Chelsea, leader of Group D, hopes to seal its place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions with a victory against Real Madrid, whose hopes of advancing to the round were cut short on matchday four.
Emma Hayes’ team can reach the quarterfinals of this tournament for the fifth time in seven campaigns with a victory against White, and will secure first place in the section if they add three points against the Madrid team and there is a tie between Häcken and Paris FC.
The English can reach consecutive quarterfinals for the first time since they were eliminated in the semifinals in both 2017/18 and 2018/19.
Alberto Toril’s Real Madrid, who reached the quarter-finals in 2021/22, were the first team eliminated this season, after losing 1-0 at home against Paris FC on December 20. Rosengård saw their qualification hopes dashed the following day.
The Spanish team has only added one point in Group D, thanks to a 2-2 draw against Chelsea in Madrid on the first day, with a double from Olga Carmona (including the first goal and the equalizer in the 79th minute of penalty). Niamh Charles (41′) and Sam Kerr (74′) scored for the English.
These two teams have drawn in the last two meetings in which they have seen each other, as they also drew 1-1 in the Spanish capital in the group stage last season, when an own goal by Misa Rodríguez in The second half neutralized Caroline Weir’s goal in the 36th minute for Madrid. That draw in December 2022 was the only time Chelsea dropped points in their six Group A games last season.
The English are undefeated in the three meetings between the two teams, with a 2-0 victory in Kingsmeadow in November 2022, thanks to goals from Sophie Ingle (67′) and Erin Cuthbert (76′) in the second half.
Players to follow
Erin Cuthbert
The 25-year-old was named Player of the Match in the 3-1 win against Häcken on December 20, after scoring two goals.
The midfielder’s brace in 12 second-half minutes in Gothenburg on Matchday 4 were her first goals in the competition since scoring in the home win against Real Madrid in November 2022.
Cuthbert’s goal in extra time of Chelsea’s 3–1 home win against West Ham United in the FA Women’s Cup fourth round on 14 January was the third consecutive game in which she had scored.
On October 8, she played her 200th game for the Blues, in a 1-1 Women’s Super League draw at Manchester City.
The Scotland international made her Women’s Champions League debut against her current team, playing for Glasgow City in a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea’s Wheatsheaf Park stadium in the first leg of the round of 32 in October 2015.
Hayley Raso
The 29-year-old was part of the Manchester City team that lifted the 2021/22 FA Women’s League Cup thanks to a comeback against Chelsea (3-1). Her current teammate at Real Madrid, Caroline Weir, scored two goals for the Cityzens.
The attacker forced extra time with her 89th-minute equalizer for City against the Blues in the Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley that same season, but Chelsea ended up winning 3-2 thanks to Kerr’s second goal at the match.
Raso arrived at Madrid in July 2023 after spending more than three years in the Women’s Super League, first at Everton before joining Manchester City in August 2021.
The Australian international made her European debut in August 2021, in City’s 1-1 draw in the first leg against Real Madrid in a second qualifying round match.
Key data
Chelsea
The English have only lost one of their last 16 group stage games (ten wins and five draws).
Chelsea have only lost two of their last 17 European home games (eleven wins, four draws) and are unbeaten in their previous eight group stage home games (five wins, three draws).
The London club has scored in 12 of its last 14 Women’s Champions League games.
Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in six of their last seven group stage home games.
Real Madrid
Madrid has lost its last three matches in the Women’s Champions League.
The Spanish team has only won one of its last nine group stage games (three draws and five losses).
2024-01-18 19:55:25
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