Chelsea delivered a statement performance in the Champions League, cruising past Real Madrid with a 3-0 victory at the Drgoba Arena, London.
The match saw Joseph Haigh open the scoring in the 17th minute, coolly finishing from close range to give the hosts the lead. Paul Malcolm extended Chelsea’s advantage with a thunderous strike in the 64th minute, before Johnny Jenkins capitalised on a defensive error to slot home the third in the 78th minute.
Real Madrid, despite enjoying 56% possession, looked toothless in attack, mustering just three shots all game, compared to Chelsea’s 22. The Blues’ relentless pressing and clinical finishing proved too much for Los Blancos, whose defence struggled under pressure.
Matty Roberts shone as the standout performer, claiming Player of the Match with an 8.0 rating and a 66% cross completion ratio. Chelsea’s intensity on both ends of the pitch left Madrid frustrated, with the Spanish giants picking up three yellow cards as their composure slipped.
Elsewhere in the Champions League, Napoli humiliated Ajax 7-0 in a jaw-dropping display, while FC Nantes claimed a crucial 2-1 win over Arsenal. Porto and Slovan Bratislava shared a 2-2 draw, and Tottenham edged Valencia 1-0 to keep their hopes alive.
The result cements Chelsea’s position at the top of the group stage table, with 17 points from five games. Real Madrid, meanwhile, face mounting pressure with just 12 points and little margin for error going forward.
With this commanding victory, Chelsea have sent a clear warning to the rest of Europe: they are serious contenders for Champions League glory.