Chelsea 5-2 Real Sociedad: Melvine Malard double helps move Blues to brink of Women's Champions League league phase
Report as Melvine Malard scores twice in Chelsea's 5-2 win over Real Sociedad in first leg of Women's Champions League third qualifying round; Naomi Girma, Veerle Buurman and Lauren James also on target
Wednesday 26 August 2026 22:04, UK
Melvine Malard scored twice on her competitive Chelsea debut as they hit back to beat Real Sociedad 5-2 in the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round.
Ainhoa Marin opened the scoring for the visitors in the seventh minute before a goal ultimately credited to Naomi Girma from Katie McCabe's corner drew the sides level.
It was 2-2 after Veerle Buurman and Cecilia Marcos both scored in the span of four second-half minutes, then Malard, who joined the Blues from Manchester United in July, fired Chelsea back in front in the 67th minute.
Lauren James extended their lead seven minutes later and Malard added her second with two minutes remaining.
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Assistant coach Camille Abily took charge of Chelsea in the absence of Sonia Bompastor, who was serving a suspension held over from last season.
The visitors took the lead when Marin curled a spectacular shot from range over Hannah Hampton, and Sandy Baltimore nearly drew the sides level but caught the underside of the crossbar.
Chelsea were finally back on level terms in the 29th minute. It looked as though McCabe might have scored it herself but the goal was given to Girma, who it was determined had glanced it on.
Buurman directed James' corner past Julia Arrula nine minutes after the restart but Chelsea's advantage proved short-lived after Marcos equalised, giving Hampton no chance when she fired into the far corner.
Malard made it 3-2 when she rounded the keeper and slotted home seven minutes after the hour before James added a 74th-minute cushion, tapping home after some great build-up play by Ellie Carpenter.
Substitute Malard, who replaced Beever-Jones 10 minutes into the second half, then latched onto a pinpoint Carpenter cross to ensure Chelsea will travel to Spain with a healthy aggregate advantage.
