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Our first email of the night comes from Kirk!
What does it say that Hampton starting ahead of Musovic. Is she the clear No 1? And how good is Chelsea that they have two world class goalkeepers and allowed a third one to NWSL last year. Phenomenal on management’s part to look for and acquire the best.
Hampton is certainly the clear No 1 from all the evidence we have seen this season. Hayes never seemed to fully trust Musovic (despite often giving her a run of games that few No 2 keepers would get) and it seems Bompastor feels the same.
You’re right in that it is a testament to management that they have held on to Musovic for this long especially after her standout performances for Sweden but I do think they recognise that she can be a bit shakier at times than Hampton.
She has publicly spoken before about wanting to be a No 1 keeper and Hampton is certainly one for the present and the future at only 24 years old so we could see a move for Musovic in the summer.
Real Madrid’s head coach, Alberto Toril, said that despite already securing a spot in the knockouts, the match against Chelsea is “the pinnacle”.
We know that we have fulfilled our mission, but we are excited to face a match of this stature, with very strong opponents who aspire to be European champions. This type of match requires a high level of focus. It’s the pinnacle.
We have to be very focused, do a good job defensively as a unit and, from there, we have enough quality to cause problems and create chances. We are going to go for the three points and try to finish top of the group.
Chelsea have a perfect record. They are a very physical team with experienced players. They will go into the game waiting to pounce on any mistakes and I think the key will be the rhythm. How accurately we play will also be important.
Quick diversion from European club football to European international football as the Women’s Euro 2025 finals draw took place yesterday.
Group A Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Finland
Group B Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy
Group C Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden
Group D France, England, Wales, Netherlands
Despite a tricky draw for England, Tom Garry expects the reigning champions to be among the teams expecting to progress. Read his full analysis and predictions below.
Team news
Real Madrid XI (4-3-3): Misa; García, Lakrar, Mendez, Carmona; Angeldahl, Toletti, Leupolz; Weir, Bruun, Caicedo.
Lakrar, a possible shout for Madrid’s signing of the season, returns into the starting lineup. The French defender has helped ensure her side have not conceded a goal in their last three games in Europe.
Subs: Chavas, Laia (GK), Oihane, Teresa, Antonia, Redondo, Møller, Camacho, Navarro, Feller, Athenea
Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Hampton; Bronze, Björn, Bright, Charles; Nüsken, Cuthbert; Kaptein, Reiten, Beever-Jones; Ramírez.
Two changes from the team that drew against Leicester with Charles and Beever-Jones replacing Hamano and Lawrence.
Subs: Musovic, Cox, Macario, Lawrence, Périsset, J. Bartel, Baltimore, Hamano, Jean-François, Brown
A look back to when these two sides met at Stamford Bridge in a thrilling 3-2 opening Champions League match this season.
It was Mayra Ramírez’s goal which ultimately won Chelsea the game and she has continued to be a difference-maker with five goals in all competitions, including this showstopper against Twente in the Blues’s last Champions League match.
Preamble
Both these sides have already booked their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals but the battle for Group B supremacy is still very much alive in the final matchday of the groups.
Chelsea head to the Spain capital with 15 points from five matches and only need a draw to retain their top spot. The hosts must win to leapfrog Sonia Bompastor’s side – a tough ask given Chelsea’s good form and the fact that Real Madrid have never beaten the Blues at home.
As always, if you have any thoughts, questions, predictions, complaints or jokes you would like to share, then send me an email.
