Chelsea Women: Five of the best matches from the 2022/2023 campaign

2. Chelsea v Paris Saint-Germain, UEFA Women’s Champions League

Date: December 22, 2022

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Result: 3-0 Chelsea

In the club’s first contest at Stamford Bridge against its competent opponent, the Chelsea Women put Group A to bed with an extraordinary display against Paris Saint-Germain. It was the final match of the 2022 calendar year, and the Blues made sure they would head out on winter vacation with loads of positivity.

The link-up play by the west London outfit tore up the French side’s backline, pressing them and forcing the opposition into a mistake for the second goal scored by James. They still had the option to lose the match and finish at the top of the group, but Hayes’ side did not want to leave their fate up to anybody else. The second and third goals required more than just two players to create it as the quick decision-making in the final third punished the away side in the blink of an eye.

Given some of the question marks or bumps in the road in the recent fixtures before this match, this was one that set everything straight. The PSG women’s team was coming off of three consecutive Champions League semifinal appearances.

For the west London outfit to pitch a clean sheet and net three goals on the French juggernaut was a massive turning point of the season for this club. It ended up being the worst defeat in any competition during 2022/2023 for Gerard Precheur’s side. In front of over 10,000 fans at the Bridge, Hayes’ team pieced together one of the most memorable outings of the season.