Chelsea Demolish Roma 6-0 in Champions League Masterclass
Puntos Clave
- Chelsea crushed Roma 6-0 at Stamford Bridge in dominant Champions League display
- Six different scorers including Lucy Bronze's stunning 86th-minute strike from distance
- Sjoeke Nüsken converted second-half penalty after VAR intervention for fourth goal
- Blues controlled 60.9% possession with 18 shots in comprehensive European victory
Lucy Bronze's thunderous right-footed strike from the right side of the box crashed into the top left corner in the 86th minute, capping off a breathtaking Champions League performance as Chelsea demolished Roma 6-0 at Stamford Bridge. The crowd of Blues faithful erupted as Bronze's spectacular effort put the finishing touch on a masterclass display that showcased the depth and quality running through this Chelsea squad, currently sitting 7th in their Champions League group.
The floodgates opened early when Valentina Bergamaschi's unfortunate own goal in the 13th minute set the tone for Roma's nightmare evening. Wieke Kaptein doubled the advantage in the 26th minute, rifling a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the bottom left corner after Johanna Rytting Kaneryd's clever headed assist. Rytting Kaneryd then got on the scoresheet herself just before halftime, prodding home a left-footed effort from the right side of the six-yard box in the 44th minute. The second half brought no respite for the visitors as Sjoeke Nüsken converted a penalty in the 51st minute after VAR confirmed Marta Pandini's foul, before Maika Hamano swept home from the centre of the box in the 76th minute following Guro Reiten's assist.
Chelsea dominated every aspect of the tactical battle, with Keira Walsh and Catarina Macário controlling the midfield tempo before their halftime substitutions. Sam Kerr caused constant problems for Roma's backline with her movement and link-up play, while the Blues' defensive unit barely broke sweat against Roma's limited attacking threat. The visitors managed just two shots on target compared to Chelsea's 18 attempts, highlighting the gulf in class between the sides.
The statistics painted a picture of complete dominance, with Chelsea enjoying 60.9% possession and registering 11 shots on target to Roma's mere two. The Blues forced five corners while conceding just two, and goalkeeper Olivie Lukášová was forced into several crucial saves to prevent an even more embarrassing scoreline. Despite Roma's best efforts, they managed only six total shots compared to Chelsea's relentless 18 attempts on goal.
The turning point came with Nüsken's penalty conversion early in the second half, which effectively killed off any hopes of a Roma comeback. The German midfielder's composed spot-kick followed a VAR review that confirmed Pandini's clumsy challenge, and from that moment the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge became increasingly celebratory as the home crowd sensed more goals were inevitable.
Chelsea will look to maintain this momentum when they host Brighton & Hove Albion on December 14, needing consistent performances to climb their Champions League group standings. Meanwhile, Roma face a crucial test when they welcome Celtic on December 11, desperately requiring points to salvage their European campaign after this humbling defeat in west London.