Chelsea have named their starting XI for the pre-season clash with Real Sociedad, with Xabi Alonso selecting a strong side for the Blues' final preparations ahead of the new season.
Chelsea Starting XI
Robert Sanchez
Wes Fofana — Maxence Lacroix — Levi Colwill — Marco Palestra
Reece James (C) — Moises Caicedo
Pedro Neto — Cole Palmer — Morgan Rogers
Joao Pedro
Strong Team Named by Alonso
Chelsea have gone with a strong lineup for the meeting with Real Sociedad, giving several key players valuable minutes before the competitive campaign begins.
Reece James captains the side, while Moises Caicedo starts alongside him in midfield.
The attacking trio of Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers will operate behind Joao Pedro, giving Chelsea plenty of creativity and pace in the final third.
Rogers Handed Chelsea Debut
One of the biggest talking points is the inclusion of Morgan Rogers from the start.
The new arrival gets an early opportunity to impress in a Chelsea shirt and will be hoping to make an immediate impact.
Maxence Lacroix also starts in defence alongside Levi Colwill, giving supporters another chance to see the new-look Chelsea squad taking shape.
Palmer Leads the Attack
Cole Palmer remains one of Chelsea's most important attacking players and starts in the No. 10 role.
His ability to create chances and link midfield with the attack could be crucial against Real Sociedad.
With Neto and Rogers providing width and Joao Pedro leading the line, Chelsea have selected an attack capable of testing the Spanish side's defence.
Enzo Fernandez Among the Substitutes
Enzo Fernandez is among the substitutes, giving Alonso another high-quality midfield option to introduce later in the match.
Chelsea's bench also provides the manager with plenty of opportunities to rotate his squad and assess different combinations.
Final Pre-Season Test
The match represents an important final opportunity for Chelsea to sharpen their preparations before the new campaign gets underway.
For Alonso, it is another chance to evaluate his squad, test his preferred system and give his players valuable minutes.
The meeting with Real Sociedad should provide a useful indication of how prepared Chelsea are for the challenges ahead.
