Too harsh a punishment for Real Sociedad in the Champions League
The Donostiarra side fell 5-2 to Chelsea in the first leg of the Champions League qualifier. Ainhoa Marín and Cecilia Marcos scored the goals for the Basque team, who equalised twice in the match, but Naomi Girma, Veerle Burman, Melvine Malard, who scored a brace, and Lauren James scored the home goals.
26 AUG 2026
Real Sociedad left London having competed well, despite a final scoreline that was far too flattering for their opponents. Seven minutes into the match, Ainhoa Marín unleashed a stunning goal from the edge of the box, sending the ball into the top corner. The response was swift. After a shot from Beever-Jones following a corner went wide, Baltimore tried her luck with an effort that hit the woodwork. It was only a matter of time before a corner, taken by McCabe, resulted in an unstoppable header from Girma, levelling the score before half-time. After the restart, Chelsea sought to increase the intensity, and just ten minutes into the second half, Veerle Buurman headed the ball into the back of the net.
However, the Txuri-Urdin side had not given up, and Cecilia Marcos quickly equalised. Buurman dispossessed Ainhoa Marín, but the ball fell to the San Sebastián winger, who found space and sent the ball into the back of the net, making it 2-2 on the scoreboard. Arturo Ruiz's side sought to leave with at least a draw, but Malard, who got past Julia Arrula with a dummy, put the Londoners ahead once more. With fifteen minutes remaining, Lauren James made no mistake for the fourth, and Melvine Malard sealed the match with the fifth. Ane Isasisasmendi made her official debut for the Basque club. The return leg, where the Txuri-Urdin club will be looking for a heroic comeback, will be on Wednesday, September 2nd, at 19:00h at Zubieta.