Millie Bright had dismissed any suggestions that Chelsea were in crisis after a first league defeat in 34 games, and six goals in a comprehensive victory against Roma in their penultimate game of the Champions League group phase put those thoughts to bed.
An own goal broke the fight of Roma early on, with further goals by Wieke Kaptein, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Sjoeke Nüsken, Maika Hamano and Lucy Bronze.
Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat against Lyon and Bayern Munich’s 2-2 draw with Atlético Madrid meant the Blues moved into third and are one game away from automatic progression to the Champions League quarter-finals, with the top four skipping playoffs.
Chelsea were without the midfielder Erin Cuthbert and the centre-back Nathalie Björn for the visit of the Serie A side Roma. Making her first appearance since a frustrating 1-1 draw with Liverpool on 16 November, Bright returned to the starting XI for Sonia Bompastor’s side after two games sat on the bench. Bright was one of six changes to the Chelsea team that lost 1-0 against Everton on Sunday.
At Stamford Bridge Chelsea started brightly, their first effort coming in the second minute, when Niamh Charles found Sandy Baltimore in the box but the French forward curled her attempt just wide of the post.
Roma have had a disappointing Champions League campaign and are unable to progress beyond the league phase, but in this game they looked like they wanted to make a statement early on, with Giulia Dragoni and Rinsola Babajide effective on the right.
An effort from the captain, Manuela Giugliano, flew over the bar from distance in their best attempt of an open 10 minutes but their hard work was undone in the 13th minute, as Valentina Bergamaschi headed powerfully into her own net after Baltimore’s cross evaded Sam Kerr.
It was a hammer blow for the visiting team and momentum swung Chelsea’s way after the goal. It was two before the half-hour, Rytting Kaneryd headed the ball into the middle and Kerr stepped away to allow Kaptein to fire in.
It was a deserved lead and the Blues extended it shortly before the break, Olivie Lukasova saved from Kerr after Charles’s ball in but Rytting Kaneryd was at the far post to turn in.
Roma dropped two points on Saturday in Serie A before their trip to London, their lead over FC Como cut to four after a 1-1 draw with Juventus.
There was a triple change for Chelsea at half-time with the team firmly in the driving seat, and after the restart the Italian league leaders were in trouble again when the referee awarded a penalty after a lengthy video assistant referee check on Marta Pandini’s challenge on the substitute Nüsken as they vied for a high ball. Nüsken converted from the spot to put Chelsea four up.
Bompastor’s team were ruthless in their pursuit of more goals, the defeat against Everton perhaps lighting a fire in frustrated bellies after they handed Manchester City a six-point advantage at the top of the Women’s Super League table.
Ewa Pajor (pictured) was on target for Barcelona in a 3-1 home win over Benfica that all but guarantees their place in the Women's Champions League quarter-finals.
Pajor opened the scoring just before the half four – her 15th in 16 appearances in the tournament's group or league phase. According to Uefa, only Chelsea striker Kerr has more at this stage of the Champions League, with 16 goals.
Chandra Davidson equalized for Benfica just after half-time, but two goals in the space of four minutes effectively sealed the win for Barcelona. Christy Ucheibe turned Alexia Putellas' cross into her own net in the 54th minute, and Laia Aleixandri forced the ball home to make it 3-1.
There was still time for Barça to win a penalty, but Benfica keeper Lena Pauels saved well to deny Putellas. Victory means Barcelona top the league phase with one game to go, three points clear of Real Madrid in fifth and Juventus in sixth, with a vastly superior goal difference.
Twelve teams advance from the league phase, with the top four going straight to the quarter-finals and the other eight sides entering playoffs. Paris FC, who host Barça in their final game, boosted their hopes of a playoff place as a late Lorena Azzaro penalty at Vålerenga, who had Karina Saevik was sent off.
Bayern Munich sit fourth after battling to a 2-2 draw at Atlético Madrid. The hosts started well and took the lead through Vilde Bøe Risa's penalty, with Giulia Gwinn missing a spot kick for the visitors.
Pernille Harder levelled just after the hour and then volleyed Bayern in front with 12 minutes to go, but Fiamma's stunning late strike crashed in off the bar to earn Atlético a point and all but assure them of a playoff place. AP/Guardian sport
Lexi Potter went close to a goal in her third senior appearance for the Blues after coming on at half-time, the 19-year-old midfielder forced a fine save from Lukasova from the edge of the box.
The fifth arrived via Hamano, Guro Reiten’s run exposed the chaotic Roma backline and she collected Bright’s ball over the top before she prodded it back for the Japanese midfielder to send past Lukasova. The sixth came from the veteran defender Bronze, whose cross from the right swept in at the far post.
Job done, Chelsea took advantage of results elsewhere and gained control of their chance to secure a quarter-final berth. A trip to the two-time Champions League winners Wolfsburg in their final match of the league phase next Wednesday is the only thing standing between Bompastor’s side and an automatic place in the last eight.
