Arsenal women lead 3-1
Arsenal Women took a two-goal cushion after beating Chelsea 3-1 in the first leg at the Emirates — the second leg is scheduled this week and Chelsea must overturn a two-goal deficit to reach the semis. The win was flagged as a statement performance from the defending champions and puts Arsenal on track for another deep Champions League run. (vavel.com) (dailysports.net).
Stina Blackstenius opened the scoring with a header from Katie McCabe’s free-kick in the 21st minute, Chloe Kelly struck from outside the box around the 31st minute, Lauren James curled one back for Chelsea in the 65th minute and Alessia Russo volleyed home late in the 75th minute; Emirates attendance was reported at 18,087. (arsenal.com) (skysports.com) Alessia Russo’s finish brought her to a competition-leading eight goals in this UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign, surpassing the mark she set for an English player last season. (espn.com) Chelsea hit the woodwork twice inside the opening 10 minutes, had Veerle Buurman’s would‑be equaliser ruled out for a shove on Laia Codina before half‑time, and Kadeisha Buchanan had a late goal disallowed for a foul — details that left manager Sonia Bompastor publicly frustrated after making five changes to her starting XI. (chelseafc.com) The tie’s second leg is scheduled for Wednesday, 1 April 2026 at Stamford Bridge with kick‑off at 20:00 UK time and coverage on Disney+ (and domestic broadcasters as listed), where Chelsea must overturn the two‑goal deficit to advance. (arsenal.com) (chelseafc.com) Arsenal’s win extended their run to ten consecutive victories in all competitions under head coach Renée Slegers, a streak the club noted in its post‑match report. (arsenal.com) Match analysts highlighted Katie McCabe’s dead‑ball delivery for Blackstenius’ header and Kelly’s long‑range strike as decisive moments that forced Chelsea to chase the game before Russo’s composed volley effectively restored Arsenal’s buffer. (espn.com)
