Key events
This week’s Moving the Goalposts mailing featured the Roma women’s team.
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Emma Hayes spoke at a press conference ahead of this match.
The Champions League is the goal every year. What is different is that we are now able to qualify. Our goals are always to win every trophy we compete for. But we have to focus on our experience and what we have done in the competition. We weren’t at this time last year.
Our goals are always to win every trophy we compete for and this year is no different. We had a tough draw, it’s a really tough group, so for us the goal is to win and put ourselves in the best possible position.
We saw how Real Madrid knocked out (Manchester) City in the previous rounds. It’s a team that turns out to be very different from the English teams, with the Spanish teams there are a lot of differences. I think as a team, the patience in possession and the ability to threaten, especially in the big spaces, I know that’s part of their strength (from Real Madrid), but for us we have to focus on our experience, what we have done in European competition.
It’s a huge pitch and to get a result we have to keep the ball very well because they do it, so we absolutely have to do it on Thursday.
Chelsea can follow in the footsteps of Arsenal last night in the Champions League.
The Women’s Super League and the contribution of the Dutch record goalscorer kept Arsenal top of Group C, three points ahead of Lyon, who beat FC Zürich 4-0, and five points clear of Juventus.
Here’s how they went last time:
The first goal was quickly followed by the second and it was also Cuthbert’s second howler in two games. His cross shot flew into the net from the right to give his team a two-goal cushion.
“It’s a secret,” Cuthbert said on whether she really meant it. “I wanted to shoot him through the goal and see what happens. I was lucky he got off my boot nicely and went over the keeper’s head and inside.
For Chelsea, Jess Carter made his 100th appearance for Chelsea amid four changes. Lauren James also steps in, as do Erin Cuthbert and Kadeisha Buchanan. Fran Kirby, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Niamh Charles and Eve Perisset are on the bench for this one. Emma Hayes sounded the changes after that 8-0 win.
Here are the teams
Real Madrid: Misa, Andres, Kathellen, Galvez, Carmona, Weir, Toletti, Zornoza, del Castillo, Feller, Gonzalez. Subtitles: Robles, Abelleira, Oroz, Garcia, Gerard, Florentino, Moller, Rodriguez, Svava, Olofsson, Fuente, Camacho.
Chelsea: Berger, Carter, Kadeisha Buchanan, Bright, Eriksson, Cuthbert, Ingle, Fleming, James, Kerr, Reiten. Subtitles: Musovic, Nouwen, England, Svitkova, Kirby, Perisset, Mjelde, Johanna Kaneryd, Charles, Abdullina, Cankovic, Orman.
Preamble
Chelsea have won three of their three group games, but now for a trip to Spain, and Real Madrid, currently second in Liga F. It’s a second leg of a game Chelsea won 2-0 at Kingsmeadow , after goals from Sophie Ingle and Erin Cuthbert, they both arrive late. Win this one and a spot in the knockouts is almost reserved for Emma Hayes’ team. They are beating all comers at the moment and won 8-0 at Leicester at the weekend. It seems difficult for Real Madrid to stop the runaway train that Chelsea have been on this season, even when Hayes has been out. Just today, she shared her Manager of the Month award with her assistant Denise Reddy, who took over the reins in her absence.
Kick-off is at 8pm UK time. Meet me.