Chelsea got their first win of the Champions League campaign as they fired four past Paris FC in a dominant Stamford Bridge display.
Chelsea hosted Paris FC at Stamford Bridge as both teams searched for their first wins of the 2025/26 UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign.
The home side came into the fixture on the back of a 1-1 draw away to FC Twente, whilst the visitors last result saw them get a hard fought 2-2 with Belgian side OH Leuven. Still in search for an elusive first European title, Sonia Bompastor put out a strong starting XI to face the Parisians, aiming to bounce back from only scoring three goals in their last three times out.
Hannah Hampton returned in goal after a rest in last week’s UWCL fixture, supported by a backline of captain Millie Bright. The midfield remained unchanged from the recent WSL clash with Tottenham Hotspur, and Aggie Beever-Jones led the line.
Paris FC, managed by Sandrine Soubeyrand, turned up with over a week’s rest under their belts, their last outing being the tie with OH Leuven. They currently sit third in the Premiere Ligue, level on points with their neighbours PSG, and behind Bompastor’s former side, Lyon.
The two managers have a history, they played together for the French national team for almost 15 years and coached opposite each other in the Premiere Ligue before reuniting in this Champions League clash.
A first half saw a penalty given after a soft challenge on Sjoeke Nusken. Sandy Baltimore converted from the spot and put the Blues 1-0 up before they doubled their lead through Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s 39th minute header.
Chelsea were hungry for more in the second half, and found joy almost straight away, when Alyssa Thompson opened her UEFA Women’s Champions League account and made it 3-0. Sam Kerr’s hit a bouncing header shortly after her introduction, but Erin Cuthbert got a touch, getting her name on the scoresheet for Chelsea’s fourth.
It was a quiet night for Hannah Hampton as the Parisians were unable to respond despite substitutions. Their search for a win in this competition continues.
The Lineups
CHE: Hampton; Nusken, Bright, Bjorn, Baltimore; Kaptein, Cuthbert, Walsh; Kaneryd, Thompson, Beever-Jones
PAR: Chavas; Hocine, Davis, Greboval, Bogaert; Korosec, Picard, Garbino; Corboz, Moguedec, Mateo
The Action
A small but loud crowd of Chelsea fans were the backdrop as their side kicked off the game, and they kicked it off on the front foot.
Coming forward quickly, the home side registered a shot on target within the opening two minutes through a Weike Kaptein header, claimed by Paris FC goalkeeper Mylène Chavas.
Moments later, Sjoeke Nusken took a shot from the edge of the box. A powerful strike which was sent just wide, but another warning sign of Chelsea’s intentions.
Some clever play around the edge of the box and some fancy footwork from Keira Walsh saw midfielder Erin Cuthbert get another shot for her side, forcing Chavas into action.
Chelsea kept knocking on the door, Cuthbert had another go, and Aggie Beever-Jones, who was on the prowl all game, missed a chance as well.
The Parisians struggled with Chelsea’s attacking prowess and used a low-block technique to stop the waves. This, alongside a good goalkeeping performance from Chavas kept the Blues at bay for the opening half an hour. However, a very soft challenge by Anaele Le Moguedec in the box, in which her hand touched the shoulder of Nusken, hailed penalty shouts from the Chelsea fans.
After a check of the VAR monitor, the referee awarded a penalty to the WSL champions – perhaps one of the more generous decisions this competition will see.
Sandy Baltimore stood over it, and did not upset her stalwart penalty record, sending the ball right, and the goalkeeper left. 1-0 to Chelsea. A deserved lead, but perhaps not a deserved penalty.
Paris FC tried to respond and went forward through captain Clara Mateo, who won a corner. But the visitors couldn’t find any joy, and instead Chelsea started a pacy counterattack down the right wing through Alyssa Thompson. Chavas’ strong goalkeeping display continued when she claimed a dangerous Baltimore corner delivery, but her joy was undone moments later.
A dream link up between the Blues’ two wing players, saw Thompson put a brilliant cross in from the byline, which found Johanna Rytting Kaneryd. The Swedish winger produced a well-weighted looping header which went over Chavas’ head and into the back of the net. 2-0 to Chelsea.
These two linked up well for their whole run out displaying good communication, switching sides when needed or making good runs for each other. A performance straight off the pitches at Cobham.
Paris FC were lucky to not concede before the end of the half. Cuthbert’s corner delivery bounced off the bar and down, but away from the goal. A lucky escape for the visitors.
The second half begun even quicker than the first. The 46th minute saw Keira Walsh’s ball across the face of goal bounce past Beever-Jones, to find the foot of Thompson, who opened her UWCL scoring account. 3-0 to Chelsea.
With a new taste for Champions League goals, the young American was hungry for a second but sent her shot wide.
Bompastor made her first subs of the evening in the 55th minute, subbing off two of her goalscorers, Rytting Kaneryd and Thompson, alongside Beever-Jones.
Their replacements came in the form of Guro Reiten, Maika Hamano, and making her Stamford Bridge return, Sam Kerr. Minutes later, Lucy Bronze joined the action, replacing Kaptein. All four subs a stark reminder of the sheer depth sitting on Chelsea’s bench.
Paris FC struggled to find any sort of response; their attacks always overturned by the Blue’s solid backline. They had a moment of promise when a weak strike found Hannah Hampton sleeping, but the England hero switched on and stopped it in its tracks.
Baltimore had an epic attempt, with a half-volley strike from the edge of the box, but she sent it over the bar, failing to double her evening’s total.
It was joy for Chelsea in the 62nd minute as they went 4-0 up through Cuthbert. However it was Kerr’s bouncing header that made the difference, with only a light tap from Cuthbert to see her name on the scoresheet.
No matter who made the final touch, it was a messy display from Paris FC’s defence, as they fumbled the ball at the byline to strengthen Chelsea’s lead.
Kerr continued hunting for her first UWCL goal back from injury, and almost got it when. Bronze put a powerful cross into the box. However, her strike soared over the bar.
Young star Lexi Potter made her European debut, coming on for Baltimore, and putting in a solid performance to close the game.
Neither team were able to find the net in the remaining 18 minutes, both defences marshalled any attempts, more of them going Chelsea’s way.
The game finished 4-0 to Chelsea, giving them their first UWCL win of this campaign, and will look to put on another dominant display when they face St Polten on the next matchday.
Paris FC will continue their search for a win in the competition as they go away to Real Madrid next time out.
