Real Madrid 1-2 Chelsea: Katarina Macario scores twice from her spot as Blues top Group B in UEFA Women’s Champions League

Catarina Macario came off the bench to score twice from the penalty spot as Chelsea came from behind to beat Real Madrid and seal top spot in UEFA Women’s Champions League Group B.

Both teams had already qualified for the knockouts before kick-off, with only their Group B order to be determined on the night, and Chelsea’s first-half display was notable for its lack of tension.

Real took an early lead when Hannah Hampton was unable to keep out Caroline Weir’s excellent shot and Los Blancos got the better of a first half that saw plenty of chances at each end.

But half-time substitute Makarios changed the game as the English visitors started the second half with a noticeably increased tempo.

The USA international had a goal disallowed for offside moments after the restart, and had scored twice from the spot just 11 minutes into her time on the pitch, twice firing high to the keeper’s left with Olga Carmona pushing both away spot.

Real Madrid pushed the players forward with an increasingly frenetic second half as they chased their preferred qualification spot in Group B, but Chelsea held firm to continue their impressive run in the competition and advance with six wins from six.

For most of the game, Real Madrid’s stalwart midfielder Weir stood out as the most influential player on the pitch as the Scotland star put in a world-class display.

But the defining performance of the night came from half-time substitute Makarios, who dismantled Real in a remarkable and dominant spell at the start of the second half.

Had a goal disallowed, won the first penalty and was ruthless from the spot on both occasions to beat Chelsea 2-1.

Real Madrid: Mass 8? García 8, Lakrar 7, Mendez 7, Carmona 5; Angeldahl 7, Toletti 6, Leupolz 6; Weir 9, Bruun 6, Caicedo 7. Receivers: Redondo 7, Feller 8, Athenea 7.

Chelsea: Hampton 6; Bronze 7, Bjorn 6, Bright 6, Charles 7; Nusken 6, Cuthbert 7; Captain 7, Reiten 6, Beever-Jones 6; Ramirez 7. Second: Hamano 7, Makarios 9, Baltimore 8, Lawrence 8.

Neither of these clubs have ever won the UEFA Women’s Champions League, but both will be hoping to change that this season. Progressing to the knockout stages has always been standard procedure in a group that included Twente and Celtic, but the new year will see the competition enter the seriously competitive knockout stage.

The quality of the teams awaiting Chelsea and Real in the knockout stages is extremely high: reigning champions Barcelona and Bombastor’s former club Lyon will be joined by German sides Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich, with WSL giants Arsenal and Manchester City to complete an extremely strong set of eight teams. who will fight it out for Europe’s greatest honor.

8′ – GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-0 CHELSEA (WEIR) Real Madrid take an early lead and Hannah Hampton won’t want to see that again. A terrific break sees Weir and Carmona put Caicedo in a dangerous position inside the box. He leaves it behind for Weir to shoot and Hampton looks to claw it over the bar but can only tip it onto the post and into the back of the net. The rally was excellent, but it’s a disappointing way for Chelsea to concede.

45′ – CHANGE AT THE INTERIOR Maya Ramirez worked extremely hard in the first half and was replaced at the break by Catarina Macario.

46′ – QUICK START FROM CHELSEA The pace was noticeably higher than Chelsea’s at the start of the second half and they looked to have equalized early on, with Makario sliding in to finish past the keeper, but she had swerved slightly and was offside.

49′ – PENALTY! Macario goes into the box and Carmona sticks out to reduce the half-time substitute. The Real Madrid captain is furious with the decision, but it looks like a foul in the replay and Chelsea have a chance to equalize from the spot.

52′ – GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-1 CHELSEA (MAKARIO) Catarina Macario was incredible in her first few minutes on the pitch and whistled her penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-1. Game activated.

54′ – PENALTY! Another penalty for Chelsea! Real Madrid give the ball away pointlessly and Chelsea put the ball into the box where it takes a deflection to hit Carmona on the arm. It’s incredibly unlucky, but it’s handball and the penalty is awarded.

57′ – GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-2 CHELSEA (MAKARIO) It’s a copy from Makarios, who again goes high to the keeper’s left to score her second goal of the game with only ten minutes on the pitch. 2-1 Chelsea and returns to the top of Group B.

Chelsea have lost just two Champions League games since the start of the 2022/23 season – both in semi-finals against Barcelona, ​​with Barca winning the double tie and post-final in each case.

The draw for the quarter-finals will take place on February 7, with the two matches taking place on March 18/19 and 26/27.