The key facts

  • Chelsea have 7 points after three matchdays and have caught up with Lyon and Arsenal on goal difference
  • Bayern came back from 0-2 against Real Madrid — 2-2; Lyon thrashed Inter 5-0, Arsenal beat Benfica 3-0
  • Alessia Russo became the top English scorer in European competitions — 23 goals

Chelsea go top of the group

Chelsea claimed their second win in the current Women's Champions League campaign, beating Roma 2-0 at Plough Lane, and after matchday three they have caught up with Lyon and Arsenal at the top of the table. AFP reported this.

How the match against Roma unfolded

The London side completely controlled the first half but went in without goals. The scoring opened in the 51st minute: Vicki Kaptein played a pass back to substitute Ellie Carpenter, who was making her 50th Champions League appearance, and she nudged the ball under goalkeeper Rachele Baldi. A minute before the end, Kadeisha Buchanan headed in Kaptein's cross to seal the final score. Melvine Malard also missed a chance, failing to convert a clear opportunity.

Coach's reaction

Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor said she was pleased with the quick goal after the break but lamented that the team did not settle the game earlier: 'In matches like this, if you don't kill the game, you leave the opponent with hope. It's important to be clinical and ruthless as early as possible.' She added that the team 'finds different ways to impose their game and score goals.'

The standings

After three matchdays Chelsea have seven points — the same as Lyon and Arsenal — but the Londoners trail them on goal difference. Defending champions Barcelona have six points from two wins and will return to the top of the table if they beat Denmark's Koge on Thursday. Notably, Chelsea, who reached the final in the 2020/21 season, began their campaign with a win and a draw, scoring only one goal in their first two matches.

Other matches of the round

Lyon, eight-time winners of the trophy, thrashed Milan's Inter 5-0 at home: Marie-Antoinette Katoto scored the first two goals, and substitute Vicky Becho completed a hat-trick. Arsenal beat Benfica 3-0 — Alessia Russo scored a hat-trick and, with 23 goals, became the highest-scoring English player in the history of European club competitions. 'I love playing in the Champions League and I love scoring goals,' AFP quoted Russo as saying.

Bayern come back, Servette thrash Leuven

In Munich, Bayern came back from 0-2 to draw 2-2 with Real Madrid. Before the match, a minute of silence was held at Sportpark Unterhaching in memory of those killed in the rail disaster near Madrid, which claimed at least 68 lives on Wednesday; Real players came out wearing black armbands. Athenea opened the scoring in the 7th minute, Lineth Beerensteyn — a former Bayern forward — doubled the lead, but Edna Imade reduced the deficit after half an hour, and Momoko Tanikawa equalized in the 52nd minute with a strike from the edge of the box. Swiss side Servette thrashed Belgium's Leuven 5-1 — Paola Hernandez and Gloria Marinelli each scored twice.