Malard brace fires Chelsea to 5-2 win over Real Sociedad in WCL qualifier first leg

Chelsea recovered from an early deficit to beat Real Sociedad 5-2 at the Cherry Red Records Stadium in the first leg of the Women’s Champions League third qualifying round on 26 August 2026, with debutant Melvine Malard scoring twice.

The match came amid summer change for Chelsea, who have moved their cup fixtures from Kingsmeadow to the larger AFC Wimbledon ground and undergone a squad overhaul that has prompted questions about their style of play this season; manager Sonia Bompastor was absent after serving a one-match ban following her red card in Chelsea’s quarter-final second leg against Arsenal last season.

Real Sociedad, the side that finished third in Liga F last season, opened the scoring in the seventh minute when a corner was cleared to the edge of the box and Ainhoa Marín met it unmarked, sending a looping drive into the far post; the visitors had shown sharpness and defensive organisation, arriving in London on the back of a 1-1 pre-season draw with Lyon and a penalty shootout win over Eibar 10 days earlier.

Chelsea levelled in the 29th minute when Naomi Girma diverted Katie McCabe’s corner into the net; the hosts then threatened again when Aggie Beever-Jones struck an effort wide as the first half finished even.

The second half saw Chelsea press higher and fashion chances, but it was another set piece that put them ahead when Veerle Buurman rose to head in Lauren James’ corner in the 54th minute; Real Sociedad replied in the 59th when Cecilia Marcos capitalised on a loose ball following Buurman’s sliding tackle to fire past Hannah Hampton, prompting an emotional reaction from the visiting bench after Marcos, who had suffered back-to-back anterior cruciate ligament injuries in 2021 and 2023 and only fully rediscovered her form last season, celebrated with her teammates.

Chelsea’s substitutes and physical presence proved decisive: Malard, on her Chelsea debut, took 12 minutes to make an impact, collecting Sjoeke Nüsken’s poked through-ball, sitting down a defender and waiting for the goalkeeper to commit before rolling the ball into the empty net in the 67th minute; Lauren James then turned in Ellie Carpenter’s delivery from close range in the 74th minute and Carpenter supplied the assist for Malard’s second as the match approached its end.

The 5-2 scoreline gives Chelsea a three-goal cushion ahead of next week’s return leg.