PSG Women 0-1 Chelsea Women: Millie Bright’s first-half volley seals all three points for the Blues in group stage opener… as Denise Reddy’s side maintain winning streak despite Emma Hayes’ absence
- Chelsea picked up a 1-0 victory against PSG in their Champions League opener
- Millie Bright scored a first-half volley to wrap up all three points for the Blues
- It was Denise Reddy’s second game in the dugout in Emma Hayes’ absence
- The Blues are without Hayes as she recovers from an emergency hysterectomy
Chelsea made it an English double in France as they followed up Arsenal’s victory over Lyon with a 1-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain.
The Gunners had thrashed the Champions League holders 5-1 a night earlier and while the Blues’ victory in Paris was not as emphatic, it was nevertheless impressive.
Millie Bright’s first half strike was the difference between the two teams as Chelsea nullified PSG’s attacking threats.
Mille Bright wrapped up all three points with a well-taken first-half volley for Chelsea in Paris
Erin Cuthbert delivered a perfect cross for the England defender to convert from close range
The Blues maintained their winning streak ahead of their trip to Brighton on the weekend
The Blues are still without manager Emma Hayes, who was watching from home as she continues to recover from an emergency hysterectomy, but she will no doubt have been pleased with her side’s performance.
This was by no means a classic but Chelsea were efficient. They got the job done, which is something they failed to do last season when they exited at the group stage.
They should have made the knockouts but a 4-0 defeat against Wolfsburg in their final game saw them eliminated.
They could have lost that game 2-0 and still progressed. The memory of that night will still haunt Hayes and her squad but their determination to emulate their achievement of making the final in 2021 is stronger than ever.
Paris is not an easy place for opposition teams to go, with the PSG’s ultras making for an intimidating atmosphere. But Chelsea were unphased and it was the English side that started the game brighter.
Sam Kerr had a couple of half chances before she forced PSG goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi into a fine save with her feet after diverting Guro Reiten’s cross towards goal.
The Blues more than had the better of early stages and the breakthrough came just before the half hour mark.
Erin Cuthbert’s corner was initially cleared but the ball came back out to the midfielder, who whipped in a cross to the back-post and Bright got away from her marker to volley into the roof of the net.
PSG had failed to have a shot on target in the first half and they didn’t fare much better in the second.
The Blues are looking to avoid a group stage elimination, which they suffered last season
Kadidiatou Diani and Ashley Lawrence both had tame shots that went straight into the hands of Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger and those efforts rather summed up their night.
It is games like this that the absence of star striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto, PSG’s top scorer last season, is really noticed. Katoto suffered an ACL injury during the Euros and is set to be out for at least the rest of the year.
Kerr could have wrapped things up for Chelsea when she was picked out at the back-post by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, but the striker could only send a header over the bar.
PSG were camped in their opponent’s half for the closing stages but they could not break down a stubborn Chelsea defence.
Their next game in the competition sees them face KF Vllaznia, before taking on Real Madrid
