In depth review of the three fixtures from Matchday 4 which features the biggest clubs of the tournament.
BK Häcken 0 – 0 Chelsea: Away Day Toils and Troubles
BK Häcken welcomed Chelsea to the coastal and chilly Gothenburg in western Sweden to open Matchday 4 of the UEFA Women’s Champions League Group Phase.
It took Chelsea little more than four minutes to put the ball past Jennifer Falk. Centre-Back Veerle Buurman struck her corner to the near post, where her countrywoman Wieke Kaptein turned the ball into the net. Unfortunately for the Blues, Lexie Potter obstructed Falk’s view from an offside position and the goal was called back. Thirty-one more shots would come from Chelsea in the next 90 minutes.
Chelsea’s second effort would come six minutes later. A key theme of this encounter included Lucy Bronze and Buurman carrying the ball from the halfway line to the Häcken area, searching for an outlet. Buurman connected again with Kaptein in a central position, which allowed Ellie Carpenter space to shoot into the side net.
The Chelsea back three (Buurman, Björn and Bronze) totaled 385 touches in a match where the Blues recorded 78% possession. But this dominance was tested by Häcken, particularly due to the positioning of wing-backs Carpenter and Alyssa Thompson. These two naturally forward-thinking players were caught out in the 17th minute, allowing Tuva Ölvestad and Tilde Karlsson to have a 2v1 against Bronze. The 35 year-old did well to close down the passing angle and forced Ölvestad’s pass too wide to danger Livia Peng’s goal.
A second goal was called back in the 28th minute. Chelsea’s Keira Walsh swept through the heart of BK Häcken’s midfield, setting up a passing sequence that ended with a clinical finish from Melvine Malard. Unfortunately, the French striker went slightly too early and was caught offside.
Second Half Pressure… but no Reward
Chelsea’s tirade towards goal continued into the second half as Alyssa Thompson stood up Thelma Karen Pálmadóttir, leaving her for dead. Her subsequent cross eventually found Carpenter at the back post, but the Australian was denied by Falk’s brilliant star jump save. Just north of the hour mark, the recently subbed-in Sandy Baltimore stood over a free kick, in a similar position to which Juventus scored from in matchday three. The cross was sent to the back post to a free Bronze, who, to Häcken’s delight, found Falk’s gloves. Just a minute later, the West Londoners sieved through the lines, the ball again landing to Carpenter, again hitting the side net.
The Swedes began to defend deeper as Chelsea became desperate for a winner. Joy Omewa’s long pass left Buurman and Bodin 1v1; the defender came out on top, getting a toe to the ball. Chelsea had a barrage of shots within the six minutes of added time, including Maika Hamano’s shot that kissed the top of the bar.
Chelsea are still undefeated, have yet to concede a goal and sit in fifth place, one spot outside of the automatic qualification spots. However, the Blues have failed to score in both away games, and looked unconvincing at home in their 1-0 win over Austria Wien on Matchday 1. This offensive malaise is concerning for Chelsea and may come down to both selection and formation. Sonia Bompastor has cycled through many attacking combinations and has even played central midfielders like Kaptein and Sjoeke Nüsken in the front line of her 3-4-3, materialising in a lack of cohesion plus three goals in four games.
Paris Saint-Germain 1 – 2 Bayern Munich
Potentially the most evenly poised game of the matchday took place in a rainy Paris. Bayern were the aggressors in the opening stages, keeping the Parisians pinned in, resulting in a couple of efforts from Pernille Harder while Magdalena Eriksson and Klara Bühl shot high and wide. There was a potential penalty incident in the ninth minute when Bühl’s cross struck the hand of the sliding Griedge Mbock, but the referee deemed the defender’s arm to be in a natural position.
Bayern generally prefer to attack on their left regardless of the opponent; this time, however, the ball was cycled out to the right. Giulia Gwinn and Harder isolated Olga Carmona close on the goal line; Harder’s resulting cross was inadvertently turned in by PSG goalkeeper Katarzyna Kiedrzynek.
Bühl and Harder were at the heart of things for the German champions. When PSG attempted to play out from the back and failed to get beyond Bayern’s midfield, those two combined again to double the lead after forty minutes.
PSG wasn’t exactly toothless, but they only managed to register their first shot on goal after 30 minutes: a blocked shot from a corner.
Second Half Ray of Hope for the Hosts
The second half started with Bayern’s attack retaining the same fluidity, but without much menace. Their only threat came from a Momoko Tanikawa pass struck well by Bühl, forcing PSG’s number one into a fine stop down to her left.
Just after the hour, PSG earned themselves a corner. Carmona’s initial cross into the near post was cleared back to her by Linda Dallmann. But the Sapniard’s second effort clearly struck Dallmann’s arms in the area as she instinctively attempted to cover her face. PSG captain Paulina Dudek placed the penalty to her left as Ena Mahmutovic dove the other way.
But the hosts failed to capitalize on the momentum. In fact, after their goal Bayern regained their offensive rigor, and even scored in the 82nd minute. Unfortunately, Dallmann’s run was a second too early, keeping the contest alive. Deep in stoppage time PSG nearly snatched an equaliser with a move down the right. Merveille Kanjinga delivered a cross into Tara Elimbi Gilbert, but her shot was blocked by Stine Ballisager’s sliding tackle. Bayern collected all three points, and moved up to third in the table.
PSG slid from 6th to 10th in standings and are in real danger of falling out of the playoff spots. Their next match is Chelsea away, which won’t be easy. This was Paulo César’s side’s first continental defeat, despite two difficult fixtures against Real Madrid and Manchester City. But the Brazilian needs his team to tighten up in the midfield; Bayern were afforded too much time and space on the ball to find their attackers.
Barcelona 1 – 1 Arsenal
Fool me once, shame on you;
fool me twice, shame on FCB
The Camp Nou opened its doors for a repeat of the 2025 Champions League Final. Arsenal began the encounter quickly as Alessia Russo was disappointed when her header hit the post from yards out. That opportunity was something of a false dawn, however, as Barcelona began to wake up.
Caroline Graham Hansen led the charge against Taylor Hinds as Barça often searched for the Norwegian and their right-hand side to break Arsenal’s defense. The visitors did not know whether to stay in shape or jump out and pressurise the Barcelona midfield. Those seconds of hesitation allowed Barcelona to get in behind consistently.
When Arsenal did manage to get hold of the ball, the plan was to send it long to their right-hand side of Emily Fox and Caitlin Foord, who provided flashes of positivity in the attack. And it was the Gunners who struck first after twenty minutes. From a free-kick, Arsenal constructed a masterful series of passes and connections that ultimately forced Barça’s keeper Cata Coll into a desperate save. Her parry rebounded to Frida Maanum, who finished well through a sea of bodies.
Sydney Schertenleib proceeded to take the game to Arsenal. She had five first-half shots, but none of them were able to find the net. As the halftime whistle blew, La Blaugrana’s frustration was evident. Despite a dominant performance, where they had seventy-eight final-third passes and eighteen shots (four on target), they had not found the equalizer.
Barcelona
Graham Hansen and Schertenleib continued to turn the screw into the second half; the Norwegian’s cross forced Misa Rodríguez into a save. Seconds later, the Swiss midfielder cut the ball back to Aïcha Cámara, who took too long to get her shot off.
Barcelona pressure finally broke the Gunners’ resistance just before the hour. A rare attack through the centre saw Clàudia Pina try to pass the midfield. Her failure became Esmee Brugts’ opportunity, and her chopped pass left Graham Hansen exposed 1v1 with Catley. The Norwegian cut onto her left foot and whipped it into the corner. All level.
Following the equaliser, the game opened up slightly for Arsenal. The introduction of Olivia Smith added necessary pace against a tiring Brugts at left back, her cross and Russo’s smart movement nearly restored Arsenal’s lead as the game entered its last quarter. The last twenty minutes provided corner opportunities for Arsenal alongside more last-ditch defending; neither team would budge.
Much of this Arsenal side played against Barcelona in that Champions League final victory. There were many similarities to that game, namely the last-ditch defending and profiting from few chances. This point will feel like a very good one for Renée Slegers as her side faces flawless table-toppers OL Lyonnes.
