With two games remaining, Chelsea managed to draw a point against Real Madrid but fell short of the victory required to guarantee the team’s advancement to the knockout stages of the Champions League. Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger’s error allowed Scotland player Caroline Weir to score the first goal, which Guro Reit’s second-half penalty from Real made up for. 1:1 draw.
It was “a point won” after “team effort,” according to Emma Hayes. The Londoners are still in first place in Group A, five points ahead of Real and three points ahead of Paris Saint-Germain. They will face Vllaznia in Albania before defeating PSG at Stamford Bridge.
Ve Périsset, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Fran Kirby, and Niamh Charles were all replaced by Jess Carter, Kadeisha Buchanan, Erin Cuthbert, and Lauren James, respectively. Chelsea made four changes from the team that destroyed Leicester City 8-0 on Sunday. whom all joined the starting XI once more.
Sandie Toletti, a midfielder, and Ivana Andrés, a captain, were the two players changed from the Real Madrid squad that defeated Levante Las Planas by Alberto Toril. Before the match, Emma Hayes stated that winning the Champions League is “the aim every year” and urged her team to “concentrate on our experience and what we’ve done in the league.” We weren’t present at this time last year.
Last year Chelsea failed to proceed beyond the group stage after placing second in the previous season. With three victories out of three games, they this time around dominated Group A. The Blues easily won the second match at Kingsmeadow with two goals from Sophie Ingle and Cuthbert.
Chelsea may have come under pressure to be close to progressing after a catastrophic blunder by Berger allowed Las Blancas to take a surprise first-half lead. Berger conceded a back ball and played it right at the feet of former Manchester City midfielder Weir, who shot into the unguarded goal.
Real Madrid’s goal scorer Caroline Weir (right) engages Millie Bright in combat. Image by Angel Martinez via Getty Images
Hayes’ team had few opportunities, but Sam Kerr twice in the first half struck the woodwork.
At the Alfredo di Stéfano stadium, the visiting team made two substitutions at halftime: Kirby and Charles took the place of captain Magda Eriksson, who engaged in a spirited first-half duel with Athenea del Castillo, and Jessie Fleming, who was brought on to expand Chelsea’s attacking options.
To be honest, anyone could have gotten away with it, Hayes said. “I was compelled to make two modifications.” “The team knows that I didn’t want to wait with a 1-0 deficit.”
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If there was any disappointment in the goal they gave up, the equalizer, which changed the direction of the game, had a dash of luck. Reit latched a ball over the top before Andrés took him down in the box. The Norwegian forward stood up to take the penalty, and although her attempt missed the target, Rodrguez’s dive in the proper direction allowed it to cross the goal line.
Real attempted to relieve pressure before the difficult journey to Paris the following week while Chelsea pushed for the goal that would have advanced them. Late in the game, Olga Carmona had a clear opportunity to score, but the goalkeeper stepped in front of the shot and stopped it.
Kerr was astonishingly rebuffed by Rodríguez late after being dismissed from riding. Chelsea has full control over moving on to the next round, but they must wait till it is decided.
It’s a wonderful place to be, remarked Hayes. “I always thought this would be a challenging environment, and the size of the pitch makes it challenging. I doubt you’ll prevail.
With two games remaining, Chelsea managed to salvage a point against Real Madrid but was unable to secure the victory required to guarantee the team’s advancement to the Champions League knockout stage. An error by Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who gave the ball to Scotland midfielder Caroline Weir for the opening goal in the teams’ 1-1 tie, was made up for by Guro Reiten’s second-half penalty, which went in off the back of Real goalkeeper Misa Rodrguez.
The London side remains top of Group A, three points ahead of Paris Saint-Germain and five ahead of Real, with a trip to Albania to face the minnows Vllaznia coming up before they welcome PSG to Stamford Bridge. Emma Hayes called it “a point gained” after a “team performance [that] was as bad as I’ve seen us.”
Ve Périsset, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Fran Kirby, and Niamh Charles were all moved to the bench in favor of Jess Carter, Kadeisha Buchanan, Erin Cuthbert, and Lauren James, whom all started for Chelsea in the 8-0 demolition of Leicester City on Sunday.
Sandie Toletti and Ivana Andrés, the team’s captain, and two changes from the one that defeated Levante Las Planas were made by Real Madrid manager Alberto Toril. Before the game, Emma Hayes declared that winning the Champions League “is the aim every year” and urged her team to “concentrate on our experience and what we’ve done in the competition. At this time last year, we weren’t.
Chelsea, who had finished as the tournament runners-up the season before, was unable to advance past the group stage last year. With three victories from three games, they have this time dominated Group A. The Blues easily won the rematch at Kingsmeadow thanks to goals from Sophie Ingle and Cuthbert.
Berger’s catastrophic error allowed Las Blancas to stun everyone by taking the lead in the first half, suggesting that Chelsea may have been feeling the pressure of being on the edge of ensuring progression. Weir, a former midfielder for Manchester City, received a backpass from Berger, who then played it right to his feet so that he could shoot into an open goal.
Although Hayes’ team had limited opportunities, Sam Kerr twice in the first half struck the woodwork.
At the half at the Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium, the visiting team made two substitutions: Kirby and Charles came on for the captain, Magda Eriksson, who had been tussling with Athenea del Castillo in the first half, and Jessie Fleming, to improve Chelsea’s attacking options.
Hayes remarked, “To be honest, anyone might have come off since I had to make two changes. “I wasn’t going to wait when we were down 1-0, and the team knows that.”