The Chelsea captain, Millie Bright, had dismissed any suggestions that the team 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 from Wieke Kaptein, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Sjoeke Nüsken, Maika Hamano and Lucy Bronze.
Meanwhile Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat by Lyon and Bayern Munich’s 2-2 draw with Atlético Madrid moved the Blues into third and one game away from automatic progression to the Champions League quarter-finals, with the top four skipping playoffs.
Bright, who was named player of the match, said her side’s position is “massive”, telling Disney+: “It’s so competitive. You can see from the league standings that the points are so close, so you’ve got to take every opportunity that you get.”
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 team after two games sat on the bench. Bright was one of six changes to the Chelsea side defeated 1-0 by Everton on Sunday.
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
“I want to be on the pitch, I want to be playing, but it’s more important we came out with the right attitude, right mentality. Getting a clean sheet is what we want,” Bright said.
Bompastor said: “I really liked her performance and I’m pleased for Millie. It’s never an easy position to be put in by the decisions I’ve made … the perfect answer you can give to a manager is the performance tonight on the pitch.”
Chelsea started brightly at Stamford Bridge and Roma, despite a disappointing Champions League campaign which means they are unable to progress beyond the league phase, looked like they wanted to make a statement early on, with Giulia Dragoni and Rinsola Babajide effective on the right.
An shot from the captain, Manuela Giugliano, flew over the bar from distance in their best effort 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 Sandy Baltimore’s cross evaded Sam Kerr. It was a hammer blow for the visiting team and momentum swung Chelsea’s way. 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 Niamh Charles’s ball in but Rytting Kaneryd was at the far post to turn in.
There was a triple change for Chelsea at half-time with the team firmly in the driving seat and after the restart the Serie A leaders were in trouble again when the referee awarded a penalty after a lengthy video assistant referee check on Marta Pandini’s challenge on Nüsken – who was on as a substitute – as they vied for a high ball. Nüsken converted from the spot to put Chelsea four up.
Bompastor’s side were ruthless in their pursuit of more goals, the defeat by 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.
“It’s probably about players’ confidence and the quality of the team we are facing,” the manager said when asked why the goals came so comprehensively against Roma but not against Everton or in their preceding 1-1 draw with Liverpool.
The home team’s fifth arrived via Maika Hamano, Guro Reiten’s run exposing the chaotic Roma backline. She collected Bright’s ball over the top before prodding it to the Japanese midfielder to send past Lukasova. The sixth came from the veteran defender Lucy Bronze.
Job done, a trip to the two‑time Champions League winners Wolfsburg in Chelsea’s final match of the group phase next Wednesday is the only thing standing between Bompastor’s side and an automatic place in the last eight.
