Chelsea FC is set to conclude their pre-season preparations with a friendly match against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge. The match, which will not be televised globally, will be aired by a local Basque Country channel. This is the final preseason match under Xabi Alonso's first-year tenure as the team's manager, and it promises to be an interesting affair given the complete availability of the squad, including captain Reece James and vice-captain Enzo Fernández.
Chelsea's Lineup
Chelsea's starting lineup will see a mix of familiar faces and new signings. The team will field a 4-2-3-1 formation with goalkeeper Sánchez, defenders Fofana, Lacroix, Colwill, and Palestra, midfielders James (captain) and Caicedo, and forwards Neto, Palmer, Rogers, and João Pedro. The substitutes include Penders, Slonina, Acheampong, Chavarría, Gusto, Hato, Essugo, Lavia, Barco, Enzo, Estêvão, Gittens, and Quenda.
Real Sociedad's Lineup
Real Sociedad will also take the field with a full squad. The Basque club will deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation with goalkeeper Remiro, defenders Aramburu, Barrene, Óskarsson, and Herrera, midfielders Take, Sergio Gómez, C. Soler, Sucic, Jon Martin, and Beitia. The substitutes include Marrero, Folgado, Aihen, Zubeldia, Turrientes, Oyarzabal, Marín, Zakharyan, Ruperez, Goti, Marchal, Lebarbier, and Ochieng.
Match Details
The match is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 14:00 BST (9:00 AM EDT, 7:30 PM IST). It will be streamed exclusively on CFC+ for a fee of £9.99 for just the game or £14.99/$19.99 for the whole season. Fans are encouraged to support their team and enjoy the game, with the hashtag #ChelseaVsRealSociedad trending on social media.
