Key events
Half-time: Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea
The hosts lead going into the break and deservedly so. Bompastor will have to make changes if she wants to avoid her first defeat as Chelsea manager.
45+1 min: Ian gets in touch to say:
Cuthbert is the lone midfielder. Chelsea will regret playing 4-2-4 against a Spanish team.
Bompastor definitely needs to make some tweaks at half-time. Ramírez is completely isolated and Hamano is not a like-for-like replacement for Reiten. The Japanese is much more effective centrally is somewhat wasted on the left in Reiten’s position.
45 min: Charles does so well to get past García and she takes a shot but Misa is not beaten at her near post. Chelsea take the corner quickly but nothing comes from it. At least three minutes of added time in this half.
40 min: Reiten’s ankle has not been right for a while and Chelsea’s injury list continues to grow. She comes off for Hamano, who has two goals in three Champions League games.
35 min: Before Chelsea were happy to let Madrid have the ball but now they press. They win the ball back and eventually Ramírez crosses the ball into the box. Reiten is there but she falls and the Chelsea players want a penalty but the referee sees nothing in it. The replay isn’t clear as to whether García actually trips her though.
30 min: Some good passing in the box between Weir and Carmona but the final pass does not fall for Caicedo. Ramírez counters on her own and it is 1v2 – she gets a shot off but it is well off target from a tight angle.
29 min: Better delivery from Bronze, who from a central area finds Reiten in the box but the Norwegian just can’t get there in time.
27 min: Bronze surges forward but her cross lands on the roof of Real Madrid’s net.
26 min: Brilliant feet by Weir who evades Beever-Jones and Nüsken before sliding it to Carmona whose effort is just wide! So close to a second for Real Madrid.
24 min: Carmona nutmegs Beever-Jones and Weir gets the ball but the Scot opts to go backwards and keep possession.
23 min: Chelsea come forward and it looks like Ramírez is through but Mendez does well to marhsall the defence and the threat is contained. Chelsea are struggling to make it stick in attack at the moment.
20 min: García is down after a collision from Reiten, who fell on the Spaniard’s ankle. The medics take a look but she should be OK to continue.
17 min: Fantastic through ball from Mendez finds Bruun, the second-highest goalscorer in the Champions League this season with five, but she is just offside.
14 min: Caicedo speeds ahead and attempts a quick shot as Real Madrid counter but Björn just manages the block after covering for Bronze.
12 min: Close! Great save from Misa as Reiten finds herself in tons of space to take a shot but the Real Madrid keeper tips it over on to the roof of the net.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Chelsea (Weir 7)
A well-worked team goal that ends in an almost-save! A great pass from Weir finds a surging Carmona. Bronze tries to stop her fellow defender but simply slams into her and the Spaniard recovers and gets the better of her (shades of the World Cup final). Carmona passes it on to Caicedo on the left, who picks out Weir. The Scot dinks a shot and for a moment it looks like Hampton has managed to paw it away but she only manages to tip it off the post and in! As it stands, Real Madrid now top Group B on goal difference.
6 min: A peach of a ball from Bright sails all the way up to Beever-Jones but the forward just can’t keep it in and Real Madrid win the goalkick.
5 min: It was a frantic opening 90sec for Chelsea but they have settled. Real Madrid pass it around the back and the visitors are happy to let them have the ball.
2 min: Bright loses the ball and breaks nicely for the hosts as Weir takes a long range effort but it is a comfortable save for Hampton.
Kick-off: Real Madrid 0-0 Chelsea
Here we go! Real Madrid in all-white and Chelsea in their royal blue.
The teams are out, Bright and Carmona shake hands and we’re moments away from kick-off at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano.
And some final pre-match thoughts from Sam:
The recent implosion of the Man City men’s side shows how impressive it is for Chelsea to win five titles on the bounce and continue to refresh and revitalise the team and continue to compete! They are undoubtedly one of the best run sides in European football.
Five in a row and seven in the last decade is an incredible achievement. There were many questions about who could replace Hayes and how the team would perform under new leadership. While it’s still early, Bompastor has shown promising signs, proving that Chelsea’s success wasn’t solely down to Hayes but the strength of the club’s structure and management. It’s clear this is a well-run organisation.
The Chelsea captain, Millie Bright on the task ahead:
For us, it’s just focusing on the job we want to do. And that is to top the group and make sure we put on a performance, especially after the weekend.
It’s about bouncing back and getting back to our levels. Ultimately, our aim is the three points and a good performance. As players, we’re experienced. We have been in this position before where we’ve not had our best game or dropped points, but it’s part of football and it’s being part of such a competitive league where you don’t take anyone for granted. Anyone can take points off anyone.
It’s the games you want to play in. As Chelsea players, we want to be playing against the best teams and the best opponents. That’s the opportunity that’s in front of us. That’s the team that we’re facing.
Our first email of the night comes from Kirk!
What does it say that Hampton starting ahead of Musovic. Is she the clear No 1? And how good is Chelsea that they have two world class goalkeepers and allowed a third one to NWSL last year. Phenomenal on management’s part to look for and acquire the best.
Hampton is certainly the clear No 1 from all the evidence we have seen this season. Hayes never seemed to fully trust Musovic (despite often giving her a run of games that few No 2 keepers would get) and it seems Bompastor feels the same.
You’re right in that it is a testament to management that they have held on to Musovic for this long especially after her standout performances for Sweden but I do think they recognise that she can be a bit shakier at times than Hampton.
She has publicly spoken before about wanting to be a No 1 keeper and Hampton is certainly one for the present and the future at only 24 years old so we could see a move for Musovic in the summer.
Real Madrid’s head coach, Alberto Toril, said that despite already securing a spot in the knockouts, the match against Chelsea is “the pinnacle”.
We know that we have fulfilled our mission, but we are excited to face a match of this stature, with very strong opponents who aspire to be European champions. This type of match requires a high level of focus. It’s the pinnacle.
We have to be very focused, do a good job defensively as a unit and, from there, we have enough quality to cause problems and create chances. We are going to go for the three points and try to finish top of the group.
Chelsea have a perfect record. They are a very physical team with experienced players. They will go into the game waiting to pounce on any mistakes and I think the key will be the rhythm. How accurately we play will also be important.
Quick diversion from European club football to European international football as the Women’s Euro 2025 finals draw took place yesterday.
Group A Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Finland
Group B Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy
Group C Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden
Group D France, England, Wales, Netherlands
Despite a tricky draw for England, Tom Garry expects the reigning champions to be among the teams expecting to progress. Read his full analysis and predictions below.
Team news
Real Madrid XI (4-3-3): Misa; García, Lakrar, Mendez, Carmona; Angeldahl, Toletti, Leupolz; Weir, Bruun, Caicedo.
Lakrar, a possible shout for Madrid’s signing of the season, returns into the starting lineup. The French defender has helped ensure her side have not conceded a goal in their last three games in Europe.
Subs: Chavas, Laia (GK), Oihane, Teresa, Antonia, Redondo, Møller, Camacho, Navarro, Feller, Athenea
Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Hampton; Bronze, Björn, Bright, Charles; Nüsken, Cuthbert; Kaptein, Reiten, Beever-Jones; Ramírez.
Two changes from the team that drew against Leicester with Charles and Beever-Jones replacing Hamano and Lawrence.
Subs: Musovic, Cox, Macario, Lawrence, Périsset, J. Bartel, Baltimore, Hamano, Jean-François, Brown
A look back to when these two sides met at Stamford Bridge in a thrilling 3-2 opening Champions League match this season.
It was Mayra Ramírez’s goal which ultimately won Chelsea the game and she has continued to be a difference-maker with five goals in all competitions, including this showstopper against Twente in the Blues’s last Champions League match.
Preamble
Both these sides have already booked their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals but the battle for Group B supremacy is still very much alive in the final matchday of the groups.
Chelsea head to the Spain capital with 15 points from five matches and only need a draw to retain their top spot. The hosts must win to leapfrog Sonia Bompastor’s side – a tough ask given Chelsea’s good form and the fact that Real Madrid have never beaten the Blues at home.
As always, if you have any thoughts, questions, predictions, complaints or jokes you would like to share, then send me an email.
