Chelsea scoring five goals in their first competitive game of 2026/27 offered an encouraging glimpse of what Sonia Bompastor’s rebuilt side could become.
Melvine Malard scored twice on debut. Katie McCabe immediately contributed an assist. Veerle Buurman found the net and Lauren James looked dangerous as Real Sociedad eventually succumbed to a 5-2 defeat.
Yet Chelsea’s biggest challenge this season goes far beyond navigating next week’s Champions League return leg.
Bompastor is attempting to construct the next version of a team which had become accustomed to dominating English football.
After finishing third in the Women’s Super League last season, Chelsea can no longer assume their old position at the summit remains waiting for them.
Thank you for the support, Blues. 💙#UWCL pic.twitter.com/VqJoozy2OI
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) August 26, 2026
Chelsea’s 5-2 win offered encouraging signs
The scoreline against Real Sociedad was emphatic.
The route there was less comfortable.
Chelsea fell behind after seven minutes, went into half-time at 1-1 and were pegged back to 2-2 shortly after Buurman had given them the lead.
Only then did the game break open.
ReadChelsea’s match report from the 5-2 victory details how Malard’s introduction changed the contest before James and the new No.9 created a three-goal cushion.
That response was impressive.
It also provided early evidence of one of Bompastor’s biggest assets this season: different players capable of changing matches.
Malard needed only 33 minutes to score twice.
ReadChelsea looked at how Chelsea’s £850,000 summer signing made an immediate statement after Aggie Beever-Jones had initially been selected through the middle.
Competition for places already looks fierce.
Chelsea will need it.
Bompastor is rebuilding after major Chelsea change
Last season broke an extraordinary sequence of domestic dominance.
Chelsea finished third in the WSL and their only major trophy came in the League Cup.
The squad Bompastor takes into this season is also substantially different.
The Guardian’s 2026/27 Chelsea season preview describes the club as being in a significant period of transition following several major departures.
Millie Bright has retired, while Sam Kerr and Catarina Macario are among the established attacking names no longer at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have responded aggressively.
McCabe brings proven WSL quality and experience.
Malard has arrived from Manchester United.
Giulia Dragoni, Nelly Las and other younger additions give Bompastor options which could develop over several seasons rather than merely solve problems immediately.
The challenge is making all those pieces work quickly enough to challenge Manchester City and Arsenal now.
Chelsea’s attack has to evolve
Wednesday provided an encouraging answer to one of the more uncomfortable questions surrounding Chelsea.
Where do enough goals come from?
Chelsea’s attacking output has declined over recent seasons, something highlighted in The Guardian’s assessment of Bompastor’s squad.
The old solution of relying on established stars cannot simply be recreated.
Malard’s arrival is part of the answer.
So is Beever-Jones taking another step.
James remaining fit could transform Chelsea’s attacking ceiling.
Alyssa Thompson and Sandy Baltimore provide further routes to goal, while Mayra Ramirez still has to work her way back after missing last season.
Chelsea were also without Ramirez, Erin Cuthbert and Manaka Matsukubo against Sociedad, with Bompastor admitting all three are unlikely to return for the second leg.
Five goals without them is encouraging.
Sustaining that level across an entire WSL campaign is the harder task.
Stamford Bridge raises the expectations again
There is another major change happening away from Bompastor’s team sheet.
Every Chelsea Women’s WSL home match will be played at Stamford Bridge this season.
ReadChelsea covered Chelsea’s full 2026/27 WSL fixture announcement, with Aston Villa visiting on 5 September before Birmingham City and Arsenal also travel to SW6 during the opening month.
The move is significant.
Chelsea are asking the women’s team to occupy the club’s main stadium every week rather than only for selected showcase fixtures.
That brings opportunity, but also pressure.
A team playing every home league game at Stamford Bridge is being positioned as one of the central parts of Chelsea Football Club.
Results need to reflect that ambition.
Real Sociedad victory is only the beginning
Chelsea should reach the Champions League league phase from here.
A three-goal advantage before travelling to San Sebastian is substantial, particularly after finding a way through Sociedad’s resistance so emphatically during the final half-hour.
But Europe is only the first checkpoint.
Chelsea start their WSL campaign against Aston Villa on 5 September.
Then comes the attempt to reclaim domestic ground lost last season.
Wednesday suggested Bompastor has exciting new solutions.
McCabe immediately influenced a goal.
Buurman delivered from defence.
James scored.
Malard changed the game from the bench.
Those are useful early signs.
Bompastor’s bigger task is turning an evolving collection of established stars, new signings and emerging talent into a Chelsea team capable of dominating again.
Five goals made an impressive opening statement.
The season ahead will reveal whether Chelsea’s rebuild is already ready to challenge for everything.
Seven-goal Joao Pedro may have just settled Chelsea’s biggest Fulham call
Seven-goal Joao Pedro may have just settled Chelsea’s biggest Fulham call