Sonia Bompastor has identified one area Chelsea Women must improve before their Champions League campaign begins.
Chelsea beat Birmingham City 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday through goals from Lexi Potter and Melvine Malard.
However, the scoreline did not fully reflect Chelsea’s dominance.
Bompastor believes her side created enough opportunities to have effectively finished the contest before half-time.
Speaking to the official Chelsea website, she said Chelsea could have been “2-0 or 3-0” ahead at the interval.
That gives the Blues a clear improvement to make before Austria Wien arrive on Wednesday.
🔜 Sonia Bompastor will take charge of her 200th game as a coach tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/AmvHFue5qd
— Chelsea Women (@CFC__Women) September 18, 2026
Chelsea dominance should have produced more goals
Potter opened the scoring after only eight minutes.
Chelsea then controlled most of the first half without adding the second goal their performance deserved.
Our Chelsea Women 2-0 Birmingham City match report detailed how Sophie Baggaley repeatedly kept the visitors within one goal.
That left Chelsea vulnerable to one moment changing the game.
Bompastor admitted memories of the opening-day draw against Aston Villa came to mind.
Chelsea had also dominated that contest before being punished late.
Malard eventually removed the danger against Birmingham.
The France international came off the bench and scored in the 71st minute.
Her impact was especially significant after returning from injury, as we examined in our look at Malard’s timely Chelsea comeback.
Chelsea cannot always rely on a second goal arriving that late.
Austria Wien give Chelsea immediate test
The timing makes Bompastor’s comments particularly relevant.
Chelsea begin their Women’s Champions League league phase against Austria Wien on Wednesday, 23 September.
The official Chelsea fixture schedule confirms the match kicks off at 8pm at Plough Lane.
Our Chelsea Women Champions League fixture guide outlines a demanding European schedule which also includes OL Lyonnes, Roma and Paris Saint-Germain.
That increases the importance of becoming more ruthless.
Chelsea will face opponents capable of punishing missed opportunities much more severely as the competition progresses.
Supporters can follow the squad and wider season through our evergreen Chelsea Women guide.
Lauren James absence raises the stakes
Chelsea are also likely to face Austria Wien without Lauren James.
Bompastor confirmed James suffered a knock in training and is expected to miss Wednesday’s match.
Our latest Lauren James injury update has the full situation ahead of the European opener.
James has already scored in Chelsea’s opening two WSL matches this season.
Her probable absence removes one of Bompastor’s most dangerous attacking options.
Malard’s return helps.
Potter’s emergence does too.
But Chelsea’s biggest lesson from Birmingham is simple.
When the chances arrive, they need to make their dominance count earlier.
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