In this strange four-game run of fixtures between Manchester City and Chelsea, there were fears the former may fail to lay a glove on their opponents in any of the clashes.
After a narrow defeat in the League Cup final last weekend, City came into the first leg of this Champions League quarter-final without their top scorer Bunny Shaw as well as a host of other injuries.
But City’s interim boss Nick Cushing, who has only been in the job just over a week after replacing the sacked Gareth Taylor, played the perfect game against Chelsea’s previously unbeaten manager Sonia Bompastor.
Thanks to Vivianne Miedema’s two strikes, City go into next week’s second leg at Stamford Bridge in the driving seat. Few had seen this coming, least of all Bompastor.
Miedema, who has had her own injury struggles this season, started on the bench but came on at half-time. The game had been much like a chess match before her introduction. Miedema provided the spark that City and this match had been lacking. After scoring the first goal on the hour mark, she netted a crucial second in the 88th minute.
Chelsea, who had gone 28 games unbeaten before Wednesday night, are desperate to win their first European trophy this season.
For much of this season, it has looked as if this would be their best chance at doing so.
But they have it all to do in the second leg if they are to set up a likely semi-final with Barcelona, who won the first leg of their quarter-final with Wolfsburg 4-1.
Bompastor cut a frustrated figure on the touchline, clearly unimpressed with the sloppiness from her side. Catarina Macario was hauled off at half-time. Lauren James and Keira Walsh followed just two minutes before City opened the scoring on the hour mark.
City and Cushing deserve great credit for this performance. They were the better team from start to finish and limited Chelsea to half-chances. It has been in defence where City have had the majority of their struggles this season but 20-year-old Gracie Prior excelled alongside the more experienced Laia Aleixandri at centre-back.
Aleixandri also had a hand in City’s goal. The defender’s header was brilliantly tipped on to the crossbar by Hannah Hampton, with Miedema firing the loose ball into an empty net.
Chelsea did rally in the closing stages. Mayra Ramirez thought she had equalised when she sent a finish past Ayaka Yamshita, after being played through by Aggie Beever-Jones, but saw her goal correctly ruled out for offside. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd then hit the bar in the 80th minute. Yamashita then made an impressive save to deny Wieke Kaptein.
As Chelsea pushed forward, City picked them off on the break, with Kerolin teeing up Miedema, who sent a fine finish past Hampton from the edge of the box.
Perhaps both teams will be in two minds as to how to approach Sunday’s league clash. City, who are four points outside of the Champions League places, need the points more than Chelsea, who have an eight-point lead at the top of the table.
Both will arguably have one eye on next week’s second leg in west London. At the midway stage in this four-game run of fixtures, both teams have one win each. But at the halfway-point in this two-legged tie, it is advantage City.
Match details
Manchester City (4-3-3): Yamashita 7, Casparij 6, Prior 8, Aleixandri 7, Ouahabi 6, Hasegawa 7, Roord 6, Park 6 (Blindkilde Brown 75) Kerolin 8, Fowler 6 (Coombs 64, 6), Murphy 5 (Miedema HT, 8)
Subs: Keating, Startup, Wienroither, Layzell
Booked: Kerolin
Goals: Miedema 60, 88
Chelsea (4-3-3): Hampton 7, Bronze 5, Björn 5, Bright 6, Baltimore 6, Walsh 5 (Nusken 58, 5), Cuthbert 6, Macario 5 (Kaptein HT, 5), Beever-Jones 5, Ramirez 5 (Hamano 72), James 5 (Rytting Kaneryd 58, 5)
Subs: Spencer, Cox, Brown, Lawrence, Charles, Jean-Francois
Referee: Desiree Grundbacher
10:21 PM GMT
Lucy Bronze admits Chelsea’s shortcomings
Lucy Bronze said to TNT Sports: “I don’t think we were good enough, we didn’t have enough effort in our press. City were more organised.
“We were miles off our game, Sonia [Bompastor] said that at half-time. It improved a little bit in the second half but that’s when they got their goals.
“We’ve had a fantastic first half of the season and everyone ups their game when they play Chelsea now because they want to be the first team to beat us, and that’s happened today.
“Although we’re 2-0 down we’re completely confident we can turn this around.”
10:09 PM GMT
Miedema says victory was “special”
Vivianne Miedema told TNT Sports: “Really good. This should be our standard. We were really disappointed after the game on Saturday. We have had some special Champions League nights here and this one really sums it all up.
“I’m really happy that I came on. It’s not bad, we all want to play Champions League. Today is special and hopefully we can put in the same performance next week.”
On the confidence City can get from the win, she said: ““Massive. We have been getting a lot of knocks everywhere, we are missing a lot of players and I’m happy we got this result today. It gives us confidence.”
09:59 PM GMT
Who could have seen that coming?
Well, not sure many people saw this result coming. A fantastic performance from Manchester City. Vivianne Miedema changed the game but every player played their part.
A special mention has to go to 20-year-old Gracie Prior, who was outstanding at centre-back.
Much like Arsenal, who were beaten by Real Madrid last night, Chelsea have it all to do in the second leg.
Both teams will feel they can overturn those first leg results but it will be far from easy.
09:55 PM GMT
Full time: Two down, two to go
Nick Cushing just walked up to Sonia Bompastor after the final whistle and said “see you next time” - and they won’t have to wait long, they are halfway through the four successive matches and the next one will be the WSL clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, before they play again in the second leg...
09:52 PM GMT
Full time: Manchester City 2 Chelsea 0
Well that’s that, the end of Chelsea’s unbeaten season.
Sonia Bompastor’s side have been undone by two goals from Vivianne Miedema, and they cannot say it wasn’t deserved.
City had more shots, more chances and were definitely up for the match and will travel to London next week with a two-goal advantage.
09:49 PM GMT
90+2 mins: Manchester City 2 Chelsea 0
This is the first time under Sonia Bompastor that Chelsea have found themselves two goals behind.
Their 31-game unbeaten run since last May is on the brink of being broken.
09:48 PM GMT
90+1 mins: Manchester City 2 Chelsea 0
There will be five minutes of added time.
09:46 PM GMT
GOAL - 88 mins: Manchester City 2 Chelsea 0
Who else but Vivianne Miedema?!
She came on at half time and competely changes the game.
The ball is touched across to her by Kerolin, she lets the ball run across her body before firing into the bottom corner.
That was a moment of quality, and it separates the teams.
09:44 PM GMT
87 mins: Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
Hannah Hampton saves with her legs! It looked like Miedema was played clean through on goal, in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, the ball got stuck in her feet and she struggled to get the ball away.;
09:42 PM GMT
85 mins: Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
Chelsea are throwing everything at this, Kaptein tries to carve out some space, it’s straight at Yamashita but she can only parry.
Yet again Chelsea will lament the fact that they were not there to follow it up.
09:41 PM GMT
84 mins: Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
Another chance for Chelsea!
Baltimore flashes a cross straight across the face of goal, but there’s no one there to meet it!
Chelsea this time resort to a shot from distance from Beever-Jones, but it’s straight at Yamashita.
09:39 PM GMT
82 mins: Manchester City 1 Arsenal 0
Lucy Bronze tries to go it alone but is eventually stopped in the area, she was stopped a little bit clumsily.
There is a brief stoppage while Laia Aleixandri is down and receiving some treatment.
09:37 PM GMT
79 mins: Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
Chelsea have just started finding their momentum, the passes which have been intercepted far too easily in the game so far are just starting to find their intended targets and the movement as a whole looks better.
If this score does stay the same, will Chelsea have a go in this leg or put it all on the return to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea almost draw level! Rytting Kaneryd fires the ball towards the goal only to see it rebound back off the crossbar,
09:32 PM GMT
76 mins: Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
Another City change now, Jess park is replaced by Laura Blinkilde Brown.
09:31 PM GMT
74 mins: Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
This is the seventh time under Sonia Bompastor that Chelsea have gone behind, and they have come back to win all but two of those.
City cannot afford to switch off even for a moment, although they have been the better side so far in the match.
09:29 PM GMT
71 mins: Goal disallowed - Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
Mayra Ramirez thought she had equalised there but her goal is ruled out for offside. A warning sign for City that she only needs one chance
Although she will not get the chance as she leaves the field to be replaced by Hamano.
09:25 PM GMT
68 mins: Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
Lucy Bronze takes matters into her own hands trying to weave through the midfield, but as has happened so many times already this match, the pass is intercepted and will go out for a throw in.
09:21 PM GMT
64 mins: Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
Another City change, Mary Fowlers comes off for Laura Coombs.
09:21 PM GMT
63 mins: Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
City have their goal and you have to say it’s deserved. Initially it was a great save from Hannah Hampton to tip Aleixandri’s header on to the bar. But Miedema was in the right place to finish into an empty net. Could Chelsea be heading for their first defeat under Sonia Bompastor? They’ve not really been at the races tonight.
09:19 PM GMT
GOAL - 61 mins: Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
Vivianne Miedema has shown her quality and you cannot say that had not been coming.
It’s her second goal in two matches, and Chelsea were left scrambling.
The first effort hit the cross bar but Miedema pounced onto the rebound and fired the ball into the back of the net.
09:17 PM GMT
59 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
A double change from Chelsea, and off comes Keira Walsh for Sjoeke Nusken, with Lauren James also coming off for Rytting Kaneryd.
09:16 PM GMT
58 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
Finally the game has sparked into life a bit. That was a great run and cross from Kerolin that was begging to be headed in. The Brazilian then waves her arms at the City fans, calling for more noise. Nick Cushing does the same.
09:16 PM GMT
57 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
Another Chelsea corner with Sandy Baltimore standing over it, it’s launched goalwards but straight into the hands of Yamashita.
09:14 PM GMT
55 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
There has been quite a bit of sloppiness from both sides.
Jill Roord has a shot from the edge of the box, but it’s deflected into the hands of Hannah Hampston.
In the midfield both sides are having passes cut out and the game has become slightly disjointed as a result.
09:10 PM GMT
52 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
City have another chance to break after Lauren James’ free kick is easily dealt with, but Millie Bright makes a key block and the standstill continues.
09:08 PM GMT
50 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
City almost create a chance, Miedema is involved straight away driving forwards but eh ball to her was not perfect and she had to pull it back rather than go alone, leading to another shot from distance that was off target.
City have had a lot of chances from outside the area, and none of them have looked likely to forging a breakthrough.
09:06 PM GMT
49 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
Lucy Bronze wins a free kick in a dangerous position, offering Chelsea the first chance of the second half to go on the attack.
The initial ball comes out to Lauren James who strikes it so cleanly towards the goal but Yamashita was able to make the save.
09:03 PM GMT
Half time changes - 46 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
Vivianne Miedema has come on for Manchester City to replace Lily Murphy, while Sonia Bompastor has swapped Macario for Wieke Kaptein.
08:57 PM GMT
Half time: When will Chelsea turn to their bench?
A pretty close half with few clear cut chances. City have fired a few shots at Hannah Hampton, but the Chelsea goalkeeper has only had routine saves to make. Chelsea have not really tested Ayaka Yamshita but have looked dangerous on the break. Gracie Prior and Laia Aleixandri are so far doing a decent job of keeping Mayra Ramirez quiet.
Imagine Chelsea may turn to their bench for an injection of life. They certainly have more options to change the game than City do. You wonder whether Sonia Bompastor would take a draw here, with the aim of beating City in the return leg at Stamford Bridge next week.
08:48 PM GMT
Half time: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
The whistle blows with no added time, and the players head back down the tunnel.
There has not been a lot of quality, or really a sign of anything to separate the teams so far, one quarter of the way into this Champions League leg.
Chelsea have had more of the ball but only two shots, whereas City have had six attempts, of which three were on target.
08:44 PM GMT
43 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
Casparij launches the ball forwards, but again it turns to nothing. City have only just had their first touch inside the Chelsea box, so far this is not turning into a classic.
08:41 PM GMT
39 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
There is still nothing to separate the teams, but with passes being cut out or overhit, there is not a huge amount of quality being shown at the moment either.
Chelsea are forced backwards and will have to build out from the back but they haven’t looked great at doing so in the game so far.
08:37 PM GMT
36 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
Mayra Ramirez breaks and runs through the City defence like they weren’t even there, she pulls it back, too far ahead of Lauren James and Sandy Baltimore who was arriving cannot control it.
That was a dangerous move from Chelsea, maybe catching City slightly unawares.
08:35 PM GMT
34 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
Chelsea have a free kick and it’s been given away cheaply, Baltimore takes but City are strong in their defence and ultimately miss out on a chance to break after winning back the ball.
08:32 PM GMT
“It’s not been a classic” - 31 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
Are we all still awake? Not been a classic European tie so far. Chelsea just starting to have a bit of joy in behind. Some ironic chants of “City reject” for Keira Walsh, who left City for Barcelona in 2022.
08:31 PM GMT
30 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
Hampton makes another save! Mary Fowler’s shot from distance was dipping, but again the Chelsea goalkeeper was equal to it as she has been all match so far.
Another routine save.
08:29 PM GMT
28 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
Mary Fowler wins the ball back off Millie Bright in a dangerous position, but her attempt to try and play in her teammate is too long and goes out for a goal kick.
I think that sums up City’s opening half hour to be honest, not quite enough quality to really threaten, but they have looked the better city.
Casparij has a cross into the box and she was looking for Fowler, but the ball goes over everyone.
08:26 PM GMT
25 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
Nathalie Bjorn had a looping header easily collected by the goalkeeper, but now it’s City’s turn to attack, but the ball through isn’t quite there for Kerolin who tries to battle Millie Bright for the ball but commits a foul.
08:23 PM GMT
22 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
What did I just say about Chelsea? Well they have had their first real break, it might have been offside, but Aggie Beever-Jones was causing problems running at the City defencec.
08:22 PM GMT
21 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
Just two shots in the match in the first 20 minutes, and both of those have been by City.
Chelsea have enjoyed a fair amount of the ball, but not in promising positions and they have struggled to even get into the final third.
08:20 PM GMT
18 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
Both sides have just been growing into this game a bit and feeling each other out, although Chelsea have not had any clear chances so far, they are doing their best to keep the ball and stop City launching another attack.
A long ball is played up towards Mayra Ramirez, but it’s overhit and trickles through to Yamashita.
08:16 PM GMT
15 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
There is a brief stoppage while Aggie Beever-Jones puts her boots back on, but everyone is now back up and running.
08:14 PM GMT
13 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
Chelsea go on the attack for one of the first times in the match and Macario is proving difficult to stop.
They eventually win a corner, and this just shows how you can never count out this side.
Chelsea go short with the corner and it leads to another.
08:11 PM GMT
9 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
Jill Roord has another chance! She drives the ball goalwards from distance and Hannah Hampton has to make another save, it was a comfortable one.
City have certainly had the best of the opening 10 minutes so far.
08:09 PM GMT
7 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
Kerolin has been in the action from the start in the game so far, and she is involved in a tussle that will be one to keep an eye on with Sandy Baltimore.
The City player wins the free kick.
08:06 PM GMT
5 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
City carve out another chance! Hannah Hampton has to make the save to deny Jill Roord after she was played in.
The flag goes up for offside but it was a strong early sign of intent from the home side.
08:03 PM GMT
2 mins: Manchester City 0 Chelsea 0
Kerolin is in the action early. One of the three changes made ahead of the match from the last meeting between the two sides, and she has an early chance but it is well wide of the target.
08:01 PM GMT
1 minute: Man City 0 Chelsea 0
A quick reminder that there is no goal-line technology because the home club chose not to install it, and it is City and Jess Park who get the game underway after the players take the knee.
07:58 PM GMT
DJ and drums provide the atmosphere
As is always the case at Man City, the DJ is very loud… and I’ve got the short straw of being sat at the end of the press box where the City fan with a drum sits. Could be a long game …
07:52 PM GMT
Kick off imminent
The players will be starting to line up in the tunnel and getting ready to make their way out onto the field for this Champions League clash.
Sarah Storey has been in the DJ booth constructed at the Manchester City Academy stadium.
07:51 PM GMT
Nick Cushing explains City’s changes
When asked about his changed line up from the weeking, Nick Cushing told UEFA.com: “There’s a rotation forced by injuries but also the opportunity to get some fresh legs in. There won’t be much difference on the pitch in how we go about things because we believe in our idea, so it’s an opportunity for some players to come in and stake their claim for a place in the team.”
07:39 PM GMT
Arsenal face deficit after first leg in Madrid
The other English club in the competition, Arsenal came away from Real Madrid lamenting the pitch and with a two-goal deficit to take back to the Emirates.
Ian Wright perfectly summed up Arsenal’s night in Madrid.
While Renée Slegers’ side suffered a damaging defeat in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, with goals from Linda Caicedo and Athenea del Castillo giving Real Madrid a 2-0 victory, the biggest talking point was not the game, but the state of the pitch.
At half-time, an angry Wright posted a video on Instagram sharing his thoughts on the abysmal playing surface at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium.
“Watching the Champions League quarter-final Real Madrid pitch, this is worse than Derby’s pitch the other day,” Wright said.
“This is a f------ disgrace the pitches these girls have to play on.”
To read the full report of that match, click here.
07:29 PM GMT
Lucy Bronze reveals Autism diagnosis
Earlier today, Chelsea and England right back Lucy Bronze opened up on her autism diagnosis.
Speaking to the BBC before Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Bronze said she was diagnosed with autism and ADHD while on an England camp in 2021. The defender, who said the news did not come as a surprise, insisted having autism has helped her in football and described it as her “superpower.”
“Everyone always says, ‘oh you’re so passionate about football,’” Bronze said.
“I don’t know if I’d say I was passionate. I’m just obsessed, that’s my autism. It’s my hyper-focus.”
07:22 PM GMT
Chelsea vs Man City - League Cup final recap
Chelsea’s first trophy under Sonia Bompastor should have been won on a pitch better than this.
Derby County’s Pride Park was the venue for the Women’s League Cup final, where Chelsea beat Manchester City thanks to an own goal from Yui Hasegawa. But that victory was in part overshadowed by a pitch that was described as unbefitting for a final.
“It’s a bit of a shame to have this pitch for the final, especially when you expect in England to have the best pitches in the world,” Bompastor said.
“I’m not sure if it was a men’s game, a men’s final, that it would be the same. We need to make sure we have the best facilities and the best grass to play the games.”
BBC pundit Fara Williams described the pitch as “ugly” while co-commentator Rachel Brown-Finnis said it was “substandard”.
To read the full report from the match at Pride Park, click here.
07:19 PM GMT
Millie Bright talks of importance of intensity
Millie Bright, who lifted the trophy on Saturday, spoke to UEFA.com ahead of the match on the most important factors to getting the right result for Chelsea: “First and foremost, making sure we’re at the right intensity. We know they’re a top team with lots of different threats, so defensively we need to be on it. I think they’ll be looking to respond after the last game. We know what it’s like as a team to want to come back and pose more threats.”
07:07 PM GMT
No Vivianne Miedema the main talking point for Man City
The big talking points from the two sets of team news is Vivianne Miedema starting on the bench for Manchester City and Keira Walsh returning for Chelsea.
Miedema of course has had her fair share of injuries in the last two years and is probably still being managed. Nick Cushing also perhaps thinking that Miedema can also offer something from the bench, which is very threadbare given their injuries.
Walsh makes her first Champions League appearance for Chelsea since joining from Barcelona in January.
06:54 PM GMT
Manchester City team news
Manchester City interim head coach Nick Cushing makes three changes from his side that played against Chelsea on Saturday.
Kerolin and Lily Murphy come in for Fujino and Bunny Shaw, with Park preferred to Miedema in midfield.
Man City XI: Yamashita; Casparij, Prior, Aleixandri, Ouahabi; Hasegawa, Roord, Park; Kerolin, Fowler, Murphy.
Subs: Keating, Startup, Layzell, Miedema, Coombs, Wienroither, Blindkilde Brown.
Your City XI to face Chelsea ????
XI | Yamashita, Casparij, Prior, Aleixandri (C), Ouahabi, Hasegawa, Roord, Park, Kerolin, Murphy, Fowler
SUBS | Keating, Startup, Layzell, Miedema, Coombs, Wienroither, Blindkilde Brown #ManCity | #UWCL pic.twitter.com/Tmm46y9Lw5
— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) March 19, 2025
06:53 PM GMT
Chelsea team news
Chelsea have named their side for the first leg of these Women’s Champions League quarter-finals, with Sonia Bompastor making two changes from the match on Saturday.
Aggie Beever-Jones and Kiera Walsh come in for Rytting Kaneryd and Nusken.
Chelsea XI: Hampton; Bronze, Björn, Bright, Baltimore; Walsh, Cuthbert, Macario; Beever-Jones, Ramirez, James.
Subs: Spencer, Cox, Nusken, Lawrence, Kaptein, Rytting Kaneryd, Charles, Hamano, Jean-Francois, Brown.
06:40 PM GMT
Manchester City take on Chelsea in round two of four
Good evening and welcome to The Telegraph’s live coverage of Manchester City vs Chelsea, yes again.
The two sides played each other on Saturday in the Women’s League Cup final at Pride Park, with Chelsea maintaining their unbeaten season and clinching the first trophy of the campaign.
Now the teams will meet in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, play each other in the Women’s Super League at the weekend, and then again in the European competition. By that point they will know every part of each other’s game.
Chelsea have won the first, but these matches are equally as important, and City could still be the first team to beat Sonia Bompastor’s side.
