The fixture list, on paper at least, has been kind to Chelsea given their toils in pre-season. The champions’ World Cup contingent are still finding their feet, with four successive friendlies lost, though the suspicion remains that they will hit the ground running against newly promoted opponents. West Bromwich Albion have not even scored a league goal at Stamford Bridge since 1988 and Roberto Di Matteo, once the hearty welcome back to an old haunt dies down, could be in for a troubled top-flight managerial baptism. Certainly, the size of the task ahead could be made very clear on the opening afternoon. Dominic Fifield

Venue Stamford Bridge, Saturday 5.30pm

Tickets Sold out

Last season n/a

Referee M Clattenburg Last season’s matches 31 Y84, R5, 2.87 cards per game

Odds Chelsea 2-11 West Bromwich 20-1 Draw 13-2

Chelsea

Subs from Hilário, Turnbull, Ivanovic, Bruma, Mancienne, Zhirkov, Benayoun, Matic, Kakuta, Kalou, Borini, Sturridge

Doubtful Alex (thigh), Cech (calf), Lampard (ankle)

Injured Bosingwa (knee, Sep)

Suspended None

Form guide n/a

Disciplinary record (last season) Y57 R5

Leading scorer (last season) Drogba 29

West Bromwich

Subs from Myhill, Barnes, Olsson, Cech, Mattock, Zuiverloon, Cox, Bednar, Méïté, Wood, Thomas, Moore

Doubtful Dorrans (groin), Ibáñez (hamstring)

Injured None

Suspended None

Form guide n/a

Disciplinary record (last season) Y89 R4

Leading scorers (last season) Brunt, Dorrans 13

Match pointers

• Chelsea have not lost their first game in a top-flight season since Coventry won 2-1 at Highfield Road in 1998

• West Bromwich have not won at Chelsea in a league match since September 1978

• In 2009-10 Chelsea became the first side to score over 100 goals in a top-flight campaign since Tottenham in 1962-63

• West Bromwich scored 27 goals from outside the box in the Championship last term – a divisional high

• Chelsea conceded a higher proportion of goals from set pieces (68%) last season than any other side in the division

Premier LeagueChelseaWest Bromguardian.co.uk

• Carvalho signs two-year contract, with option for third
• Defender was coached by Mourinho at Porto and Chelsea

Real Madrid have a agreed a deal with Chelsea to sign Ricardo Carvalho for €8m (£6.6m), reuniting the Portuguese defender with José Mourinho, who coached him at Porto and brought him to Stamford Bridge in 2005.

Carvalho is understood to have signed a two-year contract with an option for a third year. Mourinho had insisted that he needed an additional defender when Madrid returned from their pre-season tour in the United States on Monday.

Internazionale’s resistance to a bid for Maicon forced Madrid to look elsewhere. Mourinho also admitted at the weekend that he had given up any hopes he had of signing Ashley Cole following Carlo Ancelotti’s refusal to countenance a sale.

The Italian has been more receptive to the departure of the 32-year-old. Carvalho had already expressed a desire to leave Chelsea to work with Mourinho at Inter last summer. This summer he has got his wish – albeit at a different club.

Real MadridChelseaTransfer windowSid Loweguardian.co.uk