Chelsea 3-2 Real Madrid, Women's Champions League: Post-match reaction

Yesterday at 04:57 PM

A hard-fought victory!

Real Madrid's squad reshuffle this summer brought them good players, including one of our (now former) own in midfielder Melanie Leupolz. She was given a starting spot to shine for her new team and battle with one of her replacements, Wieke Kaptein.

However it wasn't Kaptein the one Chelsea midfielder who got the early spotlight. It was her partner in crime, Sjoeke Nüsken, instead with an opening goal from a Johanna Rytting Kaneryd assist.

The early goal provided Chelsea with much welcomed comfort to try to control the game according to their own needs. Neither Caroline Weir nor Alba Redondo were really troubling the hosts at Stamford Bridge, despite the latter's best attempts at doing so.

When we moved forward, they were usually in big trouble. In one such occasion they could only stop Lucy Bronze in the box with a foul, and Guro Reiten converted it from the sport for us.

A second goal could have crumbled Madrid's confidence. But they are an experienced top side in the Champions League — as in, they're made of somewhat stronger material than most teams in the continent. They didn't give up in light of adversity and after a few bounces in our area, they pulled one back via Redondo.

A one-goal lead heading into halftime is too slim for any team to get comfortable. Chelsea had to keep pushing forward, and their efforts were rewarded with a Mayra Ramírez header.

This third goal could have put Chelsea back in a more passive state. It had the opposite effect instead, and both Guro and Mayra narrowly missed their chances of netting a brace from James' crosses.

As we approached the final whistle, Chelsea's defence started to show some cracks. Madrid attacker Linda Caicedo, coming out of the bench to substitute midfielder Teresa Abelleira, brought a lot of trouble to a back line who seemed to slow to react and keep pace with her.

Once again, some bounces in our box and our inability to clear out these attacks kept things going for Madrid until Caicedo found her finishing touch to pull a second goal back for the Spaniards.

Things became a lot trickier with their second goal, as Chelsea were losing their composure minute by minute. We still held strong and helped by Madrid's own struggles to make the most out of the attacking forays, we got the three points to kick off our Champions League campaign at the Bridge.

Carefree!

• Several players out due to sickness today, including Catarina Macario and Hannah Hampton (even though the latter was initially listed as starting the match today — she was replaced by Zecira Musovic).
• Johanna Rytting Kaneryd's form is a sight to behold. Long may it continue!
• It had been a competent defensive showing from Chelsea up until Alba Redondo's goal. Is this still something we should keep an eye on?
• You got to give it to Sonia Bompastor and her second-half adjustments in attack. Thus far they've been a great success, especially when it comes to unlocking the most out of Mayra Ramírez upfront.
• Defence letting us down again in the second half. You could argue Bompastor's substitutions didn't help, but the system itself has been way too passive for games like these.
• Next up: Arsenal away in the Women's Super League.
• KTBFFH!