Chelsea vs Real SociedadPrediction, probable lineups, recent form & season stats

A final friendly before the season for two sides who prepared their summers away from home. Chelsea have won three of their last six on their own ground, including 3-0 against Milan and 6-4 against Western Sydney, scoring 1.8 a game and conceding 1.6. Real Sociedad have played four away games, all past 2.5 and all with both teams scoring: 1-2 with Koln, 1-2 with Toulouse, 4-2 against Aston Villa and 2-1 against Wolves. Two sides who cannot shut the door The common thread is defensive fragility. Chelsea have held a zero in barely one home game in five and concede 1.6 a game, while Real Sociedad have yet to finish an away game without conceding in four attempts. These are pre-season numbers, with defences still being assembled, but the direction is clear. What a mid-August test is worth The Basque side's sample is four matches and there is no head-to-head between the two, so the reference points are few. Chelsea, on the other hand, have played sixteen home games across season and preparation, and over two thirds of them passed two goals. The verdict: one goal from the hosts is enough. Chelsea have scored in ten home games out of sixteen and Real Sociedad concede in every away game. Confidence stays low because friendlies see line-ups change at half-time and Chelsea have been blanked at home more often than you would expect. I read it around 80%. My take: a trial run with defences still loose, Chelsea should find the net.