Chelsea, who made it to the semi-finals in the previous season of the Champions League, experienced a mix of frustration and controversy in their Group D opening match against Real Madrid in the Women’s Champions League.
The game, marked by a contentious penalty decision and a disallowed goal, saw Real Madrid initially leading. In just 10 minutes, Olga Carmona of Real Madrid scored, aided by a deflection off Chelsea’s Millie Bright, which sent the ball past goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.
Chelsea responded strongly, with Niamh Charles heading in a cross from Ashley Lawrence right before half-time. Later, Sam Kerr of Australia gave Chelsea the lead with a powerful header from Charles’ cross in the 75th minute.
However, Real Madrid equalized soon after, benefitting from a penalty awarded by Danish referee Frida Klarlund for an alleged foul by Jessie Fleming on Athenea del Castillo. Controversially, replays suggested the foul occurred outside the penalty area, but in the absence of VAR, Carmona successfully converted the penalty.
Chelsea nearly clinched a late victory with Lauren James hitting the crossbar and Charles volleying a deep cross into the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside – a decision later shown to be incorrect by replays.
This draw left Chelsea pondering missed opportunities, especially as they dominated the game with significant chances created. Real Madrid managed to score with both their shots on target, while Chelsea’s efforts, including attempts by Kerr and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, were thwarted by Real’s goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez.
The result means Chelsea are second in Group D, behind Swedish side BK Hacken. In other matches, Bayern Munich drew 2-2 with Roma, and Ajax defeated Paris St-Germain 2-0 in Group C.
Chelsea, under manager Emma Hayes who is set to join the US women’s national team, must now reflect on this match’s outcomes as they continue their quest for the elusive Champions League trophy. The match statistics showed Chelsea’s dominance in possession and chances, yet the final scoreline stood at 2-2, highlighting the game’s unexpected turns and the pivotal role of refereeing decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Chelsea-Real Madrid Women’s Champions League
Who scored for Chelsea in their Champions League opener against Real Madrid?
Niamh Charles and Sam Kerr scored for Chelsea in their 2-2 draw against Real Madrid in the Women’s Champions League Group D opener.
What controversial incidents occurred during the Chelsea vs Real Madrid match?
The match saw a controversial penalty awarded to Real Madrid and a disallowed goal for Chelsea. The penalty was given despite a foul appearing to occur outside the box, and Chelsea’s late goal was incorrectly ruled offside.
What was the result of Chelsea’s opening match in the Women’s Champions League against Real Madrid?
Chelsea’s opening match in the Women’s Champions League against Real Madrid ended in a 2-2 draw.
Who is set to leave Chelsea as a manager and where are they headed?
Emma Hayes, the manager of Chelsea, is set to leave the club to take over as head coach of the US women’s national team.
What were the possession and shot statistics for the Chelsea vs Real Madrid match?
In the match, Chelsea dominated possession with 61% compared to Real Madrid’s 39%. Chelsea had 20 shots with 8 on target, while Real Madrid had 4 shots with 2 on target.
More about Chelsea-Real Madrid Women’s Champions League
- Chelsea Women’s Team Official Website
- Real Madrid Femenino Official Page
- UEFA Women’s Champions League News
- Women’s Football Match Statistics and Analysis
- Emma Hayes Coaching Career Profile
5 comments
can’t believe we didn’t win this, dominated the game and still only a draw, that’s just unfair.
Sad to see Emma leaving Chelsea, she’s been amazing, hope she does great with the US team.
wow, Chelsea really got robbed there, that penalty call was so off! And that offside, don’t get me started…
The ref really needs to up her game, those decisions were game-changers and not in a good way.
Not gonna lie, we got lucky with that penalty, but hey, that’s football for ya, right?