A 10-minute burst from Catarina Macario was all Chelsea needed to seal their top spot in Group B and a place in the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals. Despite a challenging match and trailing early, the American forward’s two second-half penalties, coupled with a stroke of misfortune for Real Madrid captain Olga Carmona, were enough to secure a 2-1 victory for the visitors.
Real Madrid had the upper hand in the first half, taking the lead through a stunning team move that saw Caroline Weir’s shot loop into the net after a series of quick passes. The goal came just six minutes into the match, with Madrid showing impressive fluidity in their play. The sequence began with goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez, who played the ball out to her teammates, and after 12 passes, the ball found Weir, who made no mistake in capitalizing on Chelsea’s defensive lapse.
Chelsea struggled to get into the game early on, with Madrid’s possession (58%) and 15 shots showing their dominance. However, Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor acknowledged that despite the challenges, her team’s mental strength was key in the second half. The visitors were able to regroup after the break, and Macario’s introduction made a significant impact. Within minutes of the restart, she was in the thick of things, scoring a goal that was ruled out for offside, but it was clear that Chelsea was now in control.
Macario’s breakthrough came soon after when she was awarded a penalty after being fouled by Carmona inside the area. The Chelsea forward made no mistake, blasting the ball into the roof of the net to equalize. Just minutes later, she had another opportunity, this time after a handball from Carmona, and again Macario converted with the same power and precision. Chelsea had turned the game around in a matter of minutes.
Real Madrid refused to give up, and Chelsea’s goalkeeper Hannah Hampton had to be alert to deny Filippa Angeldahl. Madrid continued to press, with Melanie Leupolz’s free-kick hitting the bar and Naomie Feller missing two great chances. The first came when she fired wide after an excellent run by Angeldahl, and later she scuffed a shot over the bar following a clever assist from Weir. Madrid continued to threaten, with Weir’s set-piece deliveries almost finding the back of the net, but Chelsea’s defense held firm under pressure.
Despite Madrid’s efforts, Chelsea’s resilience proved too much. The final moments of the match saw Feller heading over the bar in the dying seconds, but it was clear that Chelsea had done enough to secure the win. Their two goals in the second half were enough to see them finish top of the group with a perfect record, despite Madrid’s strong performance.
Bompastor admitted that the team was exhausted after a demanding December schedule, with four games in quick succession taking its toll. But Chelsea’s ability to find a way back into the game, especially after being dominated in the first half, highlighted their strength and determination. The win was crucial for Chelsea as they look ahead to the knockout stages, and the confidence gained from this comeback will serve them well in the coming rounds.
For Real Madrid, it was another close encounter with Chelsea, a team they have never managed to defeat in six attempts. Coach Alberto Toril expressed pride in his team’s performance, believing they had outplayed Chelsea in terms of possession and chances created. However, the final scoreline was all that mattered, and Chelsea’s clinical finishing in the second half proved decisive.
In the end, it was a case of Chelsea’s quality and Macario’s composure under pressure that saw them through to the quarter-finals. Despite Madrid’s dominance in terms of play, Chelsea’s ruthlessness in front of goal ensured they would finish top of the group and continue their Champions League journey.
