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Chelsea end their pre-season campaign with a friendly against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
The Blues start the new Premier League season away to West London rivals Fulham on Monday Night Football.
Meanwhile, Sociedad travel to Real Betis in their LaLiga opener next Friday night.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Chelsea vs. Real Sociedad key stats
- Chelsea have had a mixed pre-season (W2, D1, L2).
- Sociedad have lost their last two friendlies.
- Sociedad ended 2025/26 with a seven-game winless run (D4, L3).
Chelsea vs. Real Sociedad preview: Blues to end on a high?
Chelsea vs Sociedad — Tale of the Tape
| Chelsea | vs | Sociedad |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (Premier League) | Position | 10th (LaLiga) |
| 52 | Points | 46 |
| 58 | Goals For | 59 |
| 52 | Goals Against | 61 |
| 9 | Clean Sheets | 3 |
| 13th | Home / Away Rank | 13th |
Under new management in Xabi Alonso, Chelsea are aiming to get back into Europe for next season.
A disappointing 10th-place finish last term meant they missed out on European football altogether, and reaching an FA Cup final could not paper over the cracks.
In order to rectify it, Alonso has been backed with the big-money signings of Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix among others, while veterans Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson have joined to add much-needed experience.
Henderson is unavailable for this friendly though with injury, while Levi Colwill headlines the fitness doubts.
Sociedad only have one guaranteed absentee with Alvaro Odriozola expected to be out of action for at least a couple more months.
Pellegrino Matarazzo took charge midway through last season after a poor start, and in truth he could not do much to help their cause in the league, as they also finished 10th.
It has been a mixed pre-season for them too, winning just twice in six matches so far (D1, L3).
Chelsea will be favourites on home soil, but Sociedad will be desperate to enter the campaign with some newly-found confidence.
Chelsea vs. Real Sociedad form guide & betting tips
| Chelsea | vs | Sociedad |
|---|---|---|
WLLWD |
Form | DWWLL |
| 13 | Goals For | 9 |
| 10 | Goals Against | 8 |
LWD |
Friendlies | WLL |
Whispers predicts: Chelsea 3-1 Real Sociedad
Chelsea are 13/20 (1.65) favourites to win, but while we agree with the bookies, we want to explore more ambitious bets.
Over 3.5 goals at 11/10 (2.10) is our first pick, given a high total of 23 goals being scored in Chelsea's previous five friendlies.
Joao Pedro has been on fire in pre-season with five goals across four appearances, and so Joao Pedro to score anytime at 6/5 (2.20) also appeals.
Overall, we are predicting a Correct score – 3-1 at 11/1 (12.00), which would yield a tasty profit as an outside punt.
> Over 3.5 goals at 11/10 (2.10) | Likelihood: Possible
> Joao Pedro to score anytime at 6/5 (2.20) | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct score – 3-1 at 11/1 (12.00) | Likelihood: Outsider