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Third qualifying round, first leg: Chelsea 5-2 Real Sociedad
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Global — Suzanne Wrack at Cherry Red Records Stadium
Third qualifying round, first leg: Chelsea 5-2 Real Sociedad
Girma 29, Buurman 54, Malard 67 88, James 74; Marín 7, Marcos 59
Chelsea’s sluggish start in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier against Real Sociedad will have made far from satisfying viewing for their suspended head coach, Sonia Bompastor, but two goals from the new signing Melvine Malard contributed to a five-goal haul as the Blues came from behind to give themselves a three-goal cushion going into next week’s return fixture.
“It was a tough game, a tough first half because Real Sociedad is a really great team but I think we had a good reaction,” said Camille Abily, the assistant coach to Bompastor, who was serving a one match ban following her red card in Chelsea’s quarter-final second leg against Arsenal last season. “We were so much better in the second half, there was more space also. It’s a good win – a tough win but a good win.”
Girma 29, Buurman 54, Malard 67 88, James 74; Marín 7, Marcos 59
This report is published with credit to The Guardian. Full available text from the wire is above. Read on The Guardian →
Source: The Guardian · Suzanne Wrack at Cherry Red Records Stadium. Published 26 Aug 2026, 07:50 pm.
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