Morgan Rogers scores as Chelsea beat Real Sociedad

Morgan Rogers made an instant impression on his first Chelsea appearance, scoring as the Blues beat Real Sociedad 3-1 in their final pre-season friendly at Stamford Bridge. The match also marked Xabi Alonso's first game at the stadium since taking charge.

Rogers makes immediate impact

Chelsea's club-record signing from Aston Villa needed little time to announce himself. Rogers put the home side in front after 10 minutes, giving supporters an early glimpse of why the club moved so decisively to bring him in.

Real Sociedad responded before the interval, with Jon Mikel Aramburu equalising just before half-time through a volley from the edge of the penalty area. It ensured Chelsea went into the break level despite a bright opening spell.

Joao Pedro finishes the job

Chelsea regained control shortly after the restart when Joao Pedro restored their lead with a close-range header. The forward then added another late on to make sure of the result and give the hosts a convincing end to their pre-season schedule.

The victory offered a positive backdrop to Alonso's first outing at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea showing attacking sharpness and enough resilience to recover after Sociedad's equaliser.

Mixed moments across the side

There was also a notable reaction from the crowd to Enzo Fernandez. The substitute was booed by sections of supporters, with Chelsea set to keep the midfielder after no club met their £120m valuation before Friday's deadline.

At the other end, Robert Sanchez delivered an important contribution. The goalkeeper made two strong saves from Jon Martin and also denied Orri Oskarsson in a one-on-one before half-time, underlining his value in a game Chelsea ultimately controlled.

Defensive display under the spotlight

Among the defenders, Wesley Fofana recovered from an early lapse in which he and Pedro Neto did not pick up Ander Barrenetxea as Sociedad created a chance. Fofana settled into the contest after that and turned in a solid display.

Maxence Lacroix impressed with his authority in the middle of Chelsea's back three, particularly in the early stages, although he appeared to tire after only recently returning from World Cup duty. Levi Colwill, meanwhile, looked comfortable in possession, made a couple of important blocks and remained on the pitch for 76 minutes.

• Morgan Rogers scored on his first Chelsea appearance since joining from Aston Villa.
• Chelsea beat Real Sociedad 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.
• Joao Pedro scored twice after the break.
• Robert Sanchez made key saves before half-time.