Chelsea continued their dominant run in the Women's Champions League with a 2-1 victory over Celtic, demonstrating resilience after falling behind early in the match. The win marked Chelsea's 12th consecutive victory across all competitions, maintaining their perfect form under manager Sonia Bompastor. The match, played on a chilly evening, was a crucial one in Group B, where Chelsea now sits three points clear of Real Madrid, who earlier defeated Twente 7-0.
Celtic stunned the Blues in the 22nd minute when Murphy Agnew put them ahead with a brilliant finish, marking the club's first-ever goal in the Women's Champions League. Agnew capitalized on a fast counterattack, sliding the ball into the bottom-left corner past Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. However, Chelsea responded quickly, finding the equalizer just six minutes later. Maika Hamano, who has been a standout performer for Chelsea, found the back of the net with a composed finish after receiving a well-timed pass from Aggie Beever-Jones.
Chelsea continued their momentum and completed the turnaround in the 32nd minute. Ashley Lawrence's determination paid off when she pounced on a rebound following a save from Celtic’s goalkeeper, securing the lead for the visitors. The Blues’ advantage held firm despite Beever-Jones receiving a second yellow card in stoppage time, leaving Chelsea to finish the match with 10 players. Nonetheless, Chelsea's defense held strong, ensuring the 2-1 victory and extending their winning streak.
The result places Chelsea at the top of Group B with nine points, three ahead of Real Madrid. The Spanish side had earlier in the day made a resounding statement with a 7-0 victory over Twente, showcasing their attacking prowess.
In other Champions League action, Group A saw Lyon extend their perfect run with a 3-0 win over Roma. Melchie Dumornay was the star for the French champions, scoring twice before halftime to put Lyon firmly in control of the match. Vanessa Gilles added a third just after the break, capitalizing on a right-wing corner to seal the victory. Lyon now sits three points clear of Roma at the top of Group A, with Wolfsburg following in third place after a dominant 5-0 win over Galatasaray.
Both Chelsea and Lyon have set the standard for excellence in the Women's Champions League this season, with Chelsea’s comeback win against Celtic reinforcing their resilience, while Lyon continues to display their attacking strength. As the group stages continue, both teams will look to maintain their momentum and cement their places in the knockout rounds of the competition.
