Well thank you so much for joining me this evening for this Women’s Champions League match. Chelsea ensure they join the only other English club in the competition, Arsenal, in opening their campaign with a win. A Millie Bright hit the difference this evening. If you want to catch up on any of the action click the report below. I will be back next week as Chelsea take on Vllaznia on Wednesday and Arsenal play Zurich Thursday. Until then, have a good week!
To sum up today’s Champions League results, as we have just seen Chelsea defeated PSG 1-0, Roma beat Slavia Praha 1-0, Wolfsburg got a 4-0 win over St Polten and Real Madrid beat Vllaznia 2-0.
The crowd in Paris are still jumping and banging their drums as the players go over and thank the for their support. They have been non stop over the entire match.
Some match statistics for you: Chelsea had 15 shots at goal with four on target, PSG had 60% possession and Chelsea had seven corners to PSG’s one.
Full-time: PSG 0-1 Chelsea
It is Millie Bright’s well timed first half hit that is the difference in the Champions League group match despite multiple chances for PSG in the second half. It is a crucial win for the Blues in a tricky group, with only the top two in the group going through. This is the first time PSG haven’t scored in the Champions League for 15 matches.
90 min: Chelsea defenders are battling as PSG throw everything in their pocket at the goal. There will be two minutes added here.
89 min: PSG manager Gérard Prêcheur is handed a yellow for abuse towards the referee. Karchaoui overruns a chance and it goes out of play, giving Berger a goal kick.
87 min: PSG are taking their time on the ball, their patience is key with their chances not coming off so far. But they rush the final shot again with Traore’s hit collected by Berger.
85 min: They are building here but Chelsea have switched their midfield back on, the space which was their just after the break has disappeared. Ilestedt puts in another great long ball but Buchanan heads away. Now Chelsea are the ones to peel away. Rytting Kaneryd plays in a good ball but Kerr’s header is over the bar.
83 min: Reiten takes the kick as the boos rain in from the PSG fans. The ball is cleared but there is another corner, Reiten the taker once more and there is worries in the box for PSG but Bouhaddi collects. PSG have a free kick in their own half after Cuthbert fouls.
81 min: Berger plays the ball out from the back as Chelsea look to see this one out. It is good game management from the visitors who look to whittle down the clock. Rytting Kaneryd does extremely well to win the ball back in the PSG corner as Chelsea come forward. The sub does well again as she wins a corner.
79 min: Chelsea get themselves out of jail and pass the ball to Berger who clears their lines. The longer the game ticks on the more desperate PSG are coming for the equaliser and the more deadly they look. There is a PSG change with Jean-Francois off for Traore.
77 min: There’s a free kick for PSG and they are forced to play it from halfway. Diani does her best to try and keep the ball on but it goes out of play. Chelsea make a double change as Harder and Reiten coming off for Fleming and Rytting Kaneryd, who had a great game against Everton on Sunday when subbed on.
74 min: PSG were building there with good passes between Diani and Karchaoui but Ingle plucks the ball from them. Possession exchanges hands with some sloppy play from both sides. Kerr wins Chelsea a corner, Reiten takes the kick but Jean-Francois clears.
72 min: PSG are finding acres of space in the midfield in this half and it allows Diani to have a good shot but it just goes over the bar. Chelsea need to tighten back up or the French club will punish them.
70 min: Cuthbert nabs the ball in the midfield and they get into the area with Harder’s chance almost slotting into the bottom corner. PSG counter with acres of space, the cross comes into Lawrence but her shot is collected by Berger. Much more pace in this match now. The first change of the game sees Groenen off for Cascarino – huge strength in depth for PSG.
68 min: Chelsea are on the attack now but PSG are pressing high, running the visitors back into their own half. They go all the way back to Berger and they PSG try and pressure the goalkeeper but it doesn’t pay off for now.
66 min: Buchanan does really well to get back and cut out a PSG chance through Diani. Diani puts in another cross and Bright blocks, yet another ball comes in and Berger collects. They are throwing everything at Chelsea right now.
64 min: Chelsea have a cross into the box but it glides past Harder. PSG are with the ball right now and they are enjoying a lot more possession this half.
62 min: A prolonged piece of possession for PSG and Karchaoui has a good move with Diani which ends in a throw in. A long range shot is blocked and Lawrence puts in a fantastic ball into Diani, whose shot is saved by Berger.
Updated
60 min: Cuthbert takes the kick but Bright’s header is wide. Now PSG come forward and Geyoro wins a free kick in a good position after a foul from Eriksson. Karchaoui takes the kick but it goes straight to Berger who catches easily.
58 min: Buchanan is fouled by Diani and the Blues have another chance to attack. It’s a great bit of play which sees Harder through in the box but she is called offside. Here come Chelsea again with Cuthbert making a good run, Kerr is played in the box but it’s blocked and out for a corner.
55 min: Chelsea do really well to wrestle PSG back to halfway and then steal possession. The ball exchanges hands but PSG come away with the attacking opportunity. Diani plays the ball into the box but no one is in a good position to hit home.
53 min: Bachmann looked to pick up a knock but the player is back to her feet, albeit gingerly. Diani makes a great run to pick up a good through ball but then she concedes the free kick, a wasted chance. Bright whacks the ball upfield and PSG come away with it.
51 min: A loose ball from PSG’s defence is pounced upon Harder and she passes to Kerr who rushes her shot which Bouhaddi collects.
49 min: Bachmann wins a free kick from a Cuthbert foul on the halfway line. They send the ball into the box but Diani’s header is collected well by Berger. A good passage of play from PSG sees Fazer volley but it sails over the bar, that was the best passage of attack from them so far.
47 min: Harder puts in an early foul to try and play through Kerr but is pulled back but the referee. A pass in the final third id loose from PSG and Chelsea are back on possession, Kerr wins a free kick after being fouled. They run the ball back to Berger and build from deep.
Back underway! PSG 0-1 Chelsea
We are back in action in Paris where the hosts are on the pursuit for an equaliser here. The game is in the balance with the next scorer able to shift the match in their direction.
A fun fact for you while we wait for the action to get back underway, PSG have scored in their last 15 Champions League matches. Can they break down the Chelsea defence or will the BLues spoil their record?
There has been a half-time interview, with Grace Geyoro, but it was all in French. I shall try and find the translation!
Who else would it be but Arnold Clark Golden Boot winner Millie Bright? Take a look at the goal:
Cross + finish = Goal by Chelsea's Millie Bright 🔥#UWCL LIVE NOW ⬇️
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) October 20, 2022
🇬🇧 🎙 https://t.co/h0q443tlSz
🇫🇷 🎙 https://t.co/jZDnBEM1ai pic.twitter.com/LW5fdxnwhq
Half-time: PSG 0-1 Chelsea
It has been a fairly even contest so far but it is Chelsea’s clinical attack that is the difference so far. More chances and a Millie Bright goal has the English club ahead at the break.
45 min: Cuthbert takes the kick but it is headed away. PSG come away with it and Cuthbert fouls to give away a free kick. The home side are trying to build here to find an equaliser ahead of half-time. There will be one minute added.
43 min: Kerr is doing great work off the ball in this match, she has only scored once in her last eight games but she is still valuable if she isn’t adding to the scoreboard. Chelsea have a free kick after Groenen fouls Cuthbert, it is by halfway though. Bright takes it and it is a magnificent ball as it goes into the area! Lawrence deflects and Chelsea have a corner.
41 min: Kerr makes a great run but stumbles slightly, she manages to recover it but Cuthbert loses possession in the box. Diani is fouled but Chelsea win it back quickly, Kerr attempts to lob the keeper but this time it doesn’t come off.
39 min: PSG do look deadly in some parts of the pitch but they just don’t have the final pass in them to make it stick at the moment. They are remaining in possession to put something together here but are ran back to halfway. Fazer is fouled by Reiten and PSG have a free kick, they will have to build from deep though. They give it away cheaply though and Chelsea relieve the pressure they have been under. Bright puts in a fantastic ball to pick out Kerr but the Australian is judged offside.
36 min: Reiten takes the free kick but it is easily cleared by Almeida. Berger is then forced to come out of goal as Diani looks to pounce. Any thoughts on the match? Let me know via Twitter or email.
34 min: The goalkeeper remains on the pitch and a breath of relief is sighed by all Chelsea fans. PSG are coming forward, first through Groenen but Chelsea clear. Kerr looks to counter but she is fouled and Ilestedt gets a yellow for her efforts.
32 min: Fazer makes a great run but her cross doesn’t meet Bachmann. The hosts win a corner, can they work this as well as Chelsea did? They don’t, Berger punches the ball away and they clear it. Berger looks to have hurt herself in that but she should remain on the pitch.
30 min: The goal has put some fire in the Chelsea side. Charles tries to pick out Reiten but it has too much on it. PSG now building from deep.
28 min: PSG are going to be frustrated with that, the team don’t think the corner should have been awarded anyway but they didn’t deal well with the set piece. It was well worked by Bright whose precision was pin point.
GOAL! PSG 0-1 Chelsea (Bright, 27')
Cuthbert sends the ball in, it is initially dealt with but it is sent back in and Bright hits top bins!
Updated
26 min: Chelsea are sloppy in the midfield and it allows PSG to create a chance, Bright clears but the visitors need to be careful. Diani gifts away possession with a trip on Buchanan. Mjelde belts the ball into the box but Reiten’s shot is wide but Chelsea have a corner.
23 min: Kerr plays Charles in a great position, Karchaoui does incredibly well to shut down the cross but does concede the corner. The kick comes in but it’s hit away by the hosts, it it pinged back in but PSG get it back. Bachmann fouls Ingle though and gives away possession.
21 min: Harder puts in a great cross for Kerr but Bouhaddi collects. Both sides are defending really well so far with both attacks being shut down affectively.
19 min: They run the free kick back to Bouhaddi and PSG get the ball back to their area but Berger is there to save Chelsea. And PSG have another free kick with Lawrence fouled by Reiten. The ball is blocked but PSG remain in possession, Fazer nabs the ball but she runs it out of play.
16 min: Geyoro pops a great ball over the chelsea defence but Groenen can’t get there and Berger collects. Jean-Francois pulls the trigger on another chance but it’s blocked. PSG having their best spell of attack. They now have a free kick with Buchanan winning herself a yellow card for a challenge of Diani.
14 min: Harder puts in a good cross for Charles but she can’t quite get to it. Reiten claims the loose ball but her shot goes wide. The visitors still in possession here but they lose it in the midfield.
12 min: They won’t as Reiten fires the ball straight into the wall, much to the delight of PSG fans who did not think the foul should have been a free kick in the first place. But Chelsea are right back in it with Kerr taking a good touch in front of goal but it is well saved, Cuthbert’s chance is wide. PSG are dealing with this high Chelsea press so far, will it hold out?
9 min: Chelsea are playing out from the back and it is worked up the pitch, Cuthbert is then fouled and remains on the floor. She wins a free kick from Ilestedt and the Scotland international is back on her feet. Bright takes the free kick but the visitors are building from deep. Karchaoui intercepts the ball but Cuthbert earns another free kick, this time in a great position. Could Chelsea find an opener here?
7 min: Chelsea have a great move but Reiten loses the ball to Lawrence, who wins a goal kick. A loose midfield pass from PSG sees the ball run back to Berger. A slow pace game so far.
5 min: A good throw in finds Kerr but Lawrence wrestles her off the ball. There is a lot of possession exchanging hands so far with neither team firing a shot so far.
3 min: It has been a fairly even contest so far with both trying to find their feet in this one. Chelsea have an early throw in but it is dealt with well by Bachmann. Neymar is watching on in the stands too.
Kick-off! PSG 0-0 Chelsea
Here we go then, can Chelsea get a win away from home or will PSG bag the victory? The Paris crows are well up for this, the drums and cheers in full voice already.
Players have been out on the pitch warming up so there is not long at all until kick-off in Paris!
Chelsea captain Magdalena Eriksson has spoken about the absence of Emma Hayes, who is recovering from a hysterectomy: “I don’t have to do more as a captain, we have a great team, everyone has stepped up and taken more responsibility. We have to find ways to handle this period without her. We also know we have Emma from home. Paul and Denise are relaying her messages, they are talking a lot. We know she is watching training from home. It is a good vibe in the team. We miss Emma as a character, but we find a way.”
PSG’s manager Gérard Prêcheur cannot wait to face Chelsea this evening, saying: “These are great meetings, it is for these matches that we do this job. We can’t wait to be there, but we can’t rush anything, we have to prepare well, but it’s true that it’s a good line-up, and this formula is magnificent to compete in. You have to have the upper hand over your opponent, tactically and mentally.
Chelsea are aware of the challenge that presents itself in even trying to get out of the group stage this season. The Blues will face PSG, Real Madrid and Vllaznia and general manager Paul Green said: “We are in another tough group, we embrace that and we know we have to be at our best to progress. We didn’t do that last year. We have to do the basics well and get the points necessary, which we didn’t do last year.”
I am still recovering from that flawless Arsenal performance against Lyon yesterday! If you missed any action, have a read of Suzy Wrack’s reportbelow. Also Real Madrid are now 2-0 up thanks to a Olga Carmona penalty.
Have you had a tricky day? Overwhelmed by the news cycle? Excited for more Champions League football as a distraction from everything that is happening? Me too! Get in touch via Twitter and email and let’s chat things out or chat all things football!
There are two other Champions League matches happening right now. Wolfsburg are leading St Polten 3-0 thanks to a brace from Ewa Pajor and a goal from Lena Lattwein and Real Madrid are leading Vllaznia 1-0 after a goal from Esther Gonzalez. Both of those games are into the second half. There is one more match taking place as well as Chelsea’s trip to PSG as Roma take on Slavia Praha.
Updated
The teams news is here and there is a familiar face for WSL fans in the PSG line-up. Former Manchester United player Jackie Groenen gets a start and Grace Geyoro is among those facing Chelsea.
PSG starting XI: Bouhaddi; Lawrence, De Almeida, Ilestedt, Karchaoui; Jean-Francois; Groenen, Fazer, Geyoro; Diani, Bachmann.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have one shock change as Lauren James is not starting with Sophie Ingle in the side. James has played well got the Blues in recent games so the decision is a bit boggling.
Chelsea starting XI: Berger; Mjelde, Bright, Buchanan, Eriksson; Cuthbert, Ingle; Charles, Harder, Reiten; Kerr.
Preamble
Hello and welcome back to our Women’s Champions League coverage! Tonight we have a tasty match between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.
The Blues are the English team to come closest to the trophy in recent years, losing out to Barcelona in the 2020/21 final. They will have a tough task overcoming the French club this evening and it could be a moment of what could of been if PSG play Grace Geyoro. The French international was rumoured to want to join Chelsea this summer but her club blocked the move.
In other team news, Fran Kirby has not travelled with Chelsea and won’t feature in the match. She also missed their Women’s Super League match against Everton on Sunday due to illness.
The starting line-ups should be revealed shortly so stay tuned for updates ahead of kick-off at 8pm BST.
