Full Breakdown
Chelsea Women Advance with 5-2 Victory Over Real Sociedad in Champions League Qualifier
8/27/2026, 12:57:28 AM
Core Event: 5-2 Win Secures Three-Goal Cushion
On August 26, 2026, Chelsea Women defeated Real Sociedad 5-2 at the Cherry Red Records Stadium in Wimbledon, taking a three-goal aggregate lead into the second leg. Real Sociedad’s Ainhoa Marín opened the scoring in the seventh minute, but Naomi Girma equalised from a Katie McCabe corner before halftime. In the second half Chelsea added all five goals: Veerle Buurman (54´), Melvine Malard (67´ and 88´), Lauren James (74´) and a late strike by Malard completed the tally. The result was confirmed by the club’s official match report and echoed by ESPN’s game summary.
Background & Context
Chelsea entered the qualifier after moving its cup-match venue from Kingsmeadow to the larger AFC Wimbledon ground, marking the first competitive appearance at the new site. The summer saw the arrivals of French striker Melvine Malard (from Manchester United) and Irish defender Katie McCabe (from Arsenal), while long-time stars Sam Kerr, Guro Reiten, Niamh Charles and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd departed. Head coach Sonia Bompastor served a one-match suspension, leaving assistant Camille Abily in charge for the fixture. Real Sociedad qualified by finishing third in Spain’s Liga F and had recently recorded a 1-0 league win over reigning European champions Barcelona.
Timeline of Key Moments
| Minute | Event |
|---|---|
| 7´ | Ainhoa Marín (Real Sociedad) scores with a looping strike from the edge of the box. |
| 29´ | Naomi Girma (Chelsea) heads in from a Katie McCabe corner to level the score. |
| 54´ | Veerle Buurman (Chelsea) heads in from a Lauren James corner. |
| 58´ | Cecilia Marcos (Real Sociedad) equalises after a sliding tackle by Buurman. |
| 67´ | Melvine Malard (Chelsea) rounds the goalkeeper and slots home on her debut. |
| 74´ | Lauren James (Chelsea) finishes a build-up from Ellie Carpenter. |
| 88´ | Malard adds a second goal, finishing a cross from Carpenter. |
All times are reported by the Chelsea FC match report and corroborated by ESPN.
Data & Statistics
- Final score: Chelsea 5, Real Sociedad 2.
- Goal scorers: Girma, Buurman, Malard, James (Chelsea); Marín, Marcos (Real Sociedad).
- Substitutions: Malard entered at the 55th minute, replacing Aggie Beever-Jones.
- Possession: Chelsea dominated early, but Real Sociedad held their own in the first half, according to the Guardian’s match narrative.
- Aggregate lead: Chelsea head into the September 2 second leg with a three-goal advantage.
Official Statements & Responses
She also noted the squad’s “physical superiority” and praised Malard’s impact on debut.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I hope it'll be great if we're able to score anytime five goals,” — Camille Abily, assistant coach
What’s Next
Chelsea will travel to San Sebastián for the second leg on September 2, 2026, aiming to protect the three-goal cushion. The club’s schedule then returns to England for a Women’s Super League match against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on September 5, 2026. Both fixtures are listed in the club’s official communications.
