U.S. Soccer Announces Emma Hayes as Women’s Team Manager
Chelsea travel to Spain to start their Women’s Champions League (WCL) campaign in what will be manager Emma Hayes’ last opportunity to win the European competition before she leaves the club at the end of the season.
The WCL is the only piece of silverware that has eluded Hayes in her 11-year tenure at Chelsea but winning the tournament in her final year with the club will not be an easy feat. An opening clash against Real Madrid, runners-up in Liga F, will test the Women’s Super League (WSL) champions and the rise of Paris FC, who defeated Arsenal and Wolfsburg in qualifying, make a difficult tournament that much trickier at the group stage.
Chelsea reached the semi-final stage last season before losing 2-1 on aggregate to Barcelona who went on to lift the trophy. Barca were also the team to stop the Blues on their only trip to the final, running out 4-0 winners in the 2021 showpiece to deny them the title.
Adding the talented Ashley Lawrence and Catarina Macario this summer brings extra depth to Chelsea’s squad and they will need the experience of multiple WSL winners if they are to go far this time around.
Follow all the action from the Women’s Champions League plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-2 Chelsea (Carmona, 79’)⚽️
79 mins: Olga Carmona steps up and smokes her penalty into the right hand corner. Ann-Katrin Berger leaps the correct way but can’t get a hand to the ball.
Mike Jones15 November 2023 21:36
Penalty to Real Madrid!
77 mins: Emma Hayes was smiling. Not so much now. Jessie Fleming lunges into a challenge on Athenea del Castillo and clips the midfielder’s legs.
Del Castillo goes down in the box and the hosts win a spot kick.
Mike Jones15 November 2023 21:35
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-2 Chelsea (Kerr, 74’)⚽️
Niamh Charles is given the ball out wide and brings it forward before a sharp one-two into takes her to the edge of the box. She drives to byline then flicks the ball over to the far post.
Sam Kerr leaps at the ball, hangs in the air then powers her headed effort into the back of the net!
Mike Jones15 November 2023 21:32
Real Madrid 1-1 Chelsea
72 mins: Jessie Fleming looks a little frustrated as she lifts a good ball into the middle of the box. Sam Kerr is the target but the goalkeeper is sharply off her line to punch the ball away.
The offside flag then goes up against Kerr and Real Madrid are given a free kick.
Mike Jones15 November 2023 21:29
Real Madrid 1-1 Chelsea
69 mins: Lauren James chips a nice cross into the middle of the box but doesn’t have the runners to get on the end of the pass. Instead the ball bounces through to Misa Rodriguez who clings onto it.
A touch over 20 minutes to play. Real Madrid have done a strong job of nullifying Chelsea’s attack in this half.
Mike Jones15 November 2023 21:25
Real Madrid 1-1 Chelsea
66 mins: Close! Real Madrid run into space on the left side of the pitch and whip a cross into the box. It drops nicely for Athenea del Castillo who pings a left-footed shot at goal.
Niamh Charles gets in the way and makes the block turning the ball behind for a corner.
Mike Jones15 November 2023 21:22
Real Madrid 1-1 Chelsea
63 mins: Here comes Lauren James. One of Chelsea’s star performers is introduced into the game with the Blues needing a goal. Fran Kirby is taken off by Emma Hayes.
Chelsea win a throw in high up the pitch and James’ first involvement is to give away a free kick after the ball bounces up and strikes her hand.
Mike Jones15 November 2023 21:20
Real Madrid 1-1 Chelsea
60 mins: Real Madrid look to the bench first and bring Maite Oroz onto the pitch to replace Zornoza Sanchez. Will that substitution bring them more control in the middle of the pitch?
Mike Jones15 November 2023 21:18
Real Madrid 1-1 Chelsea
57 mins: Linda Caicedo vs Ashley Lawrence has been a decent battle. The fisr half belonged to the Chelsea defender but Caicedo is seeing a bit of success through these opening stages of the second 45 minutes.
Lawrence gives away a free kick but Real Madrid fail to make it count and Chelsea recover possession.
Mike Jones15 November 2023 21:14
Real Madrid 1-1 Chelsea
54 mins: Chance! After Real push up the pitch, once again challenging the Chelsea back line, the Blues burst forward on the counter.
Fran Kirby brings the ball to the edge of the box then squares it across to Jessie Fleming. Fleming draws out a defender before knocking it back to Kirby who shoots and sees her effort blocked by Ivana Andres.
Mike Jones15 November 2023 21:11