Manchester City ended Chelsea‘s unbeaten season as Vivianne Miedema struck twice off the bench in the first leg of the pair Women’s Champions League quarter-final.
This was second of four encounters between the two sides in a matter of 12 days, with the two legs falling either side of a WSL fixture and following quickly after Saturday’s League Cup final. It was a cagey affair at times with the visitors particularly struggling to find their attacking flow, allowing half-time substitute Miedema to secure a 2-0 first-leg advantage for Nick Cushing’s side. The Dutch striker first volleyed in off the underside of the bar before slotting past Hannah Hampton late on, leaving Manchester City in a strong position heading into the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
For Sonia Bompastor, this was a first defeat as Chelsea manager having gone 28 games unbeaten since arriving in west London. Her side looked a little leggy just days after securing League Cup triumph, and have plenty to do as they return home.
Re-live all of the action from the Joie Stadium in our live blog below:
Key Points
- Manchester City end Chelsea's unbeaten season with a 2-0 first leg win in the Women's Champions League
- Vivianne Miedema strikes twice off the bench for the impressive hosts
- HT: Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea
- GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 Chelsea (Vivianne Miedema, 60 minutes)
- OFF THE WOODWORK! Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea, 80 minutes
- GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 Chelsea (Vivianne Miedema, 89 minutes)
- FT: Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea
Lucy Bronze reacts to Chelsea's defeat
22:11 , Harry Latham-Coyle“I just don’t think we were good enough,” the defender says to TNT Sports. “We didn’t have enough effort in our press, we were sloppy in our passing. We were miles off our game. Sonia said that at half time.
“That’s what football is. You have ups and downs. We’ve had a fantastic first half of the season. We just have to go back, be better for the weekend and the next game. We are completely confident we can turn this around. I don’t think we were particularly at our best in the League Cup final, either.
“It’ll be the biggest game of the season so far. It’s all still to play for. We know we can score goals, so hopefully we can be a lot better next week and get through to the semi-final.”
Vivianne Miedema speaks to TNT Sports
22:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle“This should be our standard,” the match-winner says. “We were really disappoointed after the game on Saturday. I do feel well, but I’m not at the stage where I can go four times for 90 minutes. I was happy to come on and help the team.
“We all want to play in the Champions League. It’s something we are still fighting for in the league. Today was special, and hopefully we can put in the same performance next week. We are missing a lot of players. This gives us confidence and hopefully we can take it into the game on Sunday and next week as well.”
FT: Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea
21:55 , Harry Latham-CoyleA first defeat of the season for Chelsea as Manchester City seize control of this quarter-final! Two goals off the bench from Vivianne Miedema, and that’s the end of the unbeaten start under Sonia Bompastor after 28 matches.
They are only halfway there, but that’s an outstanding first leg performance from Nick Cushing’s side.
FULL TIME: Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea
21:52 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea, 90 + 4 minutes
21:51 , Harry Latham-CoyleTime ticking away for the visitors as Manchester City win a free kick, which they are in no hurry to take.
Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea, 90 + 1 minutes
21:49 , Harry Latham-CoyleWe’ve played the first of five additional minutes. Chelsea earn a corner.
Maika Hameno plays it short, from where it can be launched into the box. Nathalie Bjorn gets her head to it but the contact is meagre. Goal kick.
GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 Chelsea (Vivianne Miedema, 89 minutes)
21:46 , Harry Latham-CoyleBig game player! Vivianne Miedema has her second and Manchester City are snapping Chelsea’s unbeten streak!
Kerolin is the creator, the Brazilian a danger all night down that right hand side. Her driving run affords space for her centre forward near the penalty spot, but it still takes some finishing. Miedema lets the ball come across her and finds the corner perfectly - 2-0!
Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea, 86 minutes
21:44 , Harry Latham-CoyleA crucial save from Hannah Hampton - or not! It wouldn’t have counted. The goalkeeper wouldn’t have known that Vivianne Miedema was offside, though, when she somehow thrust out her left leg to get a toe to the Dutchwoman’s shot.
Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea, 85 minutes
21:42 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnother chance! Ayaka Yamashita produces a top stop down low to her left to deny Wieke Kaptein, who has been lively since her introduction.
Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea, 84 minutes
21:41 , Harry Latham-CoyleChelsea are upping the urgency. Sandy Baltimore’s cross flies across the face of the Manchester City goal with no teammate positioned to turn it in, before Aggie Beever-Jones forces a save.
Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea, 82 minutes
21:38 , Harry Latham-CoyleThis scoreline would set up the second leg rather nicely, of course. Can Manchester City hold on to deal Chelsea their first defeat of the season?
OFF THE WOODWORK! Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea, 80 minutes
21:38 , Harry Latham-CoyleRattles the crossbar! That’s as close as Chelsea have come, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd finding space on the right side of the box and thundering against the woodwork. Ayaka Yamashita hadn’t a hope - but Manchester City survive.
Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea, 79 minutes
21:36 , Harry Latham-CoyleVivianne Miedema raises a hand of apology after taking the legs from underneath Sandy Baltimore.
Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea, 77 minutes
21:35 , Harry Latham-CoyleChelsea haven’t been able to keep control of the contest tonight. They have had more of the ball, but Manchester City haven’t felt threatened quite regularly enough.
Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea, 74 minutes
21:32 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnother change for Manchester City as Laura Blindkilde Brown, an England debutant in December, steps in for Jess Park.
Hamano’s first free kick is a shocker, shallow and short and hopping harmlessly out of play for a goal kick.
Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea, 71 minutes
21:29 , Harry Latham-CoyleThat’s that for Ramirez’s evening, slightly surprisingly. Sonia Bompastor introduces Maika Hamano.
Offside! Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea, 68 minutes
21:28 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe ball is in the back of the net...but Mayra Ramirez had strayed offside! Aggie Beever-Jones had delicately danced into space and produced a pretty side-rule pass - alas, her centre forward went too soon.
Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea, 68 minutes
21:25 , Harry Latham-CoyleNick Cushing shouts some instructions at his players. Sonia Bompastor, along the touchline in the other technical area, looks calm for now - though her side will need an equaliser to extend their unbeaten 28-game start under the French manager.
Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea, 64 minutes
21:21 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnother chance for the Dutchwoman! Millie Bright jockeys and jockeys and invites the shot, and Miedema obliges. Hannah Hampton is down well to save.
Laura Coombs replaces Mary Fowler.
Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea, 62 minutes
21:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt was a bit of a surprise that Vivianne Miedema didn’t start this game with no Bunny Shaw - but Nick Cushing liked what she could provide off the bench, a strategy that has worked.
Chelsea won’t panic, particularly with a second leg at Stamford Bridge to come, but that is a goal that will swell the hosts’ confidence.
GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 Chelsea (Vivianne Miedema, 60 minutes)
21:18 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe deadlock is broken! A crucial goal off the bench from Vivianne Miedema!
It had to be her. Manchester City build pressure as Chelsea fail to clear a corner. Hannah Hampton makes an extraordinary save from a header but succeeds only in tipping on to the bar, and Miedema is on hand to volley home the rebound. What a goalscorer she is!
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 58 minutes
21:16 , Harry Latham-CoyleA vital defensive header from Lucy Bronze! Kerolin blasts by Millie Bright and seems to have picked out Vivianne Miedema, but the Lionesses right-back bravely heads away.
Alterations for Chelsea. Keira Walsh and Lauren James depart as Sonia Bompastor freshens things up; Sjoeke Nusken and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd are on.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 56 minutes
21:14 , Harry Latham-CoyleManchester City are limited in terms of options on the bench, with Nick Cushing only naming seven of the permitted 10 substitutes - and I doubt we’ll see goalkeeper Khiara Keating or Katie Startup get a go.
Laura Coombs looks to be warming up most strenuously.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 54 minutes
21:11 , Harry Latham-CoyleGoalless we remain, then, nearly an hour into this two-legged tie.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 53 minutes
21:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleMillie Bright just about stays with the pacey Kerolin, showing all of her intelligence and experience to time her slide and block a cross.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 51 minutes
21:08 , Harry Latham-CoyleMayra Ramirez has looked the likeliest Chelsea player to open Manchester City up, and Gracie Prior clatters through the back of the striker after being defeated by some neat feat. The resultant delivery is poor, though.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 48 minutes
21:05 , Harry Latham-CoyleLauren James unleashes a laser of a strike from 25 yards after a free kick is played short, though Ayaka Yamashita, as she has been all night so far, is unruffled, shuffling to her left and saving.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 47 minutes
21:04 , Harry Latham-CoyleVivianne Miedema has gone up front, with Mary Fowler moving out to the left.
Second half...
21:03 , Harry Latham-CoyleA change at the interval from Manchester City - and, unsurprisingly, it’s Vivianne Miedema that Nick Cushing turns to to try and find a way through the Chelsea defence. Lily Murphy is replaced.
Chelsea will make a switch, too: Wieke Kaptein replaces Catarina Macario, who wasn’t at her best in the first half. Back underway.
HT: Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea
20:48 , Harry Latham-CoyleNo goals, then, and not much in the way of goalmouth action to dig into, either. At least there are no problems with the pitch - both teams have popped the ball about rather well at times, and you sense this is a contest that could yet open up. This is always the fear with two-legged ties, though, with neither willing to risk too much knowing that there is still 90 minutes more to come next week.
HT: Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea
20:47 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 45 minutes
20:46 , Harry Latham-CoyleInto stoppage time at the end of the half...or not. The board doesn’t go up, and that’s that.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 42 minutes
20:44 , Harry Latham-CoyleLily Murphy was a junior sprinter of some talent, and shows off her pace as she accelerates up through the gears before Nathalie Bjorn halts her surge. Manchester City can’t make anything of the corner.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 40 minutes
20:41 , Harry Latham-CoyleHaving said that, there is an almost immediate lull as half time begins to loom into view.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 37 minutes
20:39 , Harry Latham-CoyleA nice tempo to this game in the last ten minutes or so. Manchester City test both edges of the Chelsea defence, before Mayra Ramirez tries to burn Laia Aleixandri, knocking it past the centre-half. It’s to no avail, with Aleixandri recovering quickly.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 35 minutes
20:36 , Harry Latham-CoyleNobody there! It’s lovely work from Mayra Ramirez, bounding beyond the Manchester City defence and attempting to pick out a teammate. Lauren James rushes up in support - too far, as it happens, with Ramirez’s pull-back evading her!
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 33 minutes
20:34 , Harry Latham-CoyleNot Sandy Baltimore’s best. Mary Fowler times her leap well to head away.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 32 minutes
20:34 , Harry Latham-CoyleA clip of the legs from Leila Ouahabi brings down Mayra Ramirez slightly softly - but a free kick is nonetheless awarded, with Chelsea’s larger lumps coming forward to contest the delivery.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 29 minutes
20:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnother snapshot is saved by Hannah Hampton, who is yet to be truly tested despite those couple of early sightings for Jill Roord.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 28 minutes
20:29 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe first opportunity for Lily Murphy to show off her considerable talent. She puts Lucy Bronze on her heels with a diagonal drive before moving the ball out of her feet to shoot, though is unable to generate the requisite power to really test Hannah Hampton.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 26 minutes
20:28 , Harry Latham-CoylePoor from Mary Fowler! It’s excellent pressing initially from Manchester City, drawing Millie Bright into an error, and there are four sky blue shirts pouring forward as Fowler picks up possession. Her forward ball is overhit for Kerstin Casparij, who chases it out of play.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 25 minutes
20:26 , Harry Latham-CoyleDiligent defensive work from Lauren James, who retreats to help out Sandy Baltimore as Kerolin looks to capitalise.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 23 minutes
20:24 , Harry Latham-CoyleBeever-Jones is getting going, though. She shimmies past Lily Murphy and then past two more, eventually earning a corner.
Sandy Baltimore hits a Chelsea head, but a looping effort is comfortable for Yamashita.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 21 minutes
20:23 , Harry Latham-CoyleAggie Beever-Jones does collect a forward pass, but the 21-year-old curls into the arms of Ayaka Yamashita, and had been offside, anyway.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 19 minutes
20:21 , Harry Latham-CoyleGood defending from Gracie Prior, shuttling across to prevent Mayra Ramirez from bringing a diagonal under her control.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 15 minutes
20:18 , Harry Latham-CoyleChelsea are beginning to find their feet in this contest after a strong Manchester City start.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 13 minutes
20:14 , Harry Latham-CoyleBack-to-back corners. Sandy Baltimore swings the second straight into the firm grasp of Ayaka Yamashita.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 12 minutes
20:13 , Harry Latham-CoyleBetter from the visitors. Aggie Beever-Jones shows good pace and footwork to dribble beyond a couple of would-be tacklers, and Lauren James draws a corner.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 11 minutes
20:12 , Harry Latham-CoyleFowler takes with her right foot, this time, playing it short to Jess Park. Not the best routine - Park’s attempt to work a crossing angle succeeds only in taking her into a thicket of bodies, and Chelsea clear their lines.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 10 minutes
20:11 , Harry Latham-CoyleBright then concedes a free kick 30 yards from goal. Mary Fowler faints to take with her right foot and then switches to her left, and a whipped delivery earns a corner.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 9 minutes
20:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnother glimpse for Jill Roord. The rangy midfielder drives forward and sets her sights, releasing a powerful, low effort. A flick off the ankle of Millie Bright slows it, though, and Hannah Hampton gathers at the second attempt.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 7 minutes
20:08 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt is a trifle peculiar seeing Keira Walsh in a Chelsea shirt up against her former club, and the midfielder hasn’t quite settled yet. Sandy Baltimore concedes a soft foul with Chelsea still short of fluency in these opening exchanges.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 5 minutes
20:07 , Harry Latham-CoyleChelsea are just being a touch sloppy in their own final third. Again, they give the ball away in a dangerous area with Jill Roord once more pressing well, but the Dutch midfielder is offside as Mary Fowler attempts to thread her through.
Fowler has started centrally with Jess Park in behind, Kerolin out on the right and youngster Lily Murphy the left, it appears.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 3 minutes
20:04 , Harry Latham-CoyleLauren James is forced wide to retrieve an overhit cross, but the winger nimbly beats her defender and stands up another delivery. It’s too close to Ayaka Yamashita, who claims at head height.
Manchester City 0-0 Chelsea, 1 minute
20:03 , Harry Latham-CoyleA good challenge from Jill Rood halts a Chelsea passing move, and forward come Manchester City for a first foray. Kerolin’s 20-yard drive is crisp and clean but wide enough to the post to be watched warily by Hannah Hampton in goal.
KICK OFF!
20:01 , Harry Latham-CoyleManchester City get proceedings underway.
Manchester City vs Chelsea
19:56 , Harry Latham-CoyleOut the players come on to a pitch that looks rather better than the one utilised in Madrid last night.
Manchester City vs Chelsea
19:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt’s good to see Keira Walsh back in the Chelsea side after a frustrating injury recently, the Lionesses midfielder back among old friends having spent nine seasons at Manchester City. Can the hosts get a handle on her tonight?
Kerolin pinpoints where Manchester City need to improve
19:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleBrazilian forward Kerolin will make her Women’s Champions League debut tonight after joining Manchester City from the North Carolina Courage in January. The 25-year-old took the positives from the League Cup final defeat but feels her side must make more of their chances tonight.
"It is hard because when we look back to the game, we played really well. We need to keep doing what we’re doing and, when we get to the final third, we need to make better decisions. That’s how we’re going to win the game, scoring goals.
“I’m really happy and excited; it’s kind of like a dream. But I need to be really focused on how to help the team. Now is the time to make history. We’re ready for that and will try to do our best."
Tonight's other fixture
19:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt would appear that the defending champions are bound for the quarter-finals: Barcelona have been dominant against Wolfsburg in the early action of this Women’s Champions League double helping, and look to be taking a strong first-leg advantage back to Catalonia. A reminder that the winner there will face the side that emerges from tonight’s tie.
Nick Cushing hoping home advantage counts in first leg
19:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleYou feel a first-leg lead is a must for Manchester City with a tricky trip to Stamford Bridge to come next week. As manager Nick Cushing pointed out ahead of this fixture, the team have had some good showings at home so far in this campaign.
"There have been some incredible results [at home] this season,” Cushing said. “They [the players] beat Barcelona here, beat Arsenal to get to the [League Cup] final we just played. The team know they are good, but we need the real belief to win trophies. When you see that, they will just go on and consistently win."
Millie Bright reveals muted celebrations after cup success
19:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleMillie Bright has revealed that Chelsea did not engage in any wild celebrations after securing a trophy last weekend, such was the quick turnaround between the League Cup final and this first leg.
“There were barely any celebrations,” Bright admitted. “Everyone was tucked in bed by 9:30pm. I was, definitely – I was flat out! We have our eyes set on big targets this year. Winning trophies is not something we shy away from in terms of saying it out loud.
“Any game we play in, the mentality is to win, to be the best, and it's all about getting to that end goal. I think, with us this year, our mentality's tightened up a little bit, if I'm being honest. I didn't think it could go to a next level, but it has done."
Lucy Bronze opens up on autism and ADHD
19:00 , Will CastleLucy Bronze believes her neurodivergence played to her advantage in light of her late diagnoses of autism and ADHD.
With 22 major titles under her belt, the England and Chelsea star has nearly won everything there is to win in women’s football, including a famous Euro 2022 triumph with the Lionesses.
England star Lucy Bronze opens up on autism and ADHD diagnoses
Team news - Chelsea
18:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleAggie Beever-Jones and a fit-again Keira Walsh come into the Chelsea starting side.
Chelsea XI: Hampton; Bronze, Bjorn, Bright (c), Baltimore; Cuthbert, Walsh; Beever-Jones, Macario, James; Ramirez.
Team news - Manchester City
18:48 , Harry Latham-CoyleIn the absence of their injured pair, Nick Cushing hands an opportunity for 19-year-old forward Lily Murphy in the Manchester City team.
Manchester City XI: Yamashita; Casparij, Prior, Aleixandri (C), Ouahabi; Hasegawa, Roord, Park; Kerolin, Murphy, Fowler.
Your City XI to face Chelsea 🩵
— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) March 19, 2025
XI | Yamashita, Casparij, Prior, Aleixandri (C), Ouahabi, Hasegawa, Roord, Park, Kerolin, Murphy, Fowler
SUBS | Keating, Startup, Layzell, Miedema, Coombs, Wienroither, Blindkilde Brown #ManCity | #UWCL pic.twitter.com/Tmm46y9Lw5
Man City confirm injury blow ahead of Chelsea quarter-final
18:38 , Harry Latham-CoyleWe should have team news in the next little while. Manchester City will be without star striker Khadija Shaw and fellow forward Aoba Fujino:
Khadija Shaw injury update as Man City confirm blow ahead of Chelsea quarter-final
Ian Wright fumes over ‘disgrace’ of a pitch as Arsenal lose to Real Madrid
18:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleAlas, that was not the last poor pitch story of the week, with a sodden surface slammed by Ian Wright after Arsenal’s defeat to Real Madrid last night.
Ian Wright fumes over ‘disgrace’ of a pitch as Arsenal lose to Real Madrid
‘A shame’: Women’s League Cup final pitch criticised as Chelsea beat Man City
18:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe surface was in the spotlight post-match, though, with a dreadful pitch criticised by players from both teams.
‘A shame’: Women’s League Cup final pitch criticised as Chelsea beat Man City
The key to Chelsea’s victory over Man City in League Cup final
18:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleLet’s look back on that League Cup final at Pride Park - Jamie Braidwood was there to see Sonia Bompastor and Chelsea continue their sparkling season:
The key to Chelsea’s victory over Man City resulting in huge advantage
Manchester City vs Chelsea LIVE
17:08 , Harry Latham-CoyleWell, if familiarity breeds contempt, expect Manchester City and Chelsea to hate one another by this time next week. This Women’s Champions League first leg is the second of four meetings in a short space of time between the pair, with the hosts seeking revenge after Saturday’s League Cup final defeat.
Kick off at the Joie Stadium is at 8pm.
