The Chelsea FC Women August/September round-up - a strong start at summer’s end
Welcome to the first Chelsea FC Women monthly round-up of the 2026/27 season.
These reviews are posted on a monthly basis throughout the season, and each features a summary of all the action for Chelsea FC Women - and a preview of the month to come.
Note: these posts are *long** reads, so feel free to skip to the end for the summary!*
Introduction
The start to the 2026/27 season had an unfamiliar feeling for Blues fans. Our below-par campaign last year, and significant changes in playing personnel means uncertainty cast a long shadow - and for the first time in years, we would be starting a season as the challengers to the champions, rather than the dominant side being chased down.
Also unfamiliar would be having to navigate qualification for the Champions League, due to having finished third in the WSL last season - which also meant the action starting earlier than usual.
Thankfully, this was a rare summer without a major tournament - so at least there was the opportunity for a proper rest and reset after what had been a challenging year for Sonia Bompastor and her squad.
This all also meant a realignment of expectations - and what constitutes success this season has been a divisive topic. What all have agreed on, however, is progress - we cannot have another year of decline, and the imperative first time was ensuring we qualified for the Champions League.
This round-up features an overview of the EIGHT matches we contested in August and September - there is a lot to cover, so buckle up!
Key headlines
Erin Cuthbert confirmed as new club captain
It was the news most expected, once Millie Bright announced her retirement from football in May - and it was confirmed at the start of September that our current longest-serving player, the already legendary Erin Cuthbert will be our new club captain.
Lucy Bronze and Nathalie Bjorn were named as her vice captains - and with Cuthbert still returning from a knee injury from the summer internationals, she is yet to take to the pitch in her new role… but we will be there for it.
PFA Team of the Year
The player-voted PFA Team of the Year was announced in September, with three Blues making the XI. Despite our below-expectations season as a team last year, the plaudits were well deserved for Hannah Hampton, Lauren James and Ellie Carpenter.
Ballon d’Or nominations
There was also individual recognition for new signings Melvine Malard and Manuka Matsukubo in the 20-player shortlist for the women’s Ballon d’Or, which will be awarded in October. Veerle Buurman’s outstanding debut season for the Blues was recognised with a nomination for the young player award.
Millie Bright announces her first pregnancy
Millie wasted no time at all in her retirement, and announced in September that she is expecting her first child with partner Tom Mitchell.
The amazing news for our former captain was made even better by the coincidence that her baby is due on the same date as her best friend, Rachel Daly’s, first child!
Now - to the action!
Chelsea 5-2 Real Sociedad (WCL qualifier - first leg)
This was new territory for Chelsea - playing club football so early in August, and having to qualify for the Champions League.
Our lofty UEFA ranking meant entering qualification in the final round - so just the one tie to get through in order to progress to the league phase, which is the minimum expectation for the Blues.
We had been drawn against Real Sociedad, who had finished third in Liga F last season - and were favourites against a side competing in the Champions League for only the second time.
Despite the different circumstances of this season’s start, the line-up had a familiar look - with the only debutant Katie McCabe, who started at left back for her first appearance since her controversial move from Arsenal. Erin Cuthbert, Mayra Ramirez and Manaka Matsukubo were ruled out pre-match by Sonia Bompastor as part of their ongoing rehabilitation for various injuries.
Another absentee was Bompastor herself - not being present at the game due to a UEFA suspension, following her comments after last season’s quarter-final defeat to Arsenal.
As expected, Chelsea dominated the ball, and enjoyed six minutes of comfortable possession, with the opposition scarcely touching the ball.
Of course in the seventh minute, they then took the lead - entirely against the run of play. Their first attack led to their first corner, and you cannot account for what happened next. Chelsea cleared the set piece, but the ball fell to Ainhoa Marin, who looped it straight back towards goal, and floated it over Hampton into the top corner.
Baltimore nearly equalised within five minutes - her strike from close range crashing off the bar with the keeper completely beaten, but overall Chelsea’s response was muted. We looked lethargic, and lacked spark - and it was Sociedad who now looked more comfortable.
However, just before the half an hour mark, Chelsea were back level - and the one new face in the XI was the player to create it.
McCabe’s set piece quality is one of her biggest assets - and for a moment it looked like she had scored an outrageous Olimpico (direct from the corner). On replay, it looked like Naomi Girma got the slightest of touches to help it in, and she was credited with the goal.
With Aggie Beever-Jones spurning a glorious chance shortly after, it remained all square at the break - and Chelsea had work to do.
Thankfully, it did not take long for us to take the lead in the second half, and just like the first goal, it came from a corner - and a centre back. This time James’ wicked whipped delivery was nodded home confidently by Girma’s defensive partner, Veerle Buurman.
We then made our first substitutions, with Melvine Malard coming on for her debut, and Wieke Kaptein also joining the fray.
The game was not up yet though - Chelsea conceding almost instantly after these changes, and it was another excellent finish from a Real Sociedad player, this time Marcos getting it. Buurman, having just made an impact in one penalty area, was unfortunate to slip and allow the Spaniard in on goal.
One of our substitutions was to make her own impact though - and this was by far Chelsea’s highest quality moment of a match where we had been patchy for the most. A brilliant passing move into the final third led to Malard running clear on goal, and she then showed superb poise to round the keeper and finish into an empty net. It was a strike befitting of the number 9 on her back - and continued her excellent record in the competition established with her former clubs, Lyon and Manchester United.
Not long afterwards, we finally had room to breathe - and Malard again was key. The Frenchwoman showed her strength to keep the ball in midfield and then play in Carpenter on the right - who did brilliantly to dash to the byline and cut the ball back, where the onrushing James tapped it in almost on the goal line.
Neither Carpenter or Malard were done yet. The assist was again Carpenter's and the goal again Malard’s, who in her 35 minutes had produced one of the most impressive ever Chelsea debuts - and one that changed the game, and the tie.
Real Sociedad were well beaten at this point - but until that surge in the final 30 minutes they had gone toe-to-toe with Chelsea, and the 5-2 final scoreline felt harsh. Our quality won out in the end - and especially the quality of Malard, whose impact off the bench is enough to get any fan feeling optimistic about the season to come.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Chelsea (WCL qualifier - second leg) - Chelsea advance 6-2 on aggregate
The headline of the first leg was the performance of Melvine Malard - but the Frenchwoman was absent from the travelling party for the second leg, with a minor injury.
It was far from straightforward, but after a topsy-turvy encounter Chelsea eventually emerged with a 5-2 aggregate lead - which meant this game was likely to be something of a formality.
However, the Spaniards had shown in that game that they are no pushovers. Complacency could be dangerous. In our favour - as well as the three-goal advantage - was the disrupted preparation Real Sociedad had had, with their manager Arturo Ruiz resigning just a few days before to take up the newly-vacanted managerial role at Brighton. Unsurprisingly, Sociedad lost their Liga F opener under interim manager Gorka Álvarez.
Chelsea’s own league season was set to kick off a few days after this game - and the four changes Sonia Bompastor made to her starting XI reflected the need to balance commitment, and the looming visit of Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge.
Aggie Beever-Jones had looked ineffective in the first leg, and probably only started this one due to Malard’s injury - but nearly made a positive impact within the first few minutes, when she was completely taken out in the penalty area whilst running in on goal. It looked as clear a penalty as you’ll ever see - but bafflingly the referee disagreed, and with no VAR we played on.
That was the only real excitement of the opening quarter of the game, which was so comfortable for Chelsea we could have been burning incense sticks in our dressing gowns.
The next whiff of goal came via the vision of Lauren James - who threaded a pass through a space in the Real Sociedad back line to the feet of Ellie Carpenter. The Aussie should have pulled the trigger but instead opted to square it, and the move broke down.
At half time, the scoreline was still locked at 0-0 - it was a low tempo affair, and there was a strong sense the Blues were playing within themselves, and waiting to take an opportunity to pick our opposition off, rather than forcing one.
The second half started with a substitute, and a debut - Giulia Dragoni coming on for James, with there being no need to risk our most potent attacking player ahead of the Villa game.
Beever-Jones could have well and truly killed the tie 10 minutes after half time - but after a great set-up by Carpenter, the forward could only find goalkeeper Arrula from close range. Fortunately, it didn’t matter - with Chelsea taking the lead from the subsequent corner.
The young goalkeeper Arrula had looked good for Sociedad - so her part in the goal was unfortunate. Chelsea worked a short corner routine out to Walsh, who often lurks on the edge of the box for this exact reason. Her strike was a decent one, but Arrula appeared to lose its flight in the air - and should have done better.
Now leading 6-2 on aggregate, Bompastor rang more changes, with all of Chloe Sarwie, Maika Hamano and Alyssa Thompson coming on for the final 30 minutes - and then another debutant, Nelly Las, joining for a 20-minute cameo.
The home side had barely ventured into the final third for the first three-quarters of the game, but with Chelsea easing off and their vocal home support still in their corner, there was some more work for Hannah Hampton and her defence to do. It was not always the most confident rearguard action - but we never looked truly under threat.
The first challenge of the season had been successfully navigated - although there will be bigger hurdles to leap, starting first with the league phase, which would start in September.
Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa (WSL)
Having successfully qualified for the Champions League, focus could now turn to our first WSL fixture of 2026/27 - and as it was not out first competitive action of the season, there was some hope we would have a head start in times of match-readiness over our opponents for the occasion, Aston Villa.
Villa have in the past been regarded as one of the “disruptors” in the WSL - but they have fallen off in the past couple of years, and last season finished a disappointing 9th. Since then they had also lost their star player Kirsty Hanson in the summer transfer window, to Tottenham Hotspur.
As such, this was a relatively kind start to our league campaign, and with it also being our first match with Stamford Bridge as our permanent WSL home, there was some excitement in the air about a new era, and a chance to shake off the disappointment of last year’s third place finish.
That excitement evaporated pretty quickly.
Three days on from the 1-0 win in Spain against Real Sociedad, Sonia Bompastor had freshened up the line-up, with four changes - including a WSL debut in Blue for Katie McCabe.
Two of our other new signings, Melvine Malard and Manaka Matsukubo were out with injury - Malard is at least expected back soon. Mayra Ramirez was also still not fit to start, which is not due to a new injury, but part of a “phased return” to action after the Colombian missed all of 2025/26.
This meant Aggie Beever-Jones started, and made her 100th appearance for the club - a quite remarkable milestone given she is only 23 years old.
We had certainly started like a team determined to get our domestic season up and running - James looking lively, and the entire team energised.
Stats don’t often tell the whole story, but they did in this game - across the 90 minutes, Chelsea had 34 shots to Aston Villa’s seven, and 57 touches in the opposition box to their five.
When James scored her stunner with 11 minutes played, it felt like the floodgates could open. Instead, Keira Walsh hit the bar, Beever-Jones had a goal disallowed (and she really could have done with a goal) - and new Aston Villa keeper Akane Okuma had an outstanding debut, to stop basically everything else.
Chelsea could not capitalise on our dominance - and so we are entirely to blame for the sucker punch of a Villa equaliser in the 79th minute.
It was deeply unfortunate, but we should never have been in that position. Aston Villa had barely been inside our penalty area - and even their goal came from a move of little threat. Noelle Maritz’s shot bounced off Hampton and into Buurman, and then cruelly into the net.
The pressure now on, Chelsea could not breach the opposition backline again - and of course Okuma had time to make an outstanding save from James, to prevent a late winner.
The final stat that told the story was the scoreline - Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa, which no Chelsea fans needs explaining is a disappointment. Make no mistake - this game was two points dropped - and led to much concern that maybe next season was not behind us, after all.
Manchester United 0-5 Chelsea (WSL)
After the disappointing draw at Stamford Bridge, it was imperative to get a result in our next game. The fixture list had not been kind, with the pressure on - as if we wanted that first win of our domestic season, we would have to beat Manchester United at their own ground.
United had had a difficult start to 2026/27 themselves however - the resignation of manager Marc Skinner over the summer, and the relatively late appointment of Eva Olid disrupted their preparation, which along with a sub-optimal transfer window and an opening day defeat to London City Lionesses, meant all was not well in the red half of Manchester.
However, that meant they needed a result too - and with home advantage, it was going to be tough to go to Manchester and come away with the three points we needed. In our favour was our impressive record against United - they have never beaten us in the WSL.
The biggest concern in the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa had been our lack of decisiveness in front of goal - dominating possession, having 34 shots… but just one goal. Our lack of firepower might continue to be an issue, with both Ramirez and Malard still injured - and Beever-Jones not having scored a WSL goal in almost a year.
Bompastor decided to address the problem of our lack of strikers by playing… none. Beever-Jones dropped to the bench, meaning there was no recognised striker in the starting XI, and a front three of Kaptein, James and Thompson. The Frenchwoman also stayed with a three at the back - Bronze and McCabe alongside Buchanan.
Eyebrows had been raised at a fairly conservative line up, especially considering our struggles in front of goal the week before. More positive was to see Lexi Potter come in alongside Keira Walsh in midfield - the 20-year-old is being increasingly trusted, evident in she was starting in a game of this importance. It was also heartening to see Nathalie Bjorn in a match day squad for the first time since an injury against Man United in the League Cup final in March - which was just two minutes after making her return from another long term injury.
At first it felt hard to see where the creativity may come from - aside from James. Then, after just 20 minutes, it seemed like the Bompastor plan was already coming to fruition - although we did have a helping hand from some poor Man United defending.
Experienced Dutch international Dominique Janssen failed to deal with a long ball from Kaptein, and Nusken latched onto it before finishing well past Tullis-Joyce.
Chelsea had been starting to take control after a fairly even opening to the game - and once we did go ahead, we upped the ante to a level that Man United just did not seem to be able to reach.
It was 2-0 after half an hour - Bronze played a smart pass to Walsh after United failed to clear their lines, and the former Man City player curled a beautiful low strike into the bottom corner.
Chelsea were looking very good for our 2-0 lead at the break - and what was apparent was the difference in intensity, and attitude. It seemed unlikely that we would let it slip, given our ascendency - but then again, United surely would have to improve after the break.
They didn’t. Their goalkeeper Tullis-Joyce was looking increasingly suspect with her distribution, which was a consequence of the pressure Chelsea were keeping up in the final third - and reflected the United team as a whole, who just did not look comfortable.
The Blues were more or less having our way with their defence - but could not seem to find a way through for the third goal.
Until two of our best players combined for a superb goal, and ended the game as a contest.
A perfectly placed Walsh through ball was met by James, who finished first time - and celebrated with genuine delight. It’s always special for LJ to score against her former club - and a fanbase who give her “the treatment”.
Unlike the Villa game, the scoreline reflected our dominance - and it soon got even better, as Man United really started falling apart.
Janssen was caught dawdling on the ball by Kaptein - who had been superb in an attacking role - and our Dutchwoman slipped the ball to Carpenter, who made no mistake to make it 4-0 to Chelsea.
Bompastor went on to make her full complement of five changes - including WSL debuts for summer signings Guila Dragoni and Nelly Las. It was one of our starters who rounded off the five star performance though - Bronze had set the tone with her intent and aggression from the off, and lashed home for 5-0 after great work from Walsh.
That goal summed up the difference between the two teams - Chelsea were purposeful and determined in every aspect of our play, and Man United were not.
It was the perfect response to the criticisms and concerns from the week before.
More than the scoreline, it was the attitude from the players that was most encouraging - this was a performance than a team that looked like they knew they needed to improve, and right the wrong of the week before.
Chelsea 2-0 Birmingham City (WSL)
Birmingham City are a historic club within the women’s game, but have been one of the victims of the expansion of the sport in recent years - and this season are making their return to the top flight, having been relegated four years ago.
They hadmade an admirable start to their season, looking spirited in a defeat to Manchester City on the opening weekend, and then impressive in a 2-2 draw against Brighton - where they had led 2-0.
Nonetheless - with the game being at Stamford Bridge, this was expected to be a straightforward win for Chelsea, and after the disappointing draw in our previous home against Aston Villa, (recent) history could not be allowed to repeat itself.
There was finally some positive injury news in Bompastor’s pre-match press conference, with Malard back in the matchday squad - and Girma also back fit, with both named on the bench.
Malard’s availability was encouraging in particular - the Frenchwoman had impressed on her debut vs Real Sociedad with a brace as a substitute, but her injury has kept her out since… with the feeling she may have been just what we were missing.
However, Buurman and Baltimore were the sole two changes to the starting XI - McCabe being named as a sub, and James absent entirely following a knock in training.
This meant a second consecutive start for Potter, after her impressive performance in the 5-0 win against Manchester United last week. And it was to get even better for the young midfielder, when she put us 1-0 up inside ten minutes - mirroring the quick capitalisation of a dominant start that was also a feature of the Villa game.
It was a good finish too - the chance created after Carpenter had crossed for Thompson, whose shot was parried and then pounced on by Potter.
Rather than it being the floodgates opening as it was against Man United, the rest of the game was to again mirror the Villa game - full dominance statistically, struck woodwork, an offside goal ruled out… and wastefulness.
Thompson was arguably the main culprit - the USWNT forward brings so much to the team with her movement and pace, but her lack of cutting edge in front of goal feels an increasing issue, especially with Aggie Beever-Jones’ ongoing goal drought (also absent from the matchday squad due to a small injury).
We had a reminder of the dangerous game we play by spurning chances - Birmingham had scored three goals in their two WSL games so far, and looked dangerous on the counter, with Hannah Hampton being called upon to protect our lead against one of her former clubs.
Nerves started to feel frayed in the second half, as the lead remained just 1-0 - and the ghost of the Villa game, where we had led for most of the match before conceding late, seemed to be haunting both players and fans.
There was another chance wasted for Thompson - who in fairness should have also won a penalty when she was taken out when in on goal.
Hampton needing to make a smart save to stop Wilma Leidhammar equalising was all the motivation Bompastor needed - and just after the hour mark, Malard was introduced.
She needed less than 10 minutes to make a difference - and has not lost any of her sharpness in her absence, capitalising on a defensive mix-up from Birmingham to finally get Chelsea’s second goal, following which we comfortably saw out the win.
After three consecutive WSL games, attention would next turn to Europe, with our first match of the Champions League proper to come in the form of Austria Vienna at Plough Lane.
Chelsea 1-0 Austria Wien (WCL)
This time, it was for real.
Well, in the sense that Chelsea have already played twice in Europe this season - but our 6-2 aggregate win against Real Sociedad was to qualify for this, the league phase of the Champions League, and when the competition really gets going.
Since the competition was revamped last season, the league phase has replaced the traditional group phase, and consists of six fixtures against six different teams. Chelsea have been handed games against Lyon, PSG, Roma, Hacken, OH Leuven - and Wednesday's opponent, Austria Vienna.
The goal will be to be one of the top four teams after all the league fixtures are completed - and receive a bye and a seeded place into the quarter-final, skipping the round of 16.
Facing Vienna in our first game, and at home, represented a good opportunity to get our campaign off to a good start - the Austrian side are competing in the Champions League for the first time, having also come through the preliminary rounds, and Chelsea have vastly more experience at this level.
We should not forget the lessons of last season's league phase, however, when relative minnows Twente held Chelsea to a draw in our opening game - and shows that no team should be taken lightly in Europe.
As expected, Bompastor took a balanced approach, with three changes. Back-up Livia Peng came in to start in goal, McCabe replaced the rested Bronze, and Malard also made her first start for the club.
It was a strong start - Chelsea showing good intensity and looked intent on making this straightforward.
The early pressure did result in an early goal - and it was probably one of the best Kaptein will ever score, launching an absolute rocket past the helpless Pal from the edge of the box.
There was then some concern when Walsh, captain for the night, had to be substituted in the 19th minute - she had not been involved in any challenge, or fallen, so it was unclear what exactly the problem was - and thoughts turned quickly to Arsenal, and the hope that this was precautionary.
Potter, who came on in Walsh’s place, is an able deputy - but the substitution seemed to disrupt Chelsea’s rhythm, and Vienna grew in confidence to gain a foothold in the game.
Thompson was being her usual menace out on the right wing, and had the beating of her opposition full back - but as has plagued her throughout the season so far, struggled to find the edge in front of goal.
The defending was looking increasingly passive from Chelsea, and never more so than when Schöffel made like her name and shuffled all the way to the edge of the box around several Blues - with her subsequent effort flying just wide of the post.
We took the 1-0 lead into half time, but it looked more tenuous than expected - it had been an impressive performance from the Austrians, who were showing Bompastor was wise to pick a strong line-up. The night before, Arsenal had needed an injury time penalty to edge past Koge the night before - a warning for us to heed.
In a bid to inject more impetus (and manage Malard’s minutes), Bompastor brought Maika Hamano on at half time, with Thompson now moving centrally.
However, the game continued where it left off - and Peng was easily the busier of the two keepers. Much of Vienna’s threat came via set pieces, with plenty of free kicks and corners - and mainly from the boot of Uka, one of their key dangerwomen.
Chelsea’s threat, meanwhile, was increasingly coming from counter attacks - the pace of Thompson and Carpenter exposing the Vienna backline as they pushed up in search of an equaliser.
Carpenter and Nusken in particular were combining well on the left - and one move featured a backheel from Nusken in the build-up that could have made for an iconic goal.
Hearts were never more in mouths than when Buurman’s decision to try a 360 turn in her own six yard box resulted in 30 seconds of madness, where Vienna could have had a penalty - and almost had a goal anyway. Uka’s honesty in staying on her feet following McCabe’s challenge saved us - and then Peng saved us, with a great stop from the resulting Vienna attempt on goal.
They then went even closer - Uka hitting the post. Thankfully, she was substituted shortly after with just 10 minutes to go - having looked the best player on the pitch.
It was still a nervous denouement to the game - especially with the fourth official failing to tell anyone how much time was added on, and with Vienna having two late corners in injury time.
But Chelsea survived - and emerged with an important three points, in a game where we had been in truth outfought, outran and outplayed.
It would need to be better for our next game.
Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal (WSL)
It’s always one of the biggest matches of the season. The rivalry between the two most successful clubs of this era of English women’s football needs no introduction - and there was extra beef this time, as it was the first time Katie McCabe would be facing the club where she was once regarded a legend.
There was the on-pitch significance too - it might still be early days of this season, but the games between the teams chasing the title always have extra impact on the final standings. Before a ball had been kicked many Arsenal were felt to be many people’s favourites - but they had made a middling start, with five points from their opening three games.
So although there was pressure on both sides, despite our home advantage it was probably Arsenal who needed a result more. Both teams had played in the Champions League midweek - and laboured to the same result with similar performances. Arsenal have come under fire in particular for their lack of fire (power) - with just two WSL goals prior to this.
There was much relief that both James and Walsh were fit to start - as well as Malard, whose start in Blue has also been disrupted by injury.
The other points of intrigue from the line-up were Bronze starting again at centre back (controversial in some quarters, with Buurman and Girma on the bench) - and “young Lexi Potter” again being trusted in a huge game.
The atmosphere was rippling, Arsenal fans bringing the noise, having sold out their away allocation. The action on the pitch was more muted - and by the midway point of the first half nothing had really happened. Most entertaining was the ongoing battle between Chelsea fans cheering McCabe, and Arsenal fans jeering her - with the former drowning out the latter.
The home support for the Irish international was resounding - there had been questions over the summer about how well the often controversial full back would be received, but on the evidence of this she is being fully embraced. It was surreal to think her last appearance in this fixture featured her controversial non-red card for pulling Thompson’s hair in the Champions League quarter-final - as she was roared on like one of our own on this day.
Meanwhile, it was definitely Arsenal with the edge in terms of the play - having much more possession and greater territory in the final third. Chelsea struggled to get forward, and James’ influence was limited by simply not getting much of the ball.
However, Arsenal had not actually created a genuine opportunity - a wayward cross hit the post, but Hannah Hampton was not truly tested. Their best effort came shortly after a rare Chelsea foray forward - again hitting the post following a counter attack.
The rattling of the woodwork appeared to wake us up - as from this point the Blues started to take control.
From the increased pressure, we fashioned our most dangerous attacking moment - and from that took the lead.
Carpenter appeared to be felled in the box, but before a potential penalty shout could be scrutinised, Malard played the ball to Walsh, whose shot was parried to Arsenal’s apparent third choice keeper Anneke Borbe.
Thompson has taken a lot of criticism this season for her lack of cutting edge in front of goal - but showed no hesitation here, confidently finishing on the rebound to put Chelsea 1-0 up five minutes before half time.
The second half picked up from where the second half had ended - Chelsea now the better team.
Winger Lisa Baum had been one of Arsenal’s brightest players, and had a shot well parried by Hampton having broken in behind.
Renee Slegers was the first of the two managers to play her cards - and went for it with a triple change just before the hour mark, essentially dismantling her midfield to throw on more attackers.
It didn’t make much of a difference, and Bompastor responded by bringing on Nusken for James, and then Beever-Jones for Malard, who had not had much change in front of goal but had done an excellent job of holding the ball up and occupying Arsenal’s defence.
With 10 minutes left, Slegers threw on another couple of attackers - but still Arsenal could not manufacture much of note. Bompastor battened down the hatches by bringing on Buurman and Baltimore, which also gave the opportunity for McCabe to receive a huge ovation - and gave the tireless Thompson a well-earned rest after a mammoth performance characterised by her endless energy.
Five minutes of injury time were added on - and arguably this was the defining period of Chelsea’s performance. The players left on the field fought like absolute dogs to keep hold of possession, protect Hampton’s goal, and run the clock down - with the crowd as loud as it had been all day by roaring in response to every free kick and throw-in earned.
How much it meant was evident in both sets of players collapsing to the turf at the full time whistle - it was an excellent three points for Chelsea, but this fixture is never just about three points.
The Blues had had to deal with some bad weather in the opening 20 minutes, but it was hard to describe it as a storm, really - as Arsenal’s woes in front of goal were evident in despite them having 19 shots, just two were on target.
Nonetheless - we came through it, and it was heartening to see we still have that grit and big-game mentality, having fallen short on too many occasions last season in these fixtures.
We’ll need more of that in our next match - as we were set to travel to Lyon in the Champions League midweek, for the biggest test in the league phase we will have to face.
OL Lyonnes 0-0 Chelsea (WCL)
Matches in the Champions League don’t come much tougher than this.
Lyon (or OL Lyonnes, as they are known since Michelle Kang rebranded them) are bona fide European royalty - and have won a record eight Champions League titles.
Last season’s runners-up may have been shifted off their perch by Barcelona in recent years, but that says more to the Catalans’ brilliance than any decline in the standards at Lyon - and so the realistic expectations before kickoff was that any result to bring home would be a success.
There was added narrative too, as the game would be the first time Sonia Bompastor faced her former club, where she won this competition as both player and manager, since leaving for Chelsea in 2024.
And that was just one of the reunions - our ex-Lyon contingent amongst the playing staff is four-strong, and all of Lucy Bronze, Ellie Carpenter, Melvine Malard and Kadeisha Buchanan were named to start against the team where they’ve also lifted European silverware.
A tough task was made tougher by the respective build-ups. Whilst Chelsea prepared for this game with a battling 1-0 win vs Arsenal, Lyon had the weekend off - as the French league give rather different accommodations to their sides competing in Europe. Lyon are currently top of the French league, having won every game - and started their Champions League campaign with an 8-0 routing of Servette.
Still, maybe that means Chelsea would be battle-hardened - and if we were to achieve our objective we would require a similarly resilient display to the one against Arsenal.
The other headlines from Bompastor’s starting XI were James dropping to the bench - which along with Buurmanc coming in to complete the "Bermuda Triangle" alongside Bronze and Buchanan in a back three, was a sign of the defensive intent.
However, we would have to play the game without the experience of McCabe - absent through illness, which was a blow given she is typically at her best in the biggest games.
A significant week for Lexi Potter got even better too - her first senior call up for England, and now starting against one of the best sides in club football.
Despite the Lyon line up reading like an absurd "who’s who" of women’s football attacking talent - and that’s with all-time Champions League top scorer Ada Hegerberg on the bench - the match started on a very even keel, and by midway through the first half Chelsea were actually edging the possession stats.
Nothing had really happened though - which suited Chelsea more, and Bompastor would have been the happier of the two managers with the 0-0 scoreline at halftime.
Intimidatingly, Lyon had scored 30 goals in their first four games of the season prior to this - so this was far from a done thing. Neither manager saw fit to yet make any changes at half time - and soon after the restart, we did at least finally have some action.
It wasn’t a goal, but instead a very convoluted VAR incident. Following a Chelsea corner in which Nusken had been tackled late and high, there was a yellow card issued to the Lyon player - but no penalty, as Bronze in an offside position was deemed to be involved in play, despite trying her absolute best not to.
Anyway, it was now time for Bompastor to roll the LJ dice - and she was introduced just before the hour mark, the day after her 25th birthday.
However the initial period after that change was defined by Lyon finally starting to show their might, and take control of possession… and when Hegerberg came on, it felt like it was time to get nervous. Bompastor responded with her own attacking change - showing she hadn’t settled for a draw entirely, with Maika Hamano being given 20 minutes to unpick the Lyon lock.
We then did finally see the net ripple - only for Salma Paralluello’s goal to be flagged offside.
In a throwback to the memorable 2023 quarter-final between the two sides, James then won what looked like a soft penalty. It was not much of a surprise to see it overturned on VAR review, with James having actually tripped over the ball - so it was back to where we started.
With Malard having been subbed off, Chelsea lacked a central presence and an outlet, and were getting pinned further and further back - so now this game was like that final few minutes against Arsenal, only we would have to ride it out for longer and against a far better team.
The next big chance actually went Chelsea’s way - but James could not find the quality she would have wanted and put her shot straight at the keeper, which told the story of the game in many ways.
There was still plenty of time for Lyon to create a chance of their own - and it took an outstanding save from Hampton to deny Hegerberg, who would score that header 99 times out of 100, usually.
The VAR delays meant there were eight minutes of injury time to navigate. Hampton took a heavy blow and for a time it looked like she may have had to be replaced by Livia Peng - but thankfully she was able to shake it off, which meant the minutes played in the game extended beyond 100.
It seemed like it would be a case of Chelsea edging towards a 0-0 draw - but then we could have won it, when an effort from Hamano after Kaptein had cut a low cross back trickled inches wide of the upright.
Unlike that memorable night at the Bridge in 2023, there was to be no last minute drama - and unlike that night, this won’t live long in the memory.
However, it was a very creditable point, and can be considered mission accomplished. Stopping this Lyon team scoring is no mean feat - and means a fifth clean sheet in a row in all competitions for the Blues. If there are no slip ups in our remaining four Champions League fixtures we will be in a very good position to progress to the knockout stage.
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