target 4
    15 Shots 16
    4 Corners 2
    5 Fouls 12
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