Chelsea Women vs Manchester City Women: Tactical Analysis & Match Report (3-0)

Sonia Bompastor’s Chelsea entered this decisive quarter-final match with an impressive 22-game unbeaten streak, which had been abruptly ended by Manchester City in the first leg of the UEFA Women's Champions League tie. Having previously beaten City in the League Cup final just days earlier, Chelsea suffered a heavy 2-0 defeat in the first leg.

However, they bounced back with a thrilling comeback victory in the league, setting up an intense fourth and final meeting between the two sides at Stamford Bridge.

In a high-stakes encounter, Chelsea delivered another outstanding performance, securing a dominant 3-0 win to overturn the aggregate deficit and advance to the semi-finals. In this article, The Pride of London will discuss the key tactical details that unfolded on Friday night.

Chelsea’s Tactical Approach in Possession

One of the key themes in Chelsea’s build-up play was the ability to manipulate City’s pressing scheme. When Millie Bright carried the ball out of defense, City found themselves caught between a zonal press and a player-oriented approach. This often left Chelsea with a 4v4 situation in the last line, allowing Bright to find gaps between the lines.

Lauren James, who frequently rotated positions with Ramirez, found herself in these spaces and was often the outlet to progress play. Although Bright miscued an early pass to James, Chelsea's ability to apply immediate pressure upon turnovers—an aspect heavily emphasized under Bompastor—allowed them to create a dangerous chance early on. James’ pressing led to a turnover and a near goal-scoring opportunity, signaling Chelsea’s intent from the start.

City eventually adjusted by marking Chelsea’s players more tightly in their high press, especially after going 1-0 down. While this forced Chelsea to go long more often, it also presented opportunities. If Chelsea could string together quick passes and combine movements from the frontline and marauding fullbacks, they could progress into the opposition penalty area.

In settled possession, Chelsea often maintained their 4-2-4 shape in the middle third, with their double pivot in staggered positions. Keira Walsh was typically the deeper midfielder, facilitating quick progression through the thirds—an essential aspect of Bompastor’s approach.