Chelsea vs Real Sociedad: Alonso's Home Debut at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge finally gets football again this afternoon. After weeks on the road, Chelsea close out their pre-season with a friendly against Real Sociedad and a first home outing for new head coach Xabi Alonso.
The tour of Australia and Asia was a mixed bag. Chelsea put away Western Sydney Wanderers and AC Milan, but the momentum stalled with successive defeats to Tottenham and Juventus. A wild 3-3 draw against Johor Darul Ta'zim in Malaysia underlined how much work still lies ahead.
Now the focus sharpens. The Premier League kicks off next weekend and this is the last dress rehearsal.
Alonso’s home bow and new faces on show
Alonso’s first game in the home dugout comes with a twist: it’s against his former club. The Spaniard built his reputation at Real Sociedad and now meets them as the man charged with reshaping Chelsea.
He finally has a full squad to look at. The last of the post-World Cup absentees are back at Cobham, giving him the chance to move closer to his likely starting XI for the league opener.
There is intrigue everywhere you look. New signings Morgan Rogers, Pep Chavarria, Jordan Henderson, Valentin Barco and Maxence Lacroix are all in line for debuts in front of the home crowd. Enzo Fernandez could also be involved after Manchester City failed to meet Friday’s deadline to submit an offer.
For some, it’s a first glimpse. For others, it’s an audition.
Sociedad chasing English treble
Real Sociedad arrive with their own edge. Their LaLiga campaign starts next weekend and they are already in a rhythm, having beaten Wolves and Aston Villa this summer. Victory at Stamford Bridge would complete a clean sweep over English opposition in pre-season.
They will test Chelsea’s defensive organisation and fitness, exactly what Alonso needs a week out from competitive action.
How to watch Chelsea vs Real Sociedad
For those not heading to the Bridge, the game is live on CFC+, Chelsea’s in-house video streaming service.
- TV channel/live stream: CFC+
- Kick-off: 2pm BST at Stamford Bridge
- UK pricing: £14.99 for an annual CFC+ subscription, or £9.99 for a one-off match pass
One more friendly, one more chance to convince. Then there are no rehearsals left.
