By TARA ANSON-WALSH, FOOTBALL REPORTER
Published: 17:08 EST, 10 December 2025 | Updated: 17:30 EST, 10 December 2025
Sonia Bompastor’s side bounced back from their weekend league defeat in style, cruising into the knockout stages of the Women’s Champions League with a game to spare.
Chelsea’s opener came courtesy of a Roma own goal, and from there the English champions eased into cruise control. Wieke Kaptein and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd added to the tally before Sjoeke Nusken converted from the penalty spot. Late goals from Maika Hamano and Lucy Bronze sealed th victory - and extinguished Roma’s European hopes for the season.
The result leaves Chelsea third in the table with a comfortable chance of securing a top-four finish in the final game – enough to book their place directly in the quarter-finals.
Daily Mail Sport’s women’s football reporter Tara Anson-Walsh was at Stamford Bridge to take in all the action…
The win leaves Chelsea third in the Champions League table with a comfortable chance of securing a top-four finish in the last game and to book their place directly in the quarter-finals
After suffering her first top-flight defeat as Chelsea manager – a shock loss to Everton at the weekend to end a 34-game unbeaten league run – this was the ideal evening for Bompastor
Just the tonic Bompastor ordered…
After suffering her first top-flight defeat as Chelsea manager – a shock loss to relegation-battling Everton that ended a 34-game unbeaten league run – Bompastor needed a stroke of fortune to calm any nerves ahead of another potentially banana-skin evening.
For the opening 20 minutes, Roma suggested they might trouble the hosts, but the circumstances of the opener quickly unravelled this suggestion.
Sandy Baltimore burst down the wing and curled a dangerous cross into the box. Roma right-back Valentina Bergamaschi, attempting to deal with the delivery, inadvertently powered a header past her own goalkeeper – a finish most strikers would have been proud of.
From there, any wind in the sails of the Serie A leaders was firmly popped, and Chelsea turned the screw.
This will be exactly the kind of result Bompastor needs to pause any talks of a mini crisis following two draws and defeat coming into this game – regardless of the quality of the opposition.
This will be exactly the kind of result Bompastor needs to pause any talks of a mini crisis following two draws and defeat coming into this game - regardless of the quality of opposition
Millie looking Brighter than ever
Millie Bright has long been a cornerstone of Chelsea’s success. The defensive rock at the heart of the Blues defence, a commanding presence and one of the dressing room’s most influential voices.
Before Wednesday night, however, Bright had been an unused substitute in consecutive matches for the first time under Bompastor – a sign of both the fierce competition within Chelsea’s squad and the manager’s increasing desire to look to the future.
Chelsea currently have four fit centre-backs competing for two positions, with the potential for that number to rise to seven once injured players return and with Lucy Bronze also having been deployed at centre-half under Bompastor. At 32, Bright now finds herself slipping down the pecking order.
Bright was outstanding against Roma. Defensively solid and communicating throughout with her centre-back partner 19-year-old Veerle Buurman.
While her return to the starting XI will do little to quell speculation about a changing of the guard, a positive display will have been what she hoped for – and it was certainly what she delivered.
While Bright's return to the starting XI will do little to quell speculation about a changing of the guard, a positive display will have been what she hoped for – and it was what she delivered
Keira Walsh shows her class
The first 20 minutes were uncharacteristically sloppy from England’s most reliable holding midfielder. Keira Walsh lost possession four times – once in a position that could have proved costly had Roma shown more quality in the final third.
Besides her undeniable quality on the ball, Walsh’s class lies in her level-headedness. Even when tightly man-marked, as she is almost every match, she rarely allows mistakes to dictate her emotions or performance.
Once Chelsea settled, so did she, dictating play with her usual authority. Her ball up the pitch which resulted in Chelsea’s second firmly applying the WD-40 to her opening rust.
Walsh’s class lies in her level-headedness - she rarely allows mistakes to affect her game
Sam Kerr searches for her shooting boots
Sam Kerr’s work rate remains unquestionable, but the Australian striker was left hunting for the clinical edge that has made her one of Europe’s most feared finisher.
While she contributed well to Chelsea’s build-up play, the decisive touch in front of goal seemed to elude her tonight.
In a rout such as this with five different goalscorers, it would not have escaped Kerr that her name should have been on the scoresheet following four shots and two on target. She was hooked in the 70th minute for Guro Reiten.