Chelsea Women recorded a 5-2 victory over Real Sociedad at Whitshiif Park on 26 August, closing out the third qualifying round of the UEFA Women's Champions League. The hosts opened the scoring through Ainhoa Marín in the eighth minute before Naomi Girma restored parity thirty minutes in. Veerle Buurman's strike in the fifty-fourth minute swung momentum firmly towards the home side.
Real Sociedad pulled one back through Cecilia Marcos fifty-eight minutes in, but Melvine Malard responded before the hour mark with her first of two goals. Lauren James added a fourth for Chelsea seventy-four minutes out and Malard completed the scoring in the eighty-eighth minute. Sandy Baltimore and Aggie Beever-Jones came on together for Chelsea at half-time, while Naomi Girma was withdrawn sixty-four minutes in.
Chelsea controlled territory with 65 per cent possession and registered 93 attacks compared to 48 for the visitors. The hosts hit the target six times from ten attempts, while Sociedad managed two shots on target from three. Five corners were level between the sides, though Chelsea's dominance in open play was evident throughout.
To be fair, the scoreline tells only part of the story. Real Sociedad showed they could threaten on the counter, but Chelsea's efficiency in the final third proved decisive. Sjoeke Nüsken and Esther Laborde Cabanillas each picked up a booking as the match tightened up towards the end.
The result leaves Chelsea Women progressing from the third qualifying round with a comfortable margin. Real Sociedad's recent form included a 2-0 win over Atlético Madrid and a 3-0 victory against Granada, but neither side could match the pace set here. Chelsea have now moved on, while Sociedad will need to regroup before the next stage.