Browsing: Chelsea

Chelsea have registered 33 academy players for their Champions League group stage clash against Ajax on Wednesday.

The list of players includes former Chelsea and Brazil captain Thiago Silva‘s son Isago and comprises various youngsters aged between 16 and 19.

Sources at the club say the move is simply an administrative decision to add all in one go rather than on a game-by-game or a case-by-case basis.

The players have been added to an unlimited B list which means they will be able to be called upon for any of Chelsea’s remaining group stage matches.

UEFA did not immediately respond when contacted by ESPN.

– Terry: Managing Chelsea is ‘one last dream to achieve’
– Maresca treats Chelsea players ‘same way’ as children amid red card run
– Premier League table

Chelsea’s B list academy players:

Goalkeepers:Ted Curd, Max Merrick, Jack Austin, Hudson Sands, Toby Bell

Defenders: Genesis Antwi, Richard Olise, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Kobe Barbour, Harry McGlinchey, Kaiden Wilson, Olutayo Subuloye, Joseph Wheeler-Henry, Calvin Diakite, Isago Silva, Lewi Richards, Dante Waite

Midfielders: Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Jimi Tauriainen, Reggie Walsh, Harrison McMahon, Leo Cardoso, Landon Emenalo, Sol Gordon, Ollie Harrison, Yahua Idrissi-Regragui, Frankie Runham, Shaun Wade, Charles Holland, Ibrahim Rabbaj.

Forwards:Ato Ampah, Shim Mheuka, Chizaram Ezenwata, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, Joel Vidal Philbert.

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It is a sad fact of modern life for Ajax that their name commands more respect than their football these days. They were once the team of the moment, pushing tactical boundaries they ruled the continent in the 1970s, and they even fielded the youngest starting lineup in the history of the European Cup when they won it for a fourth time in 1995.

Yet those days are long gone. Ajax are a shadow of their former selves, a pale imitation under the beleaguered John Heitinga, and do not have the means to keep up when richer clubs invest their vast resources into youth projects of their own.

For Chelsea, the model is a mixture of promoting homegrown products and looking far and wide for the best teenagers in the world. The old line about winning nothing with kids is lost on Chelseaâ€s owners. They have refused to be swayed by suggestions that they could do with bringing in more experience and will feel increasingly emboldened after watching their side, who are the youngest in this seasonâ€s Champions League, subject the 10 men of Ajax to the ignominy of conceding four goals in the first half of a European tie for the first time since 1958.

History was made more than once during a riotous 5-1 win for Enzo Marescaâ€s youngsters. Marc Guiu, a forward aged 19 years and 291 days, became Chelseaâ€s youngest scorer in this competition – for all of 28 minutes. Estêvão Willian, a Brazilian prodigy aged 18 years and 181 days, did not take long to leapfrog the Spaniard and it summed up Guiuâ€s luck that he ended up in third place after Tyrique George – 19 years and 260 days – got on the scoresheet at the start of the second half.

The records tumbled. Never before have a team had three teenagers score in one Champions League game. Ajax, thumped in their first three ties of the league phase, could not handle Chelseaâ€s energy and invention. Maresca is building something. There was a moment near the end when he was puffing out his cheeks in disbelief; Estêvão, who looks a future Ballon dâ€Or winner, had almost scored with an audacious overhead kick.

“Itâ€s a special night for the club, for the young players,†Maresca said. “I work with them every day. I know what they can do. We are going to have moments where we struggle but the good thing about them is that they want to improve.â€

Maresca is trying to keep standards high. He would not be drawn on whether Chelsea are capable of winning the Champions League, even though they are only outside the top eight on goal difference.

Kenneth Taylorâ€s crazy challenge on Facundo Buonanotte earned him a first-half red card. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA

After all nobody mistook this for one of the great Ajax sides. They have made a poor start in the Eredivisie and looked beaten once Kenneth Taylor was sent off for an ugly foul on Facundo Buonanotte in the 17th minute.

The irony is that all the talk has been about Chelseaâ€s indiscipline. They were without the suspended João Pedro and were under instructions from Maresca to stop making life unnecessarily difficult for themselves.

In the event it was Ajax who pressed the self-destruct button. Taylorâ€s dismissal for lunging in on Buonanotte was followed by an instant concession. Buonanotte, one of 10 changes from Maresca, crossed from the right and the unchallenged Wesley Fofana headed across for Guiu to make the most of a rare chance to lead the line by scoring from close range.

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Ajax were farcical. The away end turned on Heitinga, who is already under severe pressure in his first managerial role, when he tried to shore his side up by replacing Oscar Gloukh with Jorthy Mokio after Guiuâ€s goal. The travelling fans endured their team conceding two ludicrous penalties before half-time. Enzo Fernández scored the first – conceded by the former Burnley and Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst – and handed the second to Estêvão.

Quick GuideChampions League roundup: Karl and Kane make mark for BayernShow

Harry Kane scored his 23rd goal in 15 games for club and country this season as Bayern Munich cruised to a 4-0 victory over Club Brugge. The 17-year-old Lennart Karl became the youngest Bayern player to find the back of the net in the Champions League when he opened the scoring with a stylish long-range strike.

The England captain, Kane, then registered for the eighth successive game in club football for the first time in his career before Luis Díaz and Nicolas Jackson wrapped up a comprehensive win to leave Bayern second in the Champions League table after three matches.

Gorka Guruzeta scored twice as Athletic Club bounced back to beat Qarabag 3-1 and belatedly open their account. Leandro Andrade had given the visitors a first-minute lead, but Guruzeta levelled before the break and, after Robert Navarro had given the hosts the lead, Guruzeta cemented victory with his second two minutes from time.

Victor Osimhen helped himself to a double to ease Galatasaray to a 3-1 home win over Bodø/Glimt while second-half goals from the substitutes Geny Catamo and Alisson Santos handed Sporting a 2-1 comeback win over Marseille, who had Emerson sent off. PA Media

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Chelsea, who named the second-youngest lineup by an English side in Champions League history, had led 2-0 through a deflected drive from Moisés Caicedo. They had not scored four in the first half of a game at this level since 2011. The only blemish came from Tosin Adarabioyo giving away a penalty at 2-0, allowing Weghorst to grab a consolation. It was 5-1 when George, one of three half-time substitutions, drove in from 20 yards.

Maresca eased off. Reggie Walsh, who turned 17 on Monday, came on to become Chelseaâ€s youngest player in the Champions League. It is a sign of the times.

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Needless to say, Fairmont hotels will not be a stop on Chelsea Green‘s presidential tour.

Last year, Chelsea Green looked to celebrate WWE WrestleMania 40 week with a drink at The Plaza Hotel, located in New York City. Before she could enjoy an alcoholic beverage, however, hotel security escorted Green out of the building due to staffâ€s belief that she was an escort based on her attire.

After the April 2024 incident, the Fairmont Hotel chain (which owns the Plaza Hotel and several others across the world) offered Green a free two-night stay of her choice for anywhere in the world. Despite this, the luxury hotel chain still forcefully booked Green for a stay in her hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. When Green then tried to change the location of this stay, an executive relayed that her certificate for it was now invalid.

Green shared the email confirmation she received from The Plaza Hotelâ€s executive assistant informing her of the decision to change the terms the offer.

“Dear Ms. Green, Thank you for your email,†wrote the executive. “Regrettably, we are unable to change the location of the certificate as this was honored by our sister Fairmont, Pacific Rim in Vancouver, and it is non-transferable. In addition, I regret to inform you that the validity of this certificate has since expired as it is valid within 12 months of issued date. Warm regards, Andrea Escobar.â€

Greenâ€s Fight For Justice Continues

According to Green, she would rather spend time in her actual home in Vancouver than have accommodations at a nearby hotel. As such, the former WWE Womenâ€s United States Champion is continuing the fight to claim her free stay elsewhere.

“Your girl just wants her free stay at a @FairmontHotels for being called a hooker… is that too much to ask!?†she wrote alongside an image of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

WrestleZone will provide further updates on this injustice as they become available.

RELATED: Chelsea Green Says Former WWE Star ‘Set The Tone†For Her Current On-Screen Role

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Chelsea Green may not have shared the ring with John Cena, but that doesnâ€t mean the Cenation Leader canâ€t impart his wisdom to the WWE SmackDown star when it comes to building her brand outside the squared circle.

In a new interview with Deanna Barnert of Womanâ€s World, Chelsea Green revealed that sheâ€s been exploring opportunities outside WWE and shared how John Cena has been helping her carve a niche beyond the company.

“Iâ€ve been auditioning for role after role, and trying to dabble in the hosting space as well,†she said. “Iâ€m trying to start at the bottom and not cut corners. I want to do it the right way and gain respect within film and TV—not get there because I had it handed to me on a WWE silver platter.

“My husband and I go on double dates with John and Shay, every couple months, and the knowledge that comes out of him is incredible. He totally has my back and if I just continue to touch base with him, Iâ€ll continue to get those little bits of information and advice that are so crucial when youâ€re on this journey of trying to figure out what you want to do next.â€

John Cena reacts to Matt Cardonaâ€s WWE in-ring return

John Cena and Matt Cardona go way back. Cardona, then known as Zack Ryder, was part of a major storyline in the early 2010s that also involved Cena, Kane, and Eve Torres.

Cardona made his first WWE NXT appearance in over five years this past Tuesday, taking on Josh Briggs in singles action. Despite putting up a strong fight, he was unable to defeat the former NXT UK Tag Team Champion.

Cena acknowledged Cardonaâ€s NXT return by dedicating an Instagram post to him, which prompted a response from the former “Belt Collector.†Fans will have to wait and see whether Matt Cardonaâ€s WWE return was a one-off.

Also read: Killer Kross Says One Of John Cenaâ€s Final Matches Should Be Against This Former WWE Superstar

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Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez withdrew from the Argentina squad during the latest international break with an apparent knee injury.

The combative midfielder has played in every Premier League game so far for the Blues, and was an integral part of the group that won the Club World Cup in the summer.

Fernandez, who signed for Chelsea from Benfica for £106.8m in 2023, has enjoyed a fruitful start to the 25/26 season – scoring three times and registering two assists so far.

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Will Enzo Fernandez be available for Chelsea this weekend?

Enzo Fernandez has played a lot of football for Chelsea in 2025 (Image credit: Getty Images)

Chelsea had gone three league games without a win before surprising reigning champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge last time out.

A win against Nottingham Forest this weekend could see them climb back into the top four, and manager Enzo Maresca will be hoping his star midfielder will be available to help lead the charge at The City Ground.

Enzo Fernandez withdrew from the Argentina squad (Image credit: Getty Images)

Despite having to leave the Argentina camp, Fernandez is expected to be fit to face Forest on Sunday.

It is thought that the midfielder “had always planned to miss the friendly match with Puerto Rico this week and had planned to see family during his leave”, according to BBC’s Chelsea reporter Nizaar Kinsella.

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Considering the amount of football he has played over the last year, including during the summer off-season at the Club World Cup, it seems the decision was made with a view to managing his load.

It’s Forest up next for Chelsea on Saturday lunchtime, a side that haven’t won since the opening day of the season.

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Oct 15, 2025, 05:05 PM ET

Chelsea and Juventus are set to battle it out to sign Al Hilal midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic on a free transfer, while Real Madrid are interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Moisés Caicedo, who has been offered a new contract. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

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Could either Chelsea or Juventus end up signing Sergej Milinkovic-Savic? (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

TRENDING RUMORS

– A race between Chelsea and Juventus could take place for Al Hilal midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, according to Corriere dello Sport. The 30-year-old is set to enter the final six months of his contract in January and, having not yet signed an extension, multiple clubs across Europe (including Galatasaray and Fenerbahce) are tracking him with a view to getting him to sign a pre-contract agreement. The Serbia international has made four appearances in the Saudi Pro League side so far this season.

– Chelsea plan to offer midfielder Moisés Caicedo a new contract to ward off interest from Real Madrid, according to TEAMtalk. Los Blancos are reported to be one of the sides keeping tabs on the 23-year-old but, following several impressive performances so far this season, it looks as though the Blues are set to reward him with improved terms to stay put at Stamford Bridge. And Caicedo’s long-term deal in West London isn’t set to expire until 2031 already.

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– Internazionale have joined the race for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi, reports Tuttosport. Inter are reportedly monitoring the 25-year-old’s situation at Selhurst Park, with belief that he could be a strong replacement for Yann Bisseck, who could leave San Siro next summer. Guéhi remains on the radar of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but Liverpool are leading the race for him after a £35 million move broke down on the final day of the summer transfer window.

– Brighton will dismiss offers to sign midfielder Carlos Baleba in January amid interest from the Premier League. TalkSPORT reports that the Seagulls have no plans to part ways with the 21-year-old during the middle of the season, with hopes of dissuading interested sides by asking for a £120 million fee. Meanwhile, Manchester United are set to prioritize a move for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, 21, according to iNews, having placed him as their No. 1 priority ahead of Baleba amid their search for a midfielder. Wharton has also recently been linked with Real Madrid.

– A move for Dinamo Zagreb winger Cardoso Varela is being considered by Barcelona and Chelsea, reports Mundo Deportivo. The Blaugranaare closely monitoring the 16-year-old, with club sporting director Deco having already met with his representatives. While the Blues are also interested in Varela, whether the LaLiga club make a move for him is expected to hinge on if they decide to sign on-loan Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford permanently.

EXPERT TAKE

ESPN’s Madrid correspondent Alex Kirkland looks at the likelihood of Real Madrid landing Moisés Caicedo.

Real Madrid’s summer rebuild — signing three defenders in Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras, plus a wide forward in Franco Mastantuono — didn’t include a central midfielder, which for many fans and pundits, should have been top of the list.

So far this season, Xabi Alonso has tended to pick Aurelien Tchouameni, Fede Valverde and Arda Guler as his midfield three, with Jude Bellingham coming back into the picture after his recovery from shoulder surgery. The team have mostly played well, but in the two biggest games of Alonso’s tenure so far — the Club World Cup semifinal against PSG, and the derby against Atletico — they’ve come up short, and it’s hard to escape the feeling that, despite the qualities of Tchouameni, Valverde et al, they’re still missing a really dominant, tempo-setting midfielder.

Is Caicedo that player? A contract until 2031 is clearly an issue. Madrid only pay big transfer fees for the most elite prospects, like Bellingham, and that contract duration means a free transfer would be a distant prospect. Here in Madrid, there’s been no reporting yet that Caicedo is a serious target.

OTHER RUMORS

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Dawson: Man United should give Amorim until the end of the season

Rob Dawson and Mark Ogden discuss Ruben Amorim’s future at Man United.

– Clubs in Saudi Arabia are looking to sign Real Madrid center back Antonio Rudigeras he enters the final year of his deal. (Fabrizio Romano)

– Barcelona are keeping tabs on Borussia Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy and winger Karim Adeyemi. (Bild)

– There is an undisclosed release clause in the contract of Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, who has been linked with both Manchester United and Liverpool. (TalkSPORT)

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– Bayern Munich winger Adin Licina is being watched by Juventus and Borussia Dortmund. (Tuttosport)

– Clubs in the Premier League could be interested in signing Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, 37, if he becomes available as a free transfer. (Football Insider)

– Monaco will wait until the end of the season before deciding whether to activate the permanent option clause in the loan deal of Barcelona winger Ansu Fati. (Sport)

– Juventus could need Fenerbahce defender Milan Skriniar to accept a lower salary for a move to become possible, with the 30-year-old earning close to €10m-per-season. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

– Eintracht Frankfurt are open to parting ways with striker Elye Wahi, while they also hold interest in Newcastle forward Will Osula. (Florian Plettenberg)

– Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka wants to stay at the club, but they could still look to move him on. (Fabrizio Romano)

– Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaeris on the shortlist of Rangers as they continue their search for a head coach. (TEAMtalk)

– Premier League clubs Chelsea and Brighton are looking at Lazio defender Mario Gila. (Football Insider)

– Barcelona are planning to begin talks over a new contract with defender Eric Garcia. (Nicolo Schira)

– AS Roma and Juventus are monitoring the contract situation of Bologna midfielder Remo Freuler. (Nicolo Schira)

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Chelsea’s dominant victory over Paris FC was lit up by the newest member of their attack, Alyssa Thompson, who traversed the Stamford Bridge pitch with agile runs and eventually got the rewards her efforts deserved.

Thompson may be just 20 years old, but her arrival at Chelsea was accompanied by lofty expectations arising from the club record price tag. Now, in her seventh appearance, she has finally got off the mark.

She darted down the wings and led her side’s counter-attacks, showing expert positioning to put herself in the right place to be able to set up Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s goal, and tapped home an excellent Keira Walsh delivery to get her first goal for the club.

It was an impressive display, but, says manager Sonia Bompastor, the best of her is still to come.

“A young player, a lot of talent, but I think we haven’t seen yet the best of her, but hopefully we will see that soon,” said Bompastor.

“She is coming from abroad, she speaks the language, which helps, but again, it’s a new environment, a new club, she needs to learn to connect with new players on the pitch, new team-mates, so hopefully, even sooner, we will see an even better version.”

Thompson’s first goal is one which will put her at “ease”, says Brighton forward Fran Kirby, who previously spent nine years at Chelsea.

Former Scotland captain Rachel Corsie added that now Thompson has scored, she imagines the “floodgates will open”.

“She’s been a real bright spark,” Kirby said on BBC Radio 5 Live. “I think against Tottenham she looked really sharp, it was probably that final product.

“Today, getting that assist and goal will make her feel a little bit more at ease going into the next game. A little bit of pressure off.”

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23 min: Bright wins a free-kick, and itâ€s a central position … Chelsea opt against the shot, with Baltimore dinking it into the area. Up goes the offside flag.

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22 min: Weâ€re approaching the end of the first quarter and, for all of Chelseaâ€s dominance on the ball, theyâ€ve not exactly sliced open this Paris backline.

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20 min: Thompson makes a run in behind and plays a first-time cutback from the left … but she canâ€t pick out Beever-Jones, with Greboval in the way for Paris.

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19 min: Chelsea continue to move it around, with Thompson, out on the left, constantly looking to cut in to the middle.

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17 min: Chelsea have a corner, to be delivered by Cuthbert … the ball in is eventually worked back to Cuthbert on the left, who finds Beever-Jones in the middle: her first touch is a fine one, but her shot on the turn is met by an excellent block.

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15 min: Rytting Kaneryd crosses from the right … but Deja Davis is back to clear for Paris.

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14 min: Hampton very nearly ends up handling outside her area after coming to collect, with Mateo launching an ambitious appeal.

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12 min: Paris are easily crowded out when they venture up the pitch.

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11 min:Beever-Jones, makes an excellent run behind into the area, Walsh slides in the perfect pass … but the former miscues once again.

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10 min: Charles Antaki writes in:

Even as an Arsenal fan, itâ€s hard not to respect and admire Millie Brightâ€s contribution to the England cause over the years. Fair play to her if sheâ€s decided that she needs to reserve her energies for the WSL (though the other part of being an Arsenal fan is not to be very happy about that). Itâ€s not that England canâ€t win things without her (checks notes: Euro 25) but that when she plays she has a rock- solid certainty at the back which would make any team better. Vale, Millie.

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9 min: Nüsken breaks free on the right, into the area, cutting back for Beever-Jones … but the forward miscues, barely getting any power behind her effort.

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8 min: Cuthbert slides a sneaky ball into the area … but thereâ€s no blue shirt on the end of it.

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6 min: Sandy Baltimore sends in a couple of crosses before Erin Cuthbert tries her luck from outside the area … her low drive is easily collected by MylèneChavas.

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5 min:Chelsea, as expected, are the ones wheeling the ball around.

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4 min:Rytting Kaneryd twists and turns out on the right before dinking a decent cross in … itâ€s headed out before Nüsken shoots wide from range.

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3 min: Walsh loses the ball in the middle as Clara Mateo drives down the right for Paris … Bright blocks the cross and also nabs a goalkick.

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1 min: Alyssa Thompson, electric out on the right alongside Ellie Carpenter last week against Twente, is operating on the left this time round.

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Peeeeeeeep!

Chelsea are all blue, Paris don the whites. The hosts kick off, with Aggie Beever-Jones launching first.

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Ellen White, on punditry duty, predicts a 4-0 Chelsea victory. Sonia Bompastor wants her side to replicate their display against Spurs. Letâ€s see what theyâ€ve got in the locker: the players emerge from the tunnel.

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On the subject of international retirements: Jess Fishlockâ€s illustrious Wales career will end this month.

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Millie Bright remains at the heart of Chelseaâ€s defence but the England chapter is over.

Millie Bright captains Chelsea this evening at Stamford Bridge. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Action Images/ReutersShare

Updated at 15.11 EDT

Having rotated heavily for last weekâ€s match against Twente, Sonia Bompastor has opted for less tinkering this time round: Hannah Hampton is back in net, with just two changes to the side that beat Tottenham 1-0 in the league. Ellie Carpenter is missing from the squad, while Niamh Charles drops to the bench. In come Sjoeke Nüsken and Sandy Baltimore.

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The teams

Chelsea: Hampton, Nüsken, Björn, Bright, Baltimore, Kaptein, Walsh, Cuthbert, Rytting Kaneryd, Beever-Jones, Thompson

Subs: Peng, Buurman, Macário, Jean-François, Reiten, Kerr, Charles, Bronze, Hamano, Potter, Sarwie

Paris FC:Chavas, Ould Hocine, Davis, Greboval, Bogaert, Picard, Korosec, Corboz, Garbino, Mateo, Le Moguédec

Subs: Marques, Azzaro, Mendonça, Scott, Nâ€Dongala, Jedlinska, Haheim, Sissoko, Liaigre, Yerro

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Updated at 14.19 EDT

Preamble

Hello, hello, hello and welcome to another evening of Champions League action: Paris are in London.

Chelsea, still waiting to lift this trophy, got their campaign off to an awkward start last week, relying on a Sandy Baltimore penalty to take a point at Twente. While the WSL champions – who remain unbeaten this season – dominated on the ball and whipped in cross after cross, their final touch was off. Maybe a kickabout at Stamford Bridge, under lights, is the required tonic.

Paris FC, who came through qualifying to reach the league stage, gave up a 2-0 lead against OH Leuven to draw last week, and their brief relationship with Chelsea is not pretty: the English side won 4-0 and 4-1 when the two sides met in the 2023-24 group stage. Then again, Twente didnâ€t have history on their side either. Kick-offâ€s at 8pm BST.

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Two of Sunderland’s summer signings could miss out on the Black Cats’ trip to Stamford Bridge in less than a fortnight, while one is certain to be absent for the match.

Chelsea welcome Sunderland to SW6 next weekend hoping to avoid a potential Premier League banana skin.

The newly-promoted north-east club have made a fine start to the new campaign, notching three wins and two draws from their opening seven matches – the same record as Chelsea.

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Sunderland receive triple injury blow before Chelsea clash

Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris (Image credit: Getty Images)

Enzo Maresca’s Blues, however, boast a stronger goal difference and as a result sit higher in the table but that could all change when Regis Le Bris’ men visit the capital on Saturday, October 25.

Chelsea do have injury worries of their own with the likes of Levi Colwill, Liam Delap and Cole Palmer all ruled out for upcoming fixtures, including Sunderland’s visit, although they do have a much deeper squad than the majority of their Premier League rivals.

Cole Palmer features in FourFourTwo’s latest issue: 384 but won’t be appearing at Stamford Bridge until after the next international break (Image credit: Future)

The Black Cats spent heavily during the summer window, unburdened by legacy PSR issues and a modest wage bill, which allowed them to recruit a number of top players from across Europe.

Omar Alderete and Noah Sadiki were recruited from Getafe and Union Saint-Gilloise, respectively, while £30 million man Habib Diarra joined from Strasbourg.

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The latter is out until later this year after undergoing surgery, while Sadiki missed DR Congo’s World Cup qualifier on Tuesday with an ankle sprain.

Alderete, meanwhile, was brought off during the latter stages of Paraguay’s friendly defeat by South Korea and will require further assessment on what was described locally as ‘muscle discomfort’.

Omar Alderete whilst on international duty with Paraguay (Image credit: DANIEL DUARTE/AFP via Getty Images)

All three have played an important part for Sunderland during the early part of the 2025/26 campaign.

Prolonged absences for each, as is the case with Diarra, would represent a significant blow to the Black Cats’ bid to maintain their place in the top flight for another season.

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A strange half, dominated by Chelsea on the ball … yet it was Twente who had the clearest chance when Vliek burst through on the right and should have tested Peng in the Chelsea goal, instead of trying to square it. The English champions have whipped in cross after cross, with Baltimore and Carpenter lively down the wings – but theyâ€ve also struggled to properly test out Lemey.

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HALF-TIME: Twente 0-0 Chelsea

Buurman wins a free-kick from distance and Chelsea play it short, trying to cut through on the right … but the move breaks down with Carpenter. Thereâ€s no added time as we have a breather.

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43 min: Nüsken tries to dink the ball from the left-hand side … but the ball hits the ref. Thompson shoots from the right, her shot spilled by Lemey but cleared by Knol.

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41 min:Carpenter sends in a delicious ball from the right … but thereâ€s no one taking a punt with a run into the six-yard box.

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40 min: Itâ€s another Baltimore cross … but Tuin clears for Twente.

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39 min: Chelsea work it very nicely from one wing to another, the two centre-backs involved …. but Baltimoreâ€s cross is into the keeperâ€s hands.

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37 min: A Chelsea corner sees the ball run to the edge of the area … Baltimore hits it beautifully first time, but itâ€s straight at the keeper.

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36 min: The ball bounces nicely for Nüsken at the edge of the area … but she opts against the shot. Thompson then crosses from the right and Reiten glances her header wide. Again, it just wonâ€t go right when the ball lands in the middle.

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35 min: Reiten bursts down the left … but the crosses simply arenâ€t coming together for Chelsea.

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34 min: Roord holds off Jean-François and wins a free-kick before Twente try and work it down the right. Buurman is in the way, though.

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32 min: Van Ginkel is brought down on the edge of the Twente area by Hamano – Chelsea have just lost a bit of their rhythm in the last 10 minutes.

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31 min: Carpenter and Thompson play their one-twos on the right but the latter overhits a pass to send it out for a goalkick.

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29 min:Twente have an opening with a free-kick from the left, whipped in by Roord … but Carpenter gets in the way before a shot from the edge of the area is blasted high.

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28 min: Beever-Jones launches from the edge of the area but the drive finds the safe mitts of Lemey.

Aggie Beever-Jones goes close for Chelsea. Photograph: Piroschka Van De Wouw/ReutersShare

Updated at 13.20 EDT

27 min: Beever-Jones makes a neat run into the area to pick up a dinked ball but her reverse pass into the middle canâ€t find a blue shirt.

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26 min: Chelsea recycle the ball at the back as Twente hold a decent defensive shape.

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24 min: Roord tries to split Chelsea with a ball to Oude Elberink but the danger is comfortably cut out.

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22 min: Thompson and Carpenter remain dominant down the right before Buurman is dispossessed and Twente break. Roord continues to search for the ball between the lines.

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19 min: Somehow, we still donâ€t have a goal. Thompson jinks away on the right again for Chelsea, turning Tuin inside out, but her cross is uncoverted. Chelsea are just missing a clinical edge at the moment.

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17 min: Jean-François eases her way into the Twente area and cuts back from the left … Hamano is waiting, surely there to open the scoring from close to the penalty spot, but she blasts over the bar.

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Updated at 13.05 EDT

15 min: Carpenter does some excellent hassling on the right to set up another drive down the wing and cross into the middle – the Chelsea full-back is at the centre of everything at the moment.

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13 min: Thompson plays in the overlapping Carpenter on the right, but her dinked in cross beats the run of Reiten in the middle.

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11 min: Chelsea play it short and little comes of it before Twente cut through Chelsea with a brilliant sequence of passes – Vliek is set through on goal and should really take it on herself … but she tries to square it and the danger is cut out by Carpenter. That was a real chance.

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Updated at 12.59 EDT

10 min: Another corner for Chelsea as Reiten causes more problems on the left …

Guro Reiten evades Leonie Vliek of FC Twente. Photograph: Chris Lee/Chelsea FC/Getty ImagesShare

Updated at 13.07 EDT

8 min: Jean-François drives in the corner and Beever-Jones attacks, her header clipping the outside of the post.

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7 min: Baltimore and Reiten combine nicely down the left again to secure a corner …

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6 min: Millie Bright intercepts at the back before Baltimore nutmegs on the left, though the attack breaks down.

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4 min: Baltimore feeds Reiten down the left channel but the cross into the box finds Lemey, the Twente keeper.

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3 min: Carpenter and Thompson play a neat one-two out on the right but the formerâ€s cross is cleared – already, Chelsea are threatening down that wing.

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2 min: Twente win a free-kick in their own half after Nüsken fouls, but Chelsea are quick to win the ball back.

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1 min:Alyssa Thompson thunders down the right but her cross is out of bounds.

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Updated at 12.47 EDT

Peeeeeeep!

Chelsea get things going in blue, moving from right to left.

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Right then, after some technical difficulties with Disney, Iâ€ve got my stream sorted. The players are out and weâ€re about to get going.

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The Womenâ€s Champions League has a new format this season, shifting to an 18-team league phase, similar to the model adopted by the menâ€s version. After Twente, Chelsea are down to face Paris FC, St. Pölten, Barcelona (yikes), Roma and Wolfsburg.

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Jill Roord, once of Manchester City, is in the Twente XI, having re-joined her first club in the summer. The move was about rediscovering some joy:

It had nothing to do with [Manchester] City. My time with City was really good. I have been away for eight years playing abroad and it becomes tough being alone for that many years. In the past few years I lost my fun and my happiness in football a little bit because of being away, travelling a lot and not being able to be with family and friends. With busy summers every year I never really got a break. I needed to move back home, enjoy life and enjoy football again.

Hereâ€s the full interview with Tom Garry in June.

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Chelsea look very different to the side that drew against Manchester United on Friday: Ellie Carpenter, Millie Bright, Sandy Baltimore and Aggie Beever-Jones are the only starters from that fixture still in the XI. Catarina Macario is out with an achilles injury, though Bompastor has said sheâ€ll be fine for the weekend fixture against Tottenham.

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The teams

Twente: Lemey, Vliek, Carleer, Knol, Tuin, Groenewegen, Roord, Van Ginkel, Elberink, Ravensbergen, Proost

Subs: Bussman, Van der Vegt, Hulst, Diekman, Andradottir, Te Brake, Verdaasdonk, Ivens

Chelsea: Peng, Carpenter, Bright, Buurman, Baltimore, Hamano, Jean-François, Nüsken, Thompson, Beever-Jones, Reiten

Subs: Björn, Hampton, Cuthbert, Kaptein, Kaneryd, Kerr, Potter, Sarwie, Walsh

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Preamble

Is this the season? WSL champions six years in a row, a domestic treble to celebrate, unbeaten in the league for yonks … but that Champions League remains missing. Barcelona have had Chelseaâ€s number in three consecutive semi-finals (as well as the 2021 final), but a fresh start gets that dream going again.

Sonia Bompastor and her players†opening assignment in this rejigged comp is in the Netherlands, with Twente the hosts. They faced each other last season, when Chelsea won 3-1 at De Grolsch Veste, and a 6-1 win victory at home added to the one-sided nature. Twente have those memories to contend with as Chelsea begin plotting a path to Oslo, the scene of this yearâ€s final. Weâ€ll play at 5.45pm BST.

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