A New Era Begins: Chelsea Women Take on Real Sociedad in UWCL Qualifiers
The excitement is palpable at Plough Lane as Chelsea Women kick off their 2026/27 campaign. In a high-stakes encounter, head coach Sonia Bompastor has officially announced her first starting XI for the first leg of the Women’s Champions League (UWCL) third qualifying round against Spanish side Real Sociedad.
The Road to the League Phase
Following a third-place finish in the Women’s Super League last season, the Blues find themselves in a decisive qualifying battle. This two-legged tie will determine whether Chelsea secures their spot in the prestigious league phase of this season’s competition. While the first leg takes place on home soil, the return fixture is already set for September 2nd at the Estadio Zubieta in San Sebastian.
Tactical Moves: Debutants and Captaincy
Bompastor is wasting no time in integrating new talent. Summer signing Katie McCabe earns an immediate start, signaling her importance to the team’s tactical setup. In a significant leadership move, defender Naomi Girma has been named captain for the evening, tasked with anchoring the defense against the Spanish challengers.
While the squad is looking strong, there is some disappointing news regarding Manaka Matsukubo, who will miss the clash due to injury, as confirmed by the head coach during the pre-match press conference.
Official Lineups: Chelsea vs Sociedad
Starting XI
- Goalkeeper: Hampton
- Defense: Carpenter, Girma (c), Buurman
- Midfield: McCabe, Walsh, Nusken, Thompson
- Attack: James, Baltimore, Beever-Jones
Substitutes Bench
The Blues have a deep bench to draw from, featuring a mix of experience and new arrivals:
- Peng, Spencer, Bjorn, Bronze, Dragoni, Hamano, Potter, Las, Kaptein, Malard, Sarwie
With a blend of seasoned stars and fresh signings, Chelsea looks ready to assert their dominance and pave their way back into the heart of European football. Stay tuned for the match results and the second-leg preview!
