Chelsea scored their first aim at Stamford Bridge below Xabi Alonso when £117 million signing Morgan Rogers tapped within the opener in a pleasant towards Actual Sociedad on Saturday.
England midfielder Rogers, who turned the most costly British participant ever when the 24-year-old arrived from Aston Villa in July, pounced after goalkeeper Alex Remiro saved Joao Pedro’s header from Pedro Neto’s right-wing cross.
The Blues are 9 days away from their first aggressive match below new head coach Alonso, travelling to Fulham within the Premier League (20:00 BST).
Morgan Rogers aim vs Sociedad
Rogers was prolific final season, contributing 14 targets and 11 assists for the Villans on his method to profitable the Europa League Participant of the Season award as his former membership lifted the trophy.
No English participant bettered Rogers’ complete of 84 makes an attempt at aim within the 2025/26 Premier League, whereas no midfielder eclipsed his tally of 32 on track.
His goals-vs-expected-goals complete of three.22 was additionally the eighth-highest of any participant within the division, helped by Rogers’ expertise for spectacular strikes.
Alonso is hoping to revive Chelsea’s fortunes following their Tenth-placed end in 2025/26, dropping as many video games as they gained within the prime flight.
Sociedad begin their La Liga marketing campaign at Actual Betis on August 21, having completed Tenth final season and gained the Copa del Rey.
Chelsea workforce vs Actual Sociedad
For the primary match at Stamford Bridge of his tenure, Alonso made 11 modifications from the 3-3 draw with Johor Darul Ta’zim in Gelang Patah the earlier Sunday.
New signings Rogers, Maxence Lacroix and Marco Palestra have been among the many starters, whereas Aaron Anselmino, Jordan Henderson and Emmanuel Emegha had been harm doubts and weren’t concerned.
Chelsea beginning XI: Robert Sanchez; Wesley Fofana, Maxence Lacroix, Levi Colwill, Marco Palestra, Reece James, Moises Caicedo, Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Joao Pedro
Chelsea substitutes: Mike Penders, Gabriel Slonina, Josh Acheampong, Pep Chavarria, Malo Gusto, Jorrel Hato, Valentino Barco, Dario Essugo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, Geovany Quenda, Estevao Willian, Jamie Gittens
Sociedad full line up vs Chelsea
Sociedad made three alterations from their 2-1 defeat at Koln final Saturday, bringing in Take Kubo, Luka Sucic and Luken Beitia for Igor Zubeldia, Benat Turrientes and Alex Marchal.
Alvaro Odriozola had a long-term knee harm and 2025/26 prime scorer Mikel Oyarzabal returned on the bench following his wonderful World Cup marketing campaign with Spain.
Orri Oskarsson has three targets in 5 pre-season appearances, whereas Carlos Soler has scored twice.
Actual Sociedad beginning XI: Alex Remiro, Jon Aramburu, Ander Barrenetxea, Orri Steinn Oskarsson, Yangel Herrera, Take Kubo, Sergio Gomez, Carlos Soler, Luka Sucic, Jon Martin, Luken Beitia
Sociedad substitutes: Unai Marrero, Theo Folgado, Aihen Munoz, Igor Zubeldia, Benat Turrientes, Mikel Oyarzabal, Pablo Marin, Arsen Zakharyan, Inaki Ruperez, Mikel Goti, Alex Marchal, Alex Lebarbier, Job Ochieng
The place to observe Chelsea vs Sociedad: TV and on-line streams
Kick-off on Saturday was at 14:00 BST (08:00 PT / 05:00 ET). Reside protection and streaming is on CFC Plus, which prices £14.99 a 12 months.
Chelsea vs Actual Sociedad stats
- These groups met at Stamford Bridge in a pleasant in 2014, when new signings Thibaut Courtois, Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa made their first Chelsea appearances
- Costa scored each targets in Chelsea’s 2-0 win – the primary after 58 seconds – whereas Blues striker Fernando Torres made his ultimate look for the membership within the sport
- Jose Mourinho, who will meet Sociedad this season in his second spell as Actual Madrid supervisor, was in his second tenure as Chelsea boss on the time of that match
- Mourinho guided Chelsea to the Premier League title by eight factors forward of Manchester Metropolis that season, in addition to EFL Cup glory
- Chelsea’s aggressive document towards Spanish golf equipment is W22 D18 L13, together with their present two-match profitable run in such fixtures, comprising a 3-0 house win over Barcelona within the Champions League in November 2025 and a 4-1 victory over Betis to win the Convention League in Wroclaw the earlier Might
- One of many managers Chelsea are set to face on this season’s Premier League, David Moyes, took cost of Sociedad three months after that pleasant at Stamford Bridge, succeeding Jagoba Arrasate
- Sociedad completed twelfth in La Liga that season, helped by new Manchester Metropolis goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli
- They visited England in pre-season in 2025/26 to play two friendlies on August 9 towards Bournemouth, drawing 1-1 within the first of these video games by Ander Barrenetxea’s 89th-minute equaliser
- The second sport on the Vitality Stadium completed 0-0, previous a season wherein Sociedad completed Tenth in La Liga and gained the Copa del Rey
- They confronted English opposition within the 2024/25 Europa League, drawing 1-1 at house to Manchester United earlier than dropping 4-1 at Outdated Trafford. Mikel Oyarzabal scored each of their targets
- In opposition to English golf equipment, Sociedad’s aggressive document is W1 D3 L6. The final eight of these video games have been towards United, with the victory a 1-0 win at Outdated Trafford in the course of the Europa League group stage in September 2022
