Thank you for joining me for this match this evening. Chelsea are through to the Women’s Champions League quarter-final as they bid to win the title for the first time in Emma Hayes’ last season. To catch up with all the action read the report below. We will be back tomorrow night with more WCL coverage, for now have a good evening:
Aston Villa could be in a spot of bother after allegedly fielding an ineligibly player in the Conti Cup:
— Suzy Wrack (@SuzyWrack) January 24, 2024
In the other game PSG maintained their 3-1 lead and saw out the win over Ajax.
Chelsea through to the quarter-finals
Emma Hayes’ team are officially through to the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals.
They still have one more group game to play, an away match against Paris FC next week.
THROUGH TO THE QUARTERS! 😁#UWCL pic.twitter.com/wP9F7iD4FB
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) January 24, 2024
Here are the three goals in this one:
Ice in her VEINS.... Guro Reiten gives Chelsea the lead 🥶
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) January 24, 2024
Watch LIVE 📺 https://t.co/0lngGW8euT
Watch highlights on YouTube 👉 https://t.co/OpupfqBUV3#UWCLonDAZN #NewDealforWomensFootball pic.twitter.com/T3wxJG4Ogd
Athenea Del Castillo puts Real Madrid level! 💫
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) January 24, 2024
Watch LIVE 📺 https://t.co/0lngGW8euT
Watch highlights on YouTube 👉 https://t.co/OpupfqBUV3#UWCLonDAZN #NewDealforWomensFootball pic.twitter.com/EQ6uOsjYXV
Chelsea are back AHEAD... that is sensational wing-play by Erin Cuthbert 🔥
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) January 24, 2024
Watch LIVE 📺 https://t.co/0lngGW8euT
Watch highlights on YouTube 👉 https://t.co/OpupfqBUV3#UWCLonDAZN #NewDealforWomensFootball pic.twitter.com/Mo6fs1Ic0e
Full time: Chelsea 2-1 Real Madrid
Chelsea have secured a quarter-final spot in the Women’s Champions League with a game to spare after defeating Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge.
Guro Reiten opened the scoring with a well-executed penalty but Athena del Castillo equalised quickly. One minute later though Erin Cuthbert forced Mylene Chavas into an own goal which sealed the win.
90 + 1 min: There will be three minutes added on here.
90 min: James is over the set piece, she takes it short to Reiten and she takes a long range shot but it is just wide. That looked like a play right off of the training pitch.
88 min: Lawrence wanted a free kick there but I think she makes a meal of it and the referee sees through it, play on. James does well to dispossess Kathellen and then she wins a corner.
86 min: James takes a punt from a long way out, Chavas makes a save but she can’t control it – the keeper eventually gets it safely in her hands. An almost identical effort from Raso happens up the other end of the pitch with Hampton lacking control.
84 min: This game does still feel slightly in the balance here, no wonder Chelsea are fighting for a third. All Real need is one chance and they’ll be through.
82 min: Cuthbert spots Chavas off her line and she lofts the ball towards goal but it’s off target. It has just been announced 11,262 fans are at Stamford Bridge, the most this season in the Women’s Champions League for Chelsea.
80 min: Real Madrid having a good spell but Raso’s shot is blocked and they are then forced back to their keeper.
78 min: Chelsea take the free kick but back towards half way and they manoeuvre it to James who gets a cheer as she makes a good run and pass but Nusken’s shot is blocked.
76 min: I believe that latest goal is being attributed to Chavas for an own goal, not what the keeper would have wanted. It was unfortunate for the shot stopper who has made some good saves in this match so far. Reiten is fouled and wins a free kick. Before it is taken Kaneryd and Kirby come off for Beever-Jones and Nusken.
74 min: I’m glad my post about this being a frustrating game got through to the players, they’ve really livened up since it went live. I joke, of course, but this game has sparked to life. Real Madrid seem to play better when they concede, they gel much more as a team when behind.
72 min: Well this has certainly opened up now hasn’t it! Cuthbert chipped the ball, it hit the hands of Chavas and it went in – I wonder if it will go down as an own goal for Chavas? I will keep an eye on that.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Real Madrid (Cuthbert, 71')
One goalkeeper error to another.
Updated
70 min: Well Real Madrid haven’t dimmed since conceding and they countered, Raso supplying Del Castillo with a sublime ball. She took an initial chance which Hampton saved but didn’t collect and she slotted the rebound. A delightful goal.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Real Madrid (Del Castillo, 69')
Wow, game wide open.
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67 min: How frustrated will Real Madrid be? Impeccable defence all game and spurning multiple chances, to give away a sloppy needless penalty just sums up their WCL season this campaign. They look to react here though, Del Castillo takes a shot but it’s blocked and Chelsea counter, a ball comes to James and she has a storming run and Chavas has to make a great save to stop her. Chelsea corner to come.
65 min: Chelsea have momentum now and they immediately get back into the box with Kaneryd but Real Madrid clear.
63 min: It was a well taken penalty, she didn’t stutter on the run up and she calmly slotted it in the bottom right corner. She sent Chavas the wrong way and she wildly celebrates.
Updated
PENALTY! Chelsea 1-0 Real Madrid (Reiten, 62')
Reiten scores!
Updated
62 min: A penalty has been given as Charles was fouled in the box, no doubt in the referees mind there. She was taken out, a sloppy challenge from Raso.
61 min: Zornoza takes an accidental hit to the face from Leupolz and so Real can clear their lines once again. I think the visitors will be happy with a draw this evening, remember they have already been eliminated from the tournament and so they are only playing for pride now.
59 min: Chances at either end but they are stamped out by both defences, which are holding strong. You’d think with all the attempts this would be a thrilling game but it feels more frustrating – opportunities from both sides should have been converted.
57 min: Chelsea win a corner after some scrappy play in the final third. Cuthbert is over the set piece and it’s a good delivery – Chavas collects but then drops it. Real clear but it comes back into Kirby whose header is wide.
55 min: Kirby threads a pass through but it isn’t accurate enough and goes beyond Cuthbert. Chelsea fans are getting restless, they are shouting “shoot” when players are more than 40 yards away.
53 min: Del Castillo and Buchanan come to blows and land on the floor, the Real Madrid chance trickling out for a goal kick. It’s becoming a really scrappy game and it needs an injection of pace for either side to score.
51 min: A real battle between Svava and Cuthbert, the Chelsea captain coming out on top this time. They are still being pinned back though, finding it difficult to find the deadly blow.
49 min: Can James find another goal at Stamford Bridge? She has seven at the stadium this season – more than any other Chelsea player. Chelsea are building from deep here, being really patient on the ball, Lawrence crosses it in but it is easily cleared.
47 min: Del Castillo is Caicdo’s replacement, the Colombia international hurt her ankle in the first half.
Back underway! Chelsea 0-0 Real Madrid
So can either side find a winner here? Chelsea are fighting for a quarter-final spot, remember. Lauren James is on for Fishel and Caicedo is off – I will confirm her replacement shortly.
Have you listened to our women’s football weekly podcast yet? This edition reflects on the WSL weekend with a focus on Lauren James and Bunny Shaw, listen here:
In the other 8pm kick-off Paris Saint-Germain are beating Ajax 3-1.
Half-time: Chelsea 0-0 Real Madrid
Despite having the majority of possession and plenty of chances Chelsea are being held at Stamford Bridge. Real are playing well, though I think they will be without Caicedo in the second half.
45 + 1 min: Cuthbert takes it, Chavas comes out and doesn’t collect but no Chelsea player can connect. Buchanan and Raso tussle with the rebound ball and Raso is down with an injury – I think she will be okay to continue. One minute added.
45 min: The pace of the game has been slowed slightly with a lot of midfield play. Chelsea eventually break from Kirby, she finds Reiten who crosses but Abelleira sees it out for a corner.
43 min: Caicedo is limping and touching her ankle here, she is not 100% after her earlier trouble. She remains on for now but I wouldn’t be surprised if she doesn’t come out in the second half. Back to the football and Chelsea thread passes through the team, it drops to Cuthbert but her effort is collected by Chavas.
41 min: Fishel does some excellent work in the build-up to Chelsea’s latest chance, fending off two defenders, but then Leupolz weakly gives it away.
39 min: Chelsea take it short and Real are then able to clear it easily when it eventually comes in. It comes in and out of the box multiple times but nothing on target comes to fruition. Chelsea find themselves with an open goal for a second time but they still can’t score! Chavas comes out to defend Reiten and she crosses it to Cuthbert but she is swarmed and it’s cleared.
Updated
37 min: Kaneryd crosses it in but Charles resulting header is over the bar. The tale of this half really, Chelsea with some good chances but no execution, I would say Real look much more dangerous when in front of goal. Reiten makes a good run but Robles does well to defend, she concedes a corner though.
35 min: Chelsea work the ball into the box and Fishel tries to find Reiten but Real defend really well once again. There are shouts for a free kick with Cuthbert on the deck but the referee is having none of it.
33 min: Oh hang on! Caicedo is back on the pitch, she is running a little gingerly but that is great to see her back. She had issue with ankle ligaments earlier this season and so I thought she had re-injured herself but she is back.
31 min: Caicedo is in tears as she hobbles towards the Real bench. It does not look like she will re-enter this game but her replacement has not been officially announced yet.
30 min: I think her ankle gets caught underneath Buchanan as she goes to defend Caicedo’s shot. I don’t think Caicedo will continue here, she is receiving attention at the side of the pitch as play gets back underway with a Real corner. The set piece is cleared.
29 min: Caicedo is absolutely dangerous isn’t she. Real work it well into the box with Caicedo at the centre of the attack, she takes a shot which Hampton saves but she is now down and in considerable pain. Hopefully she is okay but this does not look good.
28 min: A ball comes in and Chavas can’t take it cleanly, if it was not for some astute defence Fishel would have had an open goal there. Chelsea edge closer but they need to strike soon, Real are growing into this.
26 min: The corner is taken but this time it is cleared, Chelsea whether the pressure for now but Real are really settling into this one.
25 min: Real Madrid take the corner short but it eventually comes in and Hampton leaps for it, she can’t control and it’s another Real Madrid corner. The corner is taken as if on the training pitch, it comes to the edge of the box and is walloped at goal, Lawrence makes a great goal line save but it is out for another corner.
24 min: Real Madrid having a better spell on the ball, Moller winning a throw in high up the pitch. They unleash an attack but a few players are hesitant with the ball at their feet and they fail to pull the trigger. Caicedo is given the ball and she wins a corner.
22 min: Cuthbert crosses in and Kaneryd gets a head to it but Chavas collects. The question is how long can Real Madrid keep Chelsea out? The Blues are peppering their goal with chances at the moment.
20 min: Reiten is fed a perfect ball but Real Madrid’s defence swarms her, she manages to win a corner though. Cuthbert is over the set piece and it’s straight out for a goal kick. A wasted opportunity there.
18 min: Raso makes a great break, Real Madrid showing their counter-attack, and she feeds Caicedo but Hampton comes out and collects. The England international making her Women’s Champions League debut this evening.
16 min: Kirby makes a great run and crosses in but it’s headed away, Kaneryd quickly picks it up but again Real Madrid are able to clear it. The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge is loud and electric, every time the players come forward the crowd comes to life.
Updated
14 min: Another amazing save from Chavas, Reiten crosses in but the keeper has to make a save as it was on target. It is pushed out for a corner, Reiten takes it and Fishel has a chance but Chavas picks it up easily.
12 min: Chelsea are still knocking on the door but Real Madrid have the answers to each question posed to them so far.
10 min: Cuthbert whips it in, Buchanan has a header but Chavas collects. It’s been mostly all Chelsea so far but Real Madrid are a lethal counter-attacking team, definitely not a team to under-estimate.
9 min: Chelsea are through once more but the offside flag pulls them back. The Blues need to be more clinical in the final third to find their opener here, Real Madrid are a well-oiled defensive machine and so they will have to be on the money to score. Reiten attempts to pass to Fishel but it is well defended and out for a corner.
8 min: What a save from Chavas, she is having a great performance in these early stages. Kirby finds Cuthbert in the box, she takes a shot but Chavas blocks really well.
6 min: Chelsea continue to pressure Real Madrid but Caicedo does well to win it back to clear some danger for now. Real Madrid put their first attack together and Raso crosses but it doesn’t find a teammate. They keep coming and pop it in again and Buchanan has to clear.
4 min: Chelsea quickly win possession back from the free kick, they are being given a lot of time and space on the ball early on. They work it back to Hampton and the Blues patiently build-up their attack. They go for the kill, the ball threaded to Kaneryd but Chavas reads it perfectly to come out to collect.
Updated
2 min: Chavas being hunted down by Fishel early on, the hosts know what is on the line here. The pressure works with a clearance kick going as far as blue shirts and they win a corner. But there is a bit of confusion around it as the referee spots something and gives Real Madrid a free kick? If anyone knows why that happened let me know, I am a bit bamboozled by that.
Kick-off! Chelsea 0-0 Real Madrid
Here we go then. Who can get the win in London? We will find out over the next 90 minutes. Confirmation with the result in the other game in this group, Hacken 0-0 Paris FC, that if Chelsea win this game they will secure a spot in the knock-out rounds.
The players are out at Stamford Bridge ahead of this cracker of a fixture. Chelsea may be favourites but Real Madrid are capable of causing an upset. All to come.
An important read in our women’s football newsletter, Moving the Goalposts, this week. Read it here:
Drama in the Roma v Bayern Munich game! Manuela Giugliano thought she had sealed it for the hosts with a goal in the 90 + 3 min but Lea Schuller equalised in the 90 + 6 minute. Meanwhile, Hacken and Paris FC has ended in a 0-0 draw. A good result for Hacken who are having a blinding campaign in Europe.
Updated
I want to hear from you! Let me know how your week is going or what you are up to while you keep up to date with the football. You can get in touch via emails or X – @rendellx.
In the two earlier kick-offs in this Women’s Champions League, Bayern Munich are drawing 1-1 to Roma and Hacken are drawing 0-0 to Paris FC. I’ll bring you the full-time scores when they drop.
Real Madrid manager Alberto Toril said: “We’re going there to play our game. We are Real Madrid, so we will be trying to win. We want to build on the good vibes. We’ve had a good start to the year and we’ve made improvements on some of the areas we needed to improve. We’re going to go for the win.”
“They will fear nothing,” said Chelsea boss Emma Hayes in the build-up. “There’s nothing more dangerous than playing a team who has nothing to play for. It’s a dangerous place for us if our mentality is to rule them out of the game and it’s something we won’t be doing.”
There are some Conti Cup matches also happening this evening and I thought I’d bring you some really positive news. Arsenal’s Leah Williamson is back! She will feature for the first time since rupturing her ACL prior to the World Cup. Kim Little has also returned.
Show me a beautiful view 🥰 pic.twitter.com/KOaKlqVLEV
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) January 24, 2024
Chelsea are missing some of their stars for this one through injury. Sam Kerr has been ruled out with an ACL problem and captain Millie Bright has a knee issue. Jessie Fleming isn’t included amid rumours she is leaving the club.
Updated
The team news is in! Hosts Chelsea will be led by Erin Cuthbert in the absence of Millie Bright but Lauren James starts from the bench after her heroics last time out at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea: Hampton, Fishel, Carter, Leupolz, Reiten, Lawrence, Kirby, Kaneryd, Charles, Cuthbert, Buchanan.
Your Chelsea team to take on Real Madrid! 🔵#UWCL pic.twitter.com/uC0OJPdrNb
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) January 24, 2024
Real Madrid, meanwhile, have former Manchester City player Hayley Raso starting.
Real Madrid: Chavas, Møller, Raso, Caicedo, Oroz, Teresa, Zornoza, Robles, Ivana, Kathellen, Svava
Preamble
Hello and welcome back to the Women’s Champions League after a short break in the group stage matches. Tonight we will be focusing on Chelsea v Real Madrid.
The reverse fixture of this match saw two controversial calls as a Real Madrid penalty arguably should not have been given and a Chelsea winner should not have been ruled offside. But those arguments have been put to long rest and both will be solely concentrated on tonight’s fixture.
Real Madrid were officially eliminated from the competition in December after losing to Paris FC but they won’t be rolling over tonight. They will want to put some pride on their badge after only winning one point so far.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are still in the fight for a knock-out place and a win this evening would all but guarantee a spot in the next round. We will dive into what has been said in the build-up shortly but first the team news, stay tuned …
