Ramírez rises to the occasion as Real fail to stop Blue tide

A 3-2 defeat of Real Madrid ensured Chelsea cruised to a 10th unbeaten home group game, as they began their first campaign under new manager Sonia Bompastor at Stamford Bridge.

- Suzanne Wrack

Goals from Sjoeke Nusken, Guro Reiten and Mayra Ramírez continued the Blues' perfect start to the season, the only blemish the two goals conceded, hinting at a defensive fragility. There was a period of confusion before kick-off, with the Liquidator playing on loop and the teams stood in the tunnel with no sign of them coming out. When the players did emerge, kick-off delayed for six minutes, the cause was evident, with Zecira Musovic hurriedly pulling on gloves and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who was named in the starting XI, nowhere to be seen.

Bompastor had made three changes to the team that beat Crystal Palace 10 days prior, before Hampton's late withdrawal. Sandy Baltimore, Mayra Ramírez and Wieke Kaptein were all handed starts, and Ashley Lawrence and Aggie Beever-Jones were named on the bench.

For Alberto Toril, there were six fresh names on the teamsheet following Friday night's 1-0 defeat of Valencia, with Misa Rodríguez, Teresa Abelleira, Sheila García, Alba Redondo, Filippa Angeldal and Maëlle Lakrar all included. Meanwhile, midfielder Melanie Leupolz was handed a start against the team she left in the summer.