Chelsea registered a convincing 3-0 win over Celtic to seal early qualification to the knockout rounds of the Women’s Champions League and guarantee the Hoops’ exit from the competition.
The hosts got off to a dream start when Lucy Bronze hammered home on the volley inside 65 seconds, before Guro Reiten teased a cross for Wieke Kaptein to head her first European goal.
The game was at risk of running away from Celtic before reaching halfway, but the Scottish side did well to regain composure and resist any further Chelsea advances.
Powerhouse Mayra Ramirez was introduced at the break and swiftly made her presence felt, asking further questions of Celtic’s resolve, before Bronze won a stoppage-time penalty to seal the deal – despatched expertly by substitute Eve Perisset.
And, to cap a satisfactory night’s work, there was still time for 17-year-old Lola Brown to make her senior debut.
The win, a perfect rehearsal for Sunday’s WSL meeting with Manchester United, takes Sonia Bompastor’s immaculate record to 11 wins from 11. Chelsea will have to wait until February to learn their quarter-final opponents but are assured to progress from Group B alongside Real Madrid with two games to spare.
Lucy Bronze celebrates finding the net on the volley
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Chelsea now face a quick turnaround before they are back in action in the WSL, as they host Manchester United at Kingsmeadow on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
Bompastor’s side will be aiming to make it eight wins from eight to extend their two-point gap on Manchester City in second.