UEFA Women's Champions League Qualifying

FT Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Real Sociedad WWWLW 2
–
Chelsea WWWLW 5
1st2ndT
RSO112
CHE145
1st Leg · The Cherry Red Records Stadium

Match Report

Harriet Lander - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Late surge puts Chelsea on verge of reaching UWCL league phase

Melvine Malard scored twice on her competitive Chelsea debut as they hit back to beat Real Sociedad 5-2 in their Champions League third qualifying round first-leg.

Full story at ESPN →

Lineups

CHE · 4-3-3

  1. 24Hannah HamptonG
  2. 4Naomi GirmaCD-L
  3. 5Veerle BuurmanCD-R
  4. 2Ellie CarpenterLB
  5. 15Katie McCabeRB
  6. 21Keira WalshCM
  7. 10Lauren JamesLM
  8. 6Sjoeke NüskenRM
  9. 33Aggie Beever-JonesF
  10. 12Alyssa ThompsonLF
  11. 11Sandy BaltimoreRF

Substitutes

  1. 14Nathalie BjörnSUB
  2. 17Nelly LasSUB
  3. 9Melvine MalardSUB
  4. 42Chloe SarwieSUB
  5. 22Lucy BronzeSUB
  6. 16Giulia DragoniSUB
  7. 19Wieke KapteinSUB
  8. 38Rebecca SpencerSUB
  9. 1Livia PengSUB
  10. 26Kadeisha BuchananSUB
  11. 32Lexi PotterSUB
  12. 23Maika HamanoSUB

RSO · 4-3-3

  1. 13Julia ArrulaG
  2. 2Claudia FlorentinoCD-L
  3. 4Nahia AparicioCD-R
  4. 3Ainhoa MorazaLB
  5. 7CaminoRB
  6. 22Klára CahynováCM
  7. 5Paula FernándezLM
  8. 20Ainoa CampoRM
  9. 8Ainhoa MarínF
  10. 11Cecilia MarcosLF
  11. 19Arola AparicioRF

Substitutes

  1. 26Carlota ChacónSUB
  2. 17Maren LezetaSUB
  3. 1Alazne EstensoroSUB
  4. 6Esther LabordeSUB
  5. 14Intza EguigurenSUB
  6. 30Maïté MendiburuSUB
  7. 18Ava SeelenfreundSUB
  8. 10Nerea EizagirreSUB
  9. 27Ane IsasisasmendiSUB
  10. 28Iraia SoroaSUB

Timeline

  1. 7' Goal! Chelsea Women 0, Real Sociedad Femenino 1. Ainhoa Marín (Real Sociedad Femenino) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal.
  2. 24' Sjoeke Nüsken (Chelsea Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  3. 29' Goal! Chelsea Women 1, Real Sociedad Femenino 1. Naomi Girma (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Katie McCabe.
  4. 54' Goal! Chelsea Women 2, Real Sociedad Femenino 1. Veerle Buurman (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lauren James.
  5. 55' Wieke Kaptein (Chelsea) Substitution at 55'
  6. 55' Melvine Malard (Chelsea) Substitution at 55'
  7. 58' Goal! Chelsea Women 2, Real Sociedad Femenino 2. Cecilia Marcos (Real Sociedad Femenino) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
  8. 65' Lucy Bronze (Chelsea) Substitution at 65'
  9. 67' Goal! Chelsea Women 3, Real Sociedad Femenino 2. Melvine Malard (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sjoeke Nüsken.
  10. 70' Intza Eguiguren (Real Sociedad) Substitution at 70'
  11. 74' Goal! Chelsea Women 4, Real Sociedad Femenino 2. Lauren James (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Ellie Carpenter.
  12. 76' Nerea Eizagirre (Real Sociedad) Substitution at 76'
  13. 76' Maika Hamano (Chelsea) Substitution at 76'
  14. 76' Esther Laborde (Real Sociedad) Substitution at 76'
  15. 83' Esther Laborde (Real Sociedad Femenino) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  16. 88' Goal! Chelsea Women 5, Real Sociedad Femenino 2. Melvine Malard (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Ellie Carpenter.
  17. 90'+1' Ane Isasisasmendi (Real Sociedad) Substitution at 90'+1'

UEFA Women's Champions League Qualifying News

All news
News Beth Lindop Liverpool 'optimistic' Florian Wirtz will be fit to face Chelsea Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has said he is "optimistic" Florian Wirtz will be fit to feature in Wednesday's Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea. News Rob Dawson and Mark Ogden Michael Carrick to lead Man United vs. Chelsea amid uncertain future - sources Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick took training on Tuesday and now expects to be in charge against Chelsea on Saturday, sources have told ESPN. News Adriana Garcia Lokomotiv Moscow say players not hurt; media reports say drone hit train Lokomotiv Moscow told fans that their players arrived safely back home following media reports that the train they were travelling in was hit by a drone attack. News Mark Ogden Man United tight-lipped with Carrick back at Carrington on Tuesday Michael Carrick has taken first-team training at Manchester United Tuesday despite ongoing uncertainty over his future as manager at Old Trafford.