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Morgan Rogers marked his first game in Chelsea colours with a goal and Joao Pedro added to his impressive summer tally by bagging a brace as Xabi Alonso’s Blues ended our pre-season schedule in style. On a sizzling summer’s afternoon in west London, Rogers poked us ahead early on after Joao Pedro’s header had been well saved. Sociedad carried a threat of their own and levelled shortly before the half-time whistle courtesy of Jon Mikel Aramburu’s fine volley. However, the second half was very much Chelsea’s, and our dominance was rewarded through a pair of Joao Pedro goals - his sixth and seventh of pre-season. The well-placed header that restored our lead arrived a couple of minutes into the second half, and the Brazilian backed that up by making a one-on-one opportunity look very easy as this enjoyable friendly entered its final act. Xabi Alonso, getting his first taste of the home dugout at the Bridge, was able to give minutes to 20 of his players, including several who had yet to feature this pre-season. For the Blues fans watching on, it whet the appetite for what lies ahead, with the start of the Premier League campaign just over a week away now. Xabi welcome Before kick-off, Alonso received a great ovation from the Chelsea supporters inside the stadium, and indeed the small pocket of travelling fans who saw him come through Real Sociedad’s ranks in the late nineties. Alonso’s first Stamford Bridge starting XI included new signings Marco Palestra, Maxence Lacroix and Rogers. The latter two were playing their first game for us having returned to training earlier in the week. The shape was nominally 3-4-3, with Pedro Neto and Palestra the wing-backs. Reece James joined Moises Caicedo in midfield, with Cole Palmer and Rogers – as well as Neto and Palestra – supporting Joao Pedro. It was apparent from the off how fluid the attack would be, with Joao Pedro regularly dropping deeper, allowing Rogers and Palmer to run beyond. Morgan makes his mark However, it was from Joao Pedro’s positioning in a central striking position that we took the lead in the tenth minute. Neto teased a cross in from the right flank and the Brazilian’s header back across goal was well directed. Visiting keeper Alex Remiro, diving to his left, just reached it but succeeded only in teeing up Rogers, who couldn’t miss in front of the Shed. Joao Pedro almost immediately forced Remiro into another good save, with nobody in blue able to pick up the pieces on this occasion. Sociedad then threatened for the first time, Ander Barrenetxea cutting inside and curling a shot not far wide. Either side of a hydration break, which offered both teams some respite on another scorching London afternoon, Take Kubo shot into the side-netting and Rob Sanchez produced a superb reaction save to deny Jon Martin. It looked like we had quietened the Sociedad threat sufficiently before the break, but the side from San Sebastian equalised on the stroke of half-time through Arambaru’s brilliantly executed 20-yard volley. Sanchez stood no chance. Back in front The Blues came out of the blocks quickly and soon restored our lead, in similar fashion to the opener. Palmer twisted back and forth before laying the ball off for James to send over a right-wing cross. Joao Pedro rose highest and this time his header was steered beyond Remiro’s reach. Another attack involving Palmer ended with the Brazilian firing against Remiro’s legs as the angle narrowed, and there was plenty more slick interplay for the home fans to enjoy as we approached the hour mark. The first ranch of changes saw Mike Penders, Malo Gusto, Josh Acheampong and Enzo Fernandez enter the fray. Gusto went to right wing-back, with Neto switching to the left. One of Sociedad’s subs, Spain World Cup winner Mikel Oyarzabal, had a shot excellently blocked by Wesley Fofana shortly after coming on. But it was our leading man who was more decisive following another flurry of Blues subs – including a first sighting of Pep Chavarria in blue. JP at it again! Gusto played a fine through pass for Joao Pedro to run on to, and the confident finish that followed across Remiro felt inevitable. We continued to look threatening in the final quarter-hour, with Estevao shooting over and Jorrel Hato embarking on a lung-busting run from one end to the other that had the Blues fans roaring him on. It epitomised an enjoyable finale to pre-season. What comes next... The Premier League season! The Blues begin the 2026/27 campaign by making the short trip to Craven Cottage to play Fulham next Monday 24 August. The teams Chelsea (3-4-3): Sanchez (Penders 61); Fofana, Lacroix (Acheampong 62), Colwill (Hato 76); Neto (Estevao 76), James (c) (Fernandez 62), Caicedo (Lavia 76), Palestra (Chavarria 76); Palmer (Gittens 76), Rogers (Gusto 62); Joao Pedro. Unused subs Slonina, Barco, Essugo, Quenda Scorers Rogers 10, Joao Pedro 47, 77 Real Sociedad (4-2-3-1): Remiro, Aramburu, Gomez (Munoz 83), Herrera (Turrientes 63), Martin; Beitia (Zubeldia 62), Sucic (Marchal 62); Kubo (Oyarzabal 63), Soler, Barrenetxea (c) (Marin 83); Oskarsson (Zakharyan 84). Unused subs Marrero, Folgago, Goti, Ruperez, Ochieng, Lebarbier Scorer Arambaru 45 Referee Andy Madley Crowd 34,715