Chelsea have progressed to the league phase of the Women’s Champions League following a 1-0 win against Real Sociedad, which sealed a comprehensive 6-2 aggregate triumph in their third-round qualifying encounter. The decisive moment came in the 54th minute when Keira Walsh capitalized on a corner to score, effectively quashing any hopes of a Real Sociedad comeback.
Entering the second leg with a strong 5-2 lead from the first match, Chelsea faced a determined Real Sociedad side in San Sebastián. Despite the advantage, Sonia Bompastor’s team found it challenging to display their usual attacking flair, as the hosts demonstrated stout and organized defense. In the opening half, Chelsea struggled to create clear opportunities, with Ellie Carpenter emerging as the primary attacking outlet, though her crosses were not fully exploited by her teammates.
Just before Walsh’s breakthrough goal, Aggie Beever-Jones came close to scoring, but her shot was easily handled by Real Sociedad’s goalkeeper, Julia Arrula. Walsh’s goal moments later cemented Chelsea’s control over the tie, allowing them to manage the game comfortably from that point onward.
With an eye on their Women’s Super League opener against Aston Villa, Bompastor rotated her squad, providing valuable playing time to various team members and allowing younger players a chance to shine. Among the debutants were new signings Nelly Las and Giulia Dragoni, who made appearances from the bench, alongside 17-year-old Chloe Sarwie, who was introduced in the latter stages of the match.
Although Chelsea’s performances in both legs were not entirely dominant, they achieved the crucial goal of securing a spot in the Champions League league phase, while also gaining competitive match experience ahead of their domestic season. In contrast, Real Sociedad will now continue their European campaign in the Europa League after failing to overcome the deficit from the first leg.