Key events
Bronze’s goal was her first Champions League goal for Chelsea. That means she has now scored for four different clubs in the competition.
Bronze scored just after the minute mark to give Chelsea a perfect start and Kaptein added another. If the score stays like this Chelsea will progress to the quarters with two games to spare. A lot of work for Celtic to do.
Half-time: Chelsea 2-0 Celtic
No added time and we’re at the break.
45 min: Mpome sends in a great ball but Celtic read it well to clear but blue shirt immediately descend on the ball, Celtic do not have a moment to breather right now. Wave after wave of Chelsea attack.
43 min: A reminder that you can get in touch and share your thoughts with me via email.
41 min: What a ball from Agnew which finds Ashworth-Clifford but she is suddenly surrounded by Chelsea defenders and she is muscled off of the ball.
40 min: A poor pass at the back from Chelsea sees Agnew pounce but her cross is cleared. Chelsea counter and Kaneryd makes a phenomenal run to spark the chance to life, it is cleared though to extinguish a hope of a goal for now.
38 min: Macario takes it and Mpome gets to it but Celtic swarm her to put her off and it goes over the bar.
37 min: Chelsea are getting closer to a third with it pinballing around in the box but Celtic manager to boot it clear. They come again with Lawrence sending it in but Hayes sees it out for another corner.
36 min: Nusken takes a long range effort and has space to direct it on target but it is just over the bar. That would have been a belter if it went in.
34 min: For me the difference for Celtic last week was McGregor and she has been so quiet this evening with Chelsea absolutely running riot. Celtic haven’t had a shot on target yet.
32 min: Chelsea want a third and Reiten is fed the ball but she rockets it over the bar.
30 min: Lawrence wins a corner and Macario is the taker this time. It reaches Kaptein but Celtic do enough to see it out for another corner. They take it shot but it’s cleared again.
29 min: Celtic win a free kick from inside their own half and so they will have to build from deep here. They lose out after three passes and Chelsea are on the hunt once more.
27 min: You have to say that might be lights out for Celtic’s Champions League campaign, they need to beat Chelsea tonight to keep those hopes alive but scoring three goals and stopping Chelsea from scoring anymore does not look likely.
A set piece goal once again. It’s taken short by Reiten and it comes back to her, she sends it in and Kaptein finishes off a header.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Celtic (Kaptein, 25)
It was coming.
24 min: Mpome is having a great game at the back who is expertly covering the counterattack chances Celtic are creating.
22 min: Some intricate play sees Bronze cross it in but Celtic clear, it is an utter barrage from the Blues so far. Celtic have had glimpses of chances but Sonia Bompastor’s team are in full control here.
20 min: Hayes does well to shepherd out an overhit ball from Reiten for a goal kick. They then set themselves off on a good run through Agnew but she takes a long range effort which is well wide.
18 min: Chelsea move the ball right and left but they can’t find a way through the Celtic defence at the moment.
16 min: A peach of a ball sets Kaneryd off, she crosses in but Celtic manage to get their first to clear it. The Sweden international is a threat every time she is on the ball.
14 min: Celtic are building here but they just need to stop rushing their attack play when they do have some frontfoot ball. That is partly down to Chelsea’s high press but they also seem slightly panicked after conceding early. Some patience and more time on the ball and they could get themselves back into it.
12 min: Celtic with their first bit of sustained possession and Cavanagh crosses in after a strong challenge but Bronze it there to clear.
10 min: Reiten sends a great ball into the area but Kaneryd can’t get their, it is deflected out for another corner though. Celtic will need to be much tighter to their opposition this time and it is well defended. The earlier corner Bronze was able to run riot but it seems Celtic have put that right now.
8 min: This could turn into a blood bath if Celtic do not stem Chelsea’s momentum soon. The Blues are in the area again thanks to a great run from Macario, the US international takes a punt but it’s just over the bar.
6 min: Celtic have not had a whiff of the ball so far, it’s been completely dominant from Chelsea. A stark change from their game against Celtic last week where the Scottish side scored first. Kaneryd takes a long range shot but Daugherty saves.
4 min: Well this match started with a bang. An uphill battle for Celtic now who need to win at Stamford Bridge if they are to progress.
What a goal from Bronze. Reiten took the corner short but it got popped in and Bronze belted it in on her right foot. Huge.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Celtic (Bronze, 2)
From an early corner.
Kick-off! Chelsea 0-0 Celtic
Here we go. I believe Celtic need a win tonight or their hopes of progressing will be over.
The players are out at Stamford Bridge shortly. Can Chelsea keep their winning run going? Or can Celtic record their first Women’s Champions League win? A reminder if Chelsea pick up a point or more they will secure their knockout stage place.
Have a read of our weekly women’s football newsletter, it’s focused on Marta this week:
An lovely bit of news has dropped in the last hour too, 80,000 tickets have been sold for England v USA on 30 November. A huge crowd for a great encounter.
I saw people making winter puns with player names and I’d love for you to share yours with me. The best I have come up with is Sam Brrrr, so as you can see I need some help. Send me yours via email.
Here’s what happened last week between the two clubs:
Celtic manager Elena Sadiku said: “I think also we’ve been growing into the competition, so how we played against Chelsea last time obviously encourages us to grow even more. I think we’ve been defending really well in all of the games. What the players have learned the most is about being more brave and confident, especially in possession.”
Here’s what Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor said pre-game: “We work really hard as a team and a club to succeed. Maybe people think that’s easy but it’s not – it’s a lot of hard work. I’m lucky because I have a good squad with a lot of talent. I have depth in my squad. We have had good results but we need to keep our heads on our shoulders.”
If any Chelsea fans are wondering where Aggie Beever-Jones is, she is suspended after receiving a red card last week.
The team news is in! Sonia Bompastor has Zecira Musovic in goal with Hannah Hampton on the bench.
Chelsea: Musovic, Bright, Nusken, Macario, Reiten, Lawrence, Kaptein, Rytting Kaneryd, Bronze, Mpome, Jean-Francois
Subs: Hampton, Cox, Ramirez, Cuthbert, Bjorn, Perisset, Bartel, Baltimore, Hamano, Brown
Celtic, meanwhile, start bright stars Lucy Ashworth-Clifford and Murphy Agnew.
Celtic: Daugherty, Barclais, Gallacher, Smith, Cavanagh, Agnew, McGregor, Clark, Hayes, Ashworth-Clifford, Lawton
Subs: Logan, Rodgers, S Carstens, M Carstens, Kerner, Cross, Noonan, Bruna Costa, Munoz, McAney
Preamble
Hello and welcome to our Women’s Champions League coverage where tonight we will be focusing on Chelsea v Celtic.
The two clubs played one another last week where the Blues came out 2-1 winners but Celtic challenged Chelsea well and they could come out on top this evening. They especially exploited Chelsea on the counter and I expect them to use the same tactic this evening.
The Blues have continued their winning streak with an impressive win over Manchester City last weekend, while Celtic narrowly lost 3-2 to rivals Rangers.
We will see what the managers have said in the build up to this one shortly but first let’s take a look at the team news.
