Chelsea Survives Real Sociedad Scare, Wins 5-2
Published August 26, 2026
Chelsea trailed inside the first 10 minutes and was tied 2-2 midway through the second half before a two-goal substitute debut from new signing Melvine Malard turned a genuine scare into a 5-2 rout of Real Sociedad in Wednesday’s Champions League qualifying first leg. Naomi Girma scored the equalizer that got Chelsea level, but the match played out as exactly the kind of tense, two-legged qualifying tie this site flagged as a real risk when the draw was made two weeks ago.
Key Takeaways
- Chelsea beat Real Sociedad 5-2 in the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League third qualifying round tie Wednesday, but trailed 1-0 early and was tied 2-2 in the second half before pulling away.
- Naomi Girma scored Chelsea’s equalizer, credited to her off a Katie McCabe corner in the 29th minute, her first goal contribution of this Champions League qualifying campaign.
- New signing Melvine Malard scored twice in a second-half substitute appearance on her competitive Chelsea debut, turning a tight match into a comfortable aggregate lead.
- Real Sociedad’s Ainhoa Marín opened the scoring in the seventh minute, and Cecilia Marcos leveled it at 2-2 in the 58th minute before Chelsea scored three times in the final half-hour.
- Chelsea takes a commanding 5-2 aggregate lead into the second leg in San Sebastián on Sept. 2, needing only to avoid a three-goal defeat to reach the league phase.
Chelsea Survives a Real Sociedad Scare, Wins 5-2
Real Sociedad announced itself immediately at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, with Ainhoa Marín opening the scoring in the seventh minute. Chelsea leveled it in the 29th minute when Naomi Girma turned home Katie McCabe’s corner, but the match stayed tense into the second half: Veerle Buurman put Chelsea ahead in the 54th minute, only for Cecilia Marcos to level it again four minutes later, 2-2.
That’s when Melvine Malard changed the match. The forward, signed from Manchester United in July, replaced Aggie Beever-Jones 10 minutes into the second half and scored twice in the span of 21 minutes — first rounding the goalkeeper in the 67th minute, then finishing a pinpoint Ellie Carpenter cross in the 88th. Lauren James added a fifth in between, tapping in after more build-up play from Carpenter, turning a nervy 2-2 match into a comfortable 5-2 win — and Malard’s competitive Chelsea debut into the best possible first impression.
Why It Matters
This is exactly the kind of tie this site flagged as a genuine risk when the Champions League qualifying draw paired Chelsea with Real Sociedad two weeks ago: a two-legged knockout Chelsea shouldn’t have needed to play at all in most recent seasons, made necessary only by the club’s third-place finish in a suddenly more competitive Women’s Super League. Real Sociedad didn’t just show up — they led twice and matched Chelsea’s intensity for long stretches, exactly the kind of result that would have created real late-tie tension had Chelsea not found an answer off the bench.
That answer arrived in the form of a brand-new signing. Malard’s two goals on her competitive debut did more than settle Wednesday’s match; they gave Chelsea real reason to believe this qualifying-round stumble is more about the WSL’s rising competitiveness than about any deeper decline in the club’s own quality.
What Does This Mean for the Second Leg?
Chelsea now carries a commanding 5-2 aggregate lead into next week’s return leg in San Sebastián, needing only to avoid a defeat by three or more goals to advance to the Champions League league phase. That’s about as safe a position as a two-legged tie can produce, but Real Sociedad’s first-leg performance — two goals, a share of the run of play for long stretches, and a real physical test of Chelsea’s back line — suggests the return leg won’t be a formality either.
For Naomi Girma and USWNT fans following her club form, Wednesday’s match was a useful reminder of her value beyond her primary defensive role: her goal came from exactly the kind of set-piece precision that made her a target for Chelsea’s world-record transfer in the first place.
What Comes Next
Chelsea travels to San Sebastián for the second leg on Sept. 2, with a place in the 18-team Champions League league phase all but secured barring a historic collapse. A win there sends the club into the league phase draw on Sept. 4, joining Barcelona, Manchester City, Arsenal and the rest of the automatic qualifiers. For Real Sociedad, Wednesday’s performance — competitive for long stretches against a significantly bigger-budget opponent — offers a real foundation even if the tie is now almost certainly out of reach.
Conclusion
Chelsea got the result it needed Wednesday, but not without a real fight from Real Sociedad and a real assist from a brand-new signing making her first appearance in Blue. The scoreline suggests comfort; the match itself suggested a club still finding its footing after slipping from automatic Champions League qualification for the first time in years. Naomi Girma and Chelsea head to Spain next week all but through — but Wednesday made clear it wasn’t a given.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the score of the Chelsea vs. Real Sociedad Champions League match?
Chelsea beat Real Sociedad 5-2 in the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League third qualifying round tie on Aug. 26, 2026, despite trailing early and being tied 2-2 in the second half.
Did Naomi Girma score for Chelsea?
Yes. Girma scored Chelsea’s equalizer in the 29th minute, turning home a Katie McCabe corner to make it 1-1 after Real Sociedad had taken an early lead.
Who is Melvine Malard?
Melvine Malard is a forward who joined Chelsea from Manchester United in July 2026. She scored twice as a second-half substitute on her competitive Chelsea debut against Real Sociedad, turning a tied match into a comfortable win.
Has Chelsea qualified for the Champions League league phase?
Not yet officially, but Chelsea’s 5-2 first-leg win gives the club a commanding aggregate lead heading into the Sept. 2 second leg in San Sebastián, needing only to avoid a three-goal defeat to advance.