Debutant Malard Shines as Chelsea Overcome Real Sociedad in Women's Champions League Qualifier

Chelsea delivered a commanding 5-2 win against Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Women's Champions League third qualifying round clash, thanks in large part to debutant Melvine Malard's two goals. Despite falling behind early, the Blues rallied impressively in the second half to establish a three-goal advantage ahead of the return leg.

The match, played on 26 August 2026, saw Chelsea struggle initially against a strong Real Sociedad side. Marín gave the visitors an early lead in the 7th minute, and the Basque team maintained pressure throughout the first half. Chelsea’s Girma managed to equalize in the 29th minute, but Sociedad responded with a goal from Marcos just before the hour mark.

However, the second half belonged to Chelsea. Buurman put the hosts ahead in the 54th minute, before Melvine Malard, making her debut for the London club, scored twice in the 67th and 88th minutes. Fran James also contributed with a goal in the 74th minute, sealing a convincing victory. Chelsea’s assistant coach Camille Abily, standing in for the suspended head coach Sonia Bompastor, praised the team’s resilience and improved performance after the break.

With this result, Chelsea have taken a significant step toward progressing to the next round of the competition. The three-goal cushion provides a comfortable margin for the second leg, which will be crucial for securing a spot in the Women's Champions League group stage. The win also marks an important milestone for Malard, who has made an immediate impact after joining the club.

Looking ahead, Chelsea will aim to maintain their momentum and defensive solidity in the return fixture next week. Real Sociedad will need to overturn the deficit to keep their Champions League hopes alive, setting up a potentially intense and competitive second leg.

For more details on the match, visit The Guardian.