Malard's Dream Debut Leads Chelsea to Champions League Advantage
Melvine Malard needed 12 minutes to turn a tight European tie into her own personal showcase – and Chelsea’s first statement of the season.
Signed from Manchester United for about £850,000 in the summer, the France forward came off the bench with the score locked at 2-2 and Real Sociedad threatening to spoil Sonia Bompastor’s first competitive game in charge. By full-time at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, Malard had two goals, Chelsea had a 5-2 first-leg lead, and the Champions League group stage was suddenly within touching distance.
Shock start, steady response
Chelsea’s new era began with a jolt. Just seven minutes into the third qualifying round first leg, Ainhoa Marin stepped inside on the edge of the box and whipped a superb strike into the top corner, silencing the home crowd and putting the Spanish side 1-0 up.
The Blues needed a foothold. It came on the half-hour, and from a familiar weapon. Captain Naomi Girma rose to meet a corner from summer signing Katie McCabe, glancing her header home to level the tie and settle the early nerves.
Set pieces kept Chelsea in control. Early in the second half, another corner brought another breakthrough. This time Lauren James swung the ball in and Dutch defender Veerle Buurman attacked it, powering her header past Julia Arrula to flip the scoreline and give the hosts a 2-1 lead.
Sociedad refused to fold. Cecilia Marcos found the equaliser, punishing Chelsea to drag the game back to 2-2 and briefly tilt the night back towards the visitors.
That was the cue for Bompastor to turn to her new No 9.
Malard takes over
Introduced in the 55th minute, Malard immediately stretched the game. The decisive moment came after just 12 minutes on the pitch. Sjoeke Nusken threaded a pass in behind, Malard raced clear, rounded Arrula with composure and rolled the ball into an empty net. A tight contest suddenly belonged to Chelsea again.
The pressure finally told on a tiring Sociedad back line. James added another for the hosts to open up daylight, and Chelsea began to play with the authority of a side used to deep European runs.
Malard, though, was not finished. With two minutes of normal time remaining, full-back Ellie Carpenter drove down the flank and drilled a low cross into the six-yard box. Malard timed her run, met it first time and tapped in her second of the night to cap a ruthless cameo and seal a 5-2 advantage.
From 2-2 and anxious, to 5-2 and almost cruising. Chelsea’s new striker had changed the entire mood of the tie.
Big lead, bigger tests ahead
The second leg in Spain on Wednesday, 2 September (18:00 BST) now offers Chelsea a strong platform to secure their place in the Champions League league phase, three days before they launch their Women’s Super League campaign against Aston Villa.
This season brings a new rhythm off the pitch as well. Chelsea will stage their home domestic cup and European league-phase fixtures at Wimbledon’s Cherry Red Records Stadium, while all WSL home matches move to Stamford Bridge.
One emphatic win, a debut double, and a new home for the league season. If this is the start of Chelsea’s next chapter, how far can Bompastor’s side push it in Europe?
