Chelsea survive late scare to beat Real Madrid in their Women’s Champions League opener

Chelsea 3 Real Madrid 2

Three competitive games, three wins for Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor, who marked her first appearance on the sidelines at Stamford Bridge with a nervous start to Europe.

Chelsea, champions of English women’s football for the last five seasons, have high hopes of reaching the top and winning the only piece of silverware that has eluded former coach Emma Hayes during her 12-year spell at the club. After signing Bompastor, who won the Champions League twice as a player with Lyon, and managing the French giants in 2022, there is renewed optimism that this could be her year.

With England right-back Lucy Bronze, who has won the competition three times with two different clubs, in their ranks, the signs could hardly be clearer: this is a competition Chelsea are determined to win. There is no doubt that Bompastor’s team has star power at the helm, although questions remain regarding their style of play.

Linda Caicedo’s 83rd-minute goal made it 3-1 with 10 minutes left and provided a thrilling conclusion to a battle they should have controlled from start to finish. With Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Chelsea have a strong striker who is becoming increasingly important to their attack.

The Swede was instrumental in the opening goal, making a dizzying run down the right before sending a precise cross towards Sjoeke Nusken, whose deflected header sailed past Real goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez. Guro Reiten doubled the hosts’ lead from the penalty spot after Nusken – who was a handful for Real’s defense all night – went down in the penalty area. It was a soft decision, but with both teams having few chances and occasionally struggling with biblical showers, Chelsea had no complaints.

Real had little to complain about in a dismal first half, save for Caroline Weir’s weak shot which was collected by Musovic, who was in goal after Hannah Hampton fell ill before kick-off. The Swede couldn’t stop Alba Redondo’s shot from close range. Chelsea extended their lead after the break when Mayra Ramirez headed Lauren James’ cross into the goal.

Game details

Chelsea (4-3-3): Musovic (gk); Bronze, Bright, Bjorn, Baltimore (Lawrence 66); Kaptein (Hamano 66), Nusken, James (Mpome 87); Rytting Kanyerd (Jean-Francois 75), Ramirez (Beever-Jones 66), riding.
Subs are not used: Perisset, Bartel.
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Misa (gk); Garcia (Oihane 87), Lakrar, Mendez, Olga; Teresa (Caicedo 63), Angeldal, Leupolz; Athenea (Navarro 74), Weir (Moller 87), Redondo.
Goals: Nusken 2′ Reiten 28′ Penalty, Redondo 39′, Ramirez 53′, Caicedo 83′
Subs are not used: Chavas (gk), Tellez, Rocio, Antonia, Bruun, Camacho, Feller.
Ref: Ivana Martincic (cro)

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