Chelsea 3-2 Real Madrid: Blues make perfect start in Women's Champions League at Stamford Bridge

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·8 October 2024

Chelsea 3-2 Real Madrid: Blues make perfect start in Women's Champions League at Stamford Bridge

Linda Caicedo scored in closing stages to make it a nervy finale but Blues held on for opening European win

Chelsea eased past Real Madrid in a 3-2 win to make a successful start to their bid for Women’s Champions League success, despite a late scare at Stamford Bridge.

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The Blues have fallen agonisingly short in recent seasons but will hope to take the final step this time with Sonia Bompastor, who has won the competition as a player and manager, now in the dugout.

Chelsea beat Madrid on home soil in both of the past two campaigns under Emma Hayes and Bompastor followed her predecessor in overseeing a statement win over the Spanish side, even if Linda Caicedo’s late strike set up a grandstand finish

It had been the perfect start to the night for Chelsea, who took the lead inside a few minutes when Sjoeke Nusken helped the ball towards goal and it took a decisive deflection off Sheila Garcia.

That advantage was doubled on the half-hour mark, in potentially fortuitous circumstances. Nusken went down in the box under minimal contact, the referee pointed to the spot and Guro Reiten stepped up to find the bottom corner.

Madrid pulled one back before the break, after Chelsea failed to clear the ball and it fell for Alba Redondo to finish, but the Blues had their two-goal lead restored shortly after the restart, when Mayra Ramirez looped in a header from Lauren James’ cross.

It looked set to be a comfortable stroll to the finish line for the hosts, though that all changed with a just over five minutes remaining when Caicedo turned home from close range at the back post.

There were some nervy moments in the closing stages as Madrid pushed for a late equaliser but it did not come, Chelsea holding on to maintain their perfect record under Bompastor.