Joao Pedro scores a brace, Chelsea convincingly defeat La Liga club

(Football results) - Chelsea wrapped up their pre-season campaign with a 3-1 win against Real Sociedad, highlighted by João Pedro's brace at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea hosted Real Sociedad in their final friendly ahead of the 2026/27 season. Manager Xabi Alonso continued to experiment with the 3-4-3 formation, fielding the attacking trio of Cole Palmer, João Pedro, and new signing Morgan Rogers.

The home side started brightly and took just 11 minutes to open the scoring. From an attack down the flank, João Pedro rose high to head the ball, forcing goalkeeper Alex Remiro to spill it. Morgan Rogers was in the right place at the right time, easily slotting home the rebound into the Real Sociedad net. This was also the Englishman's first goal in a Chelsea shirt.

After conceding, the La Liga side gradually regained control of the game. Chelsea dropped deep, failed to maintain pressure, and allowed the opposition to create several notable chances. In the 45th minute, Jon Aramburu unleashed a beautiful volley from outside the box, beating Robert Sanchez to level the score.

However, Chelsea needed only two minutes after the break to re-establish their lead. Reece James delivered a precise cross from the right flank, setting up João Pedro for a header to make it 2-1. The goal allowed the home side to play more fluidly and control the game better for the remainder.

Manager Xabi Alonso then made a series of substitutions, but Chelsea's attacking threat did not diminish. In the 77th minute, Malo Gusto burst down the flank before laying off a perfect pass for João Pedro to finish calmly, completing his brace and sealing a 3-1 victory.

This result helped Chelsea close out their friendly series with a positive performance. The connection between Rogers, Palmer, and João Pedro showed promising signs, although the three-man defensive system still had some gaps to address. Chelsea will begin their campaign in the Premier League with a match against Fulham, while the win over Real Sociedad provided Xabi Alonso's side with a necessary springboard for the season ahead.