Malard's Dream Debut Propels Chelsea in Champions League
Melvine Malard needed just 12 minutes to turn a tight European tie into her own personal announcement night.
The France forward, a marquee summer signing from Manchester United for about £850,000, came off the bench with Chelsea locked at 2-2 against Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round. By full-time at Cherry Red Records Stadium, she had two goals, the match ball in her sights and Chelsea with one foot in the tournament proper after a 5-2 win.
Shock start, swift response
Sonia Bompastor’s first competitive game in charge could hardly have started worse. Seven minutes into the new season, Ainhoa Marin silenced the home crowd, curling a superb effort from the edge of the box into the top corner to give the Spanish side a 1-0 lead.
Chelsea needed a foothold. It came just after the half-hour.
From a corner delivered by another debutant, Katie McCabe, captain Naomi Girma rose and powered in a header to level the tie. McCabe, signed after leaving Arsenal, wasted no time stamping her influence on her new side’s set pieces.
The goal settled Chelsea. They began to pin Sociedad back, probing down both flanks and forcing more dead-ball opportunities, the physical presence of their new-look back line suddenly a real weapon.
Set-piece power, Spanish resistance
Early in the second half, that pressure told again. Lauren James swung in another corner and Dutch defender Veerle Buurman met it, heading home to put Chelsea 2-1 up and complete a turnaround built on aerial dominance.
Sociedad refused to fold. Cecilia Marcos struck to drag the visitors level once more, punishing Chelsea’s lapse and briefly tilting the mood. At 2-2, with an away goal threat lingering and the tie threatening to drift, Bompastor turned to her bench.
On came Malard.
Malard takes over
Her impact was immediate and ruthless. Released by Sjoeke Nüsken, Malard timed her run perfectly, raced clear, rounded goalkeeper Julia Arrula and rolled the ball into an empty net. Twelve minutes on the pitch, and Chelsea were back in front.
The tempo changed. Chelsea suddenly played with a swagger, James driving at defenders, McCabe pushing high, full-backs overlapping. The home side sensed not just a win, but a cushion to take to Spain.
James got the goal her performance merited, striking to extend the lead and leave Sociedad reeling. The tie, once balanced, began to tilt heavily blue.
Then Malard finished it.
In the 88th minute, Ellie Carpenter burst down the flank and whipped in a low cross. Malard arrived in the right place, at the right time, guiding in a simple finish for her second of the night and Chelsea’s fifth. A tap-in, but the kind of striker’s goal that tells a manager everything about instinct and movement.
From 2-2 to 5-2, with Malard’s late double the defining act.
Big advantage, bigger stage ahead
Chelsea, who finished third in the Women’s Super League last season, now carry a commanding lead into the second leg in Spain on Wednesday, 2 September (18:00 BST). Three days later, they open their WSL campaign against Aston Villa, with the season already gathering pace.
This year brings a new home rhythm too. Chelsea will play their domestic cup and European league-phase fixtures at Wimbledon’s Cherry Red Records Stadium, while all WSL home matches move to Stamford Bridge.
On this evidence, wherever they play, the stage may belong to Malard more often than not.
