Chelsea edge Real Madrid to begin UWCL quest

Sonia Bompastor's Stamford Bridge debut saw her Chelsea side beat Real Madrid 3-2 in their Champions League opener on Tuesday.

Chelsea had 10 days to prepare for the game following the controversial postponement of their Women's Super League clash against Manchester United on Sunday. Their return to action was delayed by a further four minutes, after goalkeeper Hannah Hampton had to be pulled out of the starting lineup moments before kickoff due to illness and was replaced by Zecira Musovic.

The hosts raced into a two-goal lead through a header from Sjoeke Nüsken and a Guro Reiten penalty before Alba Redondo pulled a goal back for Madrid near half-time.

Mayra Ramírez scored her first goal of the season soon after the break and while a late Linda Caicedo goal produced a nervy finish, Chelsea held on to maintain their winning start to the Bompastor era.

"I think this stadium has so much history and I just want to be part of that history trying to yeah bring my new vision and it's always good to to build up from that legacy and being on page and the line with that," Bompastor told reporters afterward.

"Having the opportunity to win the first Champions league game with the team as a Chelsea manager, it's always important and I just enjoy that. Sometimes you just expect like Chelsea to win every single game and that's normal for everyone, but you just need to realise like that's really good when you win and you need to enjoy."

The result means Real Madrid are now winless in their last five meetings with Chelsea.

"I think both sides put up a good performance," Madrid coach Alberto Toril said. "I think we proved that we're growing as a team. I think on this occasion, in comparison to previous games, we're getting closer and closer and I think this is the closest we've come to positive result in the times we've met each other."

The west London side took a second minute lead when Johanna Rytting Keneryd burst down the right wing and put in an inviting cross. Nüsken met the cross with a header that deflected into the net off Madrid's Sheila Garcia.

Madrid looked rocked by the early goal and began racking up touches on the ball as they looked to gain a foothold in the game. However, their attacking threat was minimal and as the rain poured down, Chelsea entered cruise control.

Reiten, who got on the scoresheet against Madrid the last time these two sides met, doubled Chelsea's lead with a 28th minute penalty after Maria Mendez's foul on Nüsken.

The scoreline and Madrid's record against Chelsea -- winless in their last four meetings -- didn't dull their positivity in possession. Minutes after Reiten's penalty, Madrid nearly halved the deficit after a powerful shot from Alba Redondo was sharply saved by Musovic.

However, the Spain international wasn't to be denied on the 39th minute, slotting home from close range after scrappy Chelsea defending. The goal came against the run of play but felt a fair reward for Madrid's endeavour.

The hosts restored their two-goal lead early in the second half through Ramirez's looping header from Lauren James' cross.

The goal appeared to have sealed the game for Chelsea but the introduction of Linda Caicedo meant their defence had little opportunity to relax and in the 83rd minute, the Colombia international tapped in from close range to raise hopes of an improbable comeback.

But Chelsea held firm and condemned Madrid to their first loss of the season.

"Happy with the result. I think if you reflect on the performance, I wish my team could have been able to manage the game more," Bompastor added. "When I say manage, it's not about slowing it down but being smarter. We conceded two goals where we maybe could have done better."