Chelsea End Pre-Season With 3-1 Win Over Real Sociedad as Xabi Alonso Tests 3-4-3

Chelsea ended their pre-season campaign with a 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge, giving new head coach Xabi Alonso further evidence that his preferred 3-4-3 formation could have a role to play when the Premier League season begins.

Rogers scores on Chelsea debut

Morgan Rogers opened the scoring after just 11 minutes, marking his Chelsea debut with a simple finish. However, despite taking an early lead, Chelsea struggled to control the first half.

Real Sociedad grew into the match and repeatedly threatened Robert Sanchez's goal. Their pressure eventually paid off just before half-time when Jon Mikel Aramburu produced an impressive volley to level the score.

Alonso kept his back three after the break and Chelsea looked significantly more comfortable. Just two minutes into the second half, Joao Pedro restored the Blues' advantage with a header from Reece James' cross.

The Brazilian striker then completed his impressive pre-season by scoring again in the 77th minute, finishing neatly to make it 3-1. Pedro has now scored seven goals in five appearances during pre-season.

Alonso continues to favour three-man defence

The match was the third consecutive occasion on which Alonso selected a 3-4-3 system, following a switch away from the 4-2-3-1 formation used during Chelsea's first three pre-season matches.

The system reflects the structure Alonso successfully used at Bayer Leverkusen, where he guided the German side to the Bundesliga title in 2024.

There were still weaknesses. Chelsea sat too deep during the first half and struggled to press Real Sociedad effectively. After the interval, however, the Blues pushed higher up the pitch, allowing their pressing game to become more effective.

The flexibility of the formation also allows Chelsea to shift between three and four defenders during possession, with Moises Caicedo occasionally dropping into the defensive line.

Enzo Fernandez receives mixed reception

Enzo Fernandez was another talking point at Stamford Bridge. The midfielder came on as a substitute in the 62nd minute, shortly after Manchester City's interest in him had dominated the transfer headlines.

Some Chelsea supporters booed Fernandez when he entered the game, while others applauded and chanted his name. The mixed reaction continued for much of his appearance before the midfielder received a more positive response from the home crowd.

Fernandez is now expected to remain at Chelsea for the 2026/27 season, and his role could be important to Alonso's plans.

Joao Pedro highlights Chelsea's attacking concerns

While Pedro's form is encouraging, his performance also highlighted a potential problem for Chelsea. The Brazilian was the only recognised striker available to Alonso against Real Sociedad, with Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap absent amid uncertainty over their futures.

Chelsea have been active in the transfer market, but the situation leaves Alonso with limited options at centre-forward. Pedro's form provides a major boost, yet relying heavily on one striker could become a concern over the course of the campaign.

Chelsea will now turn their attention to competitive football. Their Premier League season begins away to Fulham on August 24, when Alonso will get his first opportunity to see how his new-look side performs in a competitive fixture.