By hannover-web.com Chelsea celebrated a hard-earned victory over Real Madrid, marking their 10th consecutive unbeaten match at home in the Women’s Champions League group stage. The match, which took place at Stamford Bridge, featured goals from Sjoeke Nüsken, Guro Reiten, and Mayra Ramírez. However, the two goals conceded raised some doubts about the team’s defensive solidity.
After the final whistle, Chelsea’s new manager, Sonia Bompastor, shared her mixed feelings about the team’s performance. “We got the goals, but I don’t think the players put in the level of effort I expect. At times, it felt like we were just walking to get to the ball, which simply isn’t acceptable. To maintain possession, we need to be more active,” she said.
Bompastor reflected on a strange incident before the match when the team was delayed in the tunnel. “There was a bit of confusion because the Liquidator was playing on loop. When the players finally came out six minutes late, it made sense. Zecira Musovic had to quickly put on her gloves since Hannah Hampton, who was supposed to start, wasn’t feeling well. She’s alright now, but we have two great goalkeepers, and Z was ready to step in and performed well.”
When asked how the team would have handled the situation had Musovic been unavailable, Bompastor chose to keep her cards close to her chest. “I did think about that scenario, and we had discussions internally. I won’t reveal who we might have turned to,” she said with a hint of intrigue.
Having faced Real Madrid for the third time in this group stage, Bompastor noted that it was her first match against the Spanish team. She had warned the squad about the increasing threat posed by Real, highlighting their competitiveness in the Spanish league and their ball possession skills. “It was always going to be a challenging game, but we were ready for it,” she commented.
Chelsea got off to a blazing start, scoring just three minutes in. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s cross found Nüsken, whose header deflected off Sheila García and into the net. This quick goal seemed to deflate Real Madrid initially, but they soon regrouped and began generating chances, with impactful performances from Athenea del Castillo and Caroline Weir.
A crucial moment arose when the referee awarded Chelsea a penalty after Maëlle Lakrar made contact with Lucy Bronze’s foot, just moments after María Méndez committed a similar foul on Nüsken. Reiten successfully converted the penalty, extending Chelsea’s lead.
Midway through the first half, Chelsea’s defense faced a challenge when Nathalie Björn couldn’t clear a left-wing cross, allowing Alba Redondo to score following a blocked shot. Nevertheless, Chelsea restored their two-goal cushion early in the second half, thanks to a precise cross from Lauren James that Ramírez headed in.
Real Madrid’s manager, Alberto Toril, remained optimistic despite the defeat. “I think we left a positive impression here. We’re getting closer with every match against Chelsea,” he reflected.
While the scoreline was in Chelsea’s favor, Real struggled to make a lasting impact, allowing Chelsea to control possession and dictate the match’s tempo. A breakthrough for Real in the 71st minute looked promising when substitute Linda Caicedo sped down the field, but Ashley Lawrence was there to block her shot.
Real did manage to narrow the scoreline late in the game when Caicedo found the net after a fortunate deflection off Bronze.
In other league action, Roma secured a solid 1-0 win over Wolfsburg, while Lyon triumphed over Galatasaray with a comfortable 3-0 victory, two of those goals coming from Kadidiatou Diani’s headers.
Looking back on the match against Chelsea, Bompastor acknowledged ongoing concerns about defensive vulnerabilities evident in previous games against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace. She expressed hope for improvement as they prepare for an upcoming league match against Arsenal, a team that may pose even more challenges to their backline.
