Real Madrid vs Chelsea facts

Two UEFA Women's Champions League group stage ever-presents meet when Real Madrid take on Chelsea for the second season running as Group D kicks off.

Chelsea took four of their 16 Group A points last season from the two fixtures against Madrid, winning 2-0 in London on Matchday 3 with goals from Sophie Ingle (67) and Erin Cuthbert (76).

The Spanish side delayed the Blues' progress to the knockout rounds in the Spanish capital on Matchday 4, going ahead through Caroline Weir's 36th-minute strike. However, their English visitors hit back in the second half, Guro Reiten's penalty striking the woodwork before going in off goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez to earn a 1-1 draw.

Alberto Toril's Madrid failed to progress from their group in 2022/23, finishing third with eight points – two behind second-placed Paris Saint-Germain. They had been eliminated in the quarter-finals by domestic rivals Barcelona the previous season, their first European campaign.

Madrid, who finished second behind Barça in the league last term and were runners-up in the Copa de la Reina to city rivals Atlético de Madrid, reached their third successive group stage with a 5-1 aggregate win against Norway's Vålerenga (2-1 h, 3-0 a) in their second-round qualifier.

Chelsea, whose best performance in this competition came when they reached the 2021 final, losing 4-0 to Barcelona, were eliminated by the same team in last season's semi-finals. The Blues did end the Blaugrana's five-year winning home run in this competition with a 1-1 second-leg draw, but had gone down 1-0 at home.

Emma Hayes, whose departure as Chelsea manager at the end of this campaign was announced on 4 November, masterminded the club's fourth successive Women's Super League championship in a row last season. The Londoners finished two points ahead of Manchester United, who they also beat in the Women's FA Cup final thanks to Sam Kerr's second-half strike.

Players to watch

Signe Bruun

The 25-year-old was part of the Lyon side eliminated from last season's competition by Chelsea; she was substituted before a 4-3 shoot-out defeat at Stamford Bridge in the quarter-final second leg in March.

The attacker came off the bench in both legs of Paris's 3-2 aggregate loss to Chelsea in the 2018/19 quarter-finals.

Bruun joined Madrid in July having won the French league and cup double with Lyon last season.

The Danish international made eight appearances in Les Fenottes' successful Champions League campaign in 2021/22.

The forward had an injury-hit loan spell with Manchester United in 2022, facing Chelsea on both her debut (1-3) and her final appearance (2-4).

Sophie Ingle

The 32-year-old scored her first Women's Champions League goal against Madrid, heading the opener in Chelsea's 2-0 home victory in November 2022.

The midfielder, who can also play in defence, also played 90 minutes of the Matchday 4 draw between the sides in Madrid last season.

She opened the scoring in the 4-0 away success against Vllaznia on Matchday 5 last term as Chelsea booked their place in the last eight.

Ingle equalled Kerys Harrop's Women's Super League appearance record of 183 on 12 November when brought on as a substitute in the win at Everton on 12 November.

The Welsh international, who extended her contract until 2025 in December, rejoined Chelsea in 2018 after spells with Bristol Academy and Liverpool, having originally signed from Cardiff in 2012.

Key facts

Real Madrid

This is Madrid's third successive group stage appearance.

The Spanish side have won four and drawn two of their last six home European matches.

Madrid have won eight of their last 12 Women's Champions League matches (D2 L2).

Las Blancas won on Matchday 1 in both 2021/22 and 2022/23.

Madrid have lost only one of their six home group games (W3 D2).

They have failed to score in only two of their last 16 fixtures in the competition.

Chelsea

Like Madrid, Chelsea have featured in all three editions of the Women's Champions League group stage.

The Blues collected more points (16) than any other club in the 2022/23 group stage, while their one goal conceded was also the lowest among the 16 sides.

Chelsea have lost only one of their 12 group stage games, winning eight.

The Londoners have won five and drawn one of their last six group matches

Chelsea have kept eight clean sheets in their last ten group fixtures.