PSG 0-1 Chelsea: Win 'shows how far English game has come' - BBC Sport Homepage
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By Adam MillingtonBBC Sport Last updated on 20 October 202220 October 2022.From the section Women's FootballChelsea defender Millie Bright produced the game's only goal Chelsea general manager Paul Green says the wins from English sides in Europe this week shows how far the domestic game has come. A first-half volley from defender Millie Bright secured Chelsea victory over PSG in their opener in the Women's Champions League group stages, while Arsenal laid down a marker with a 5-1 thrashing of European champions Lyon on Wednesday. And Green, who is taking charge of media duties while head coach Emma Hayes is absent, thinks such results would have been "unthinkable" only a few years ago. He said: "I think it shows how far the English league has come that ourselves and Arsenal have come to the top two teams in France and got two victories. "I think it's a really positive thing for the English league and does show how far it's come. Relive Chelsea's win over PSGGo straight to all of our women's football content "In years gone by, it was probably unthinkable that teams would come to France and win games like this." "Women's football is riding the crest of a wave after the Euros. Players coming back into club environments are bringing positivity with them, so that's part of it." Centre-back Bright, who helped England to win Euro 2022 in July, volleyed home from close range after latching on to a well-timed Erin Cuthbert cross to give Chelsea a crucial three points. They didn't produce many more clear-cut chances but were rarely threatened. Chelsea failed to reach the knockout stages last year but a strong defensive performance helped them beat last year's semi-finalists.Chelsea kicked off their Champions League campaign with victory in Paris No British club has won the Champions League since Arsenal lifted the trophy in 2007. But Green believes that the Women's Super League's status as a full-time division has aided English side's abilities to compete in Europe. "I think it's well-documented that to be in the WSL you have to be a full-time team. Our games week in, week out are high-intensity games. Any team can beat anyone else on any given day as we've already seen in this season's competition. I think it does help ourselves and Arsenal going into Europe." The Blues continue to be without Hayes, who is recovering from an emergency hysterectomy as part of her "ongoing battle with endometriosis". They were also without creative forward Fran Kirby for the trip to Paris. But they stepped up to the task at hand on Thursday night, despite the hostile atmosphere produced by PSG's ultras, and produced a positive result. PSG and Brazil winger Neymar was among the crowd at the Stade Jean Bouin, where the noise was non-stop throughout the game. Cuthbert shines in Paris
Erin Cuthbert's work-rate in midfield helped to lead Chelsea to victory Versatile Scotland midfielder Erin Cuthbert was the engine as Chelsea's European campaign got off to a winning start. She provided the expertly timed cross for Bright's opening goal but was integral throughout, producing a high-effort performance to thwart PSG's attempts to go forward. Her endeavours reduced the hosts to trying their luck from distance and nullified the threats they would otherwise have posed on the counter. "I thought she was absolutely immense tonight," said Green. "I thought she was really strong and dominated that area, won tackles and dominated the ball for us. We've nurtured her and know how good Erin is." Working as part of a double-pivot alongside the equally impressive Sophie Ingle at the base of the Blues' midfield, she helped to steady the play and allow Chelsea to move forward with fluidity. Cuthbert's previous work as a winger was evident in her excellent distribution to follow up a failed corner by expertly finding Bright at the back post. Her efforts in front of the defence aided Bright and Kadeisha Buchanan behind her to produce a steely performance and limit PSG to only a single shot on target. It was a display in marked contrast to their last appearance in the competition - when they were thrashed 4-0 by Wolfsburg last December to go out in the group stages. Green spoke before the game of getting back to basics - and they did just that. Striker Sam Kerr also looked threatening for the Blues and she drew a smart save from Sarah Bouhaddi in the first half, but it was their defensive efforts which enabled them to edge one of Europe's strongest teams. While the display and result bodes well for their chances of progressing, Green said the team "don't want to get carried away". He added: "There are a lot of good teams out there in Europe and they need to be respected. It does give confidence that we can play against a top European team and play like we did." The Blues have a difficult group with last year's quarter-finalists Real Madrid likely to make it a three-way battle, along with PSG, to qualify. Next up for Chelsea is a home match with Albanian debutants Vllaznia on Wednesday.Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text Line-ups
Paris Saint-Germain Féminines
Formation 4-1-3-250Bouhaddi12Lawrence13Ilestedt5De Almeida7Karchaoui6Jean-François24Groenen8Geyoro18Fazer11Diani10Bachmann50Bouhaddi12Lawrence13IlestedtBooked at 34mins5De Almeida7Karchaoui6Jean-François Substituted forTraoreat 79'minutes24GroenenSubstituted forCascarinoat 70'minutes8Geyoro18Fazer11Diani10Bachmann Substitutes
14Hamraoui16Picaud19Cascarino21Baltimore23Georgieva26Li28Yang35Ngueleu36Traore60Toussaint Chelsea Women
Formation 4-2-3-130Berger18Mjelde4Bright26Buchanan16Eriksson22Cuthbert5Ingle21Charles23Harder11Reiten20Kerr30Berger18Mjelde4Bright26BuchananBooked at 16mins16Eriksson22Cuthbert5Ingle Substituted forPérissetat 90+2'minutes21Charles23HarderSubstituted forFlemingat 77'minutes11ReitenSubstituted forRytting Kanerydat 77'minutes20Kerr Substitutes
1Musovic3Nouwen7Carter9England10James13Svitková15Périsset17Fleming19Rytting Kaneryd27Abdullina32OrmanReferee:Ewa Augustyn Match Stats
Home TeamParis Saint-Germain FémininesAway TeamChelsea WomenPossessionHome60%Away40%ShotsHome6Away15Shots on TargetHome1Away4CornersHome1Away7FoulsHome9Away11 Live Text
Post update
Match ends, Paris Saint-Germain Féminines 0, Chelsea Women 1.90'+3' Full Time
Second Half ends, Paris Saint-Germain Féminines 0, Chelsea Women 1.90'+2' Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Ève Périsset replaces Sophie Ingle.88' Post update
Manssita Traore (Paris Saint-Germain Féminines) wins a free kick on the right wing.88' Post update
Foul by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea Women).87' Post update
Attempt blocked. Manssita Traore (Paris Saint-Germain Féminines) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Grace Geyoro.85' Post update
Attempt missed. Sam Kerr (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd with a cross.84' Post update
Attempt missed. Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from more than 40 yards on the left wing is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Kadeisha Buchanan.83' Post update
Laurina Fazer (Paris Saint-Germain Féminines) wins a free kick in the defensive half.83' Post update
Foul by Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Women).83' Post update
Attempt missed. Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Erin Cuthbert with a cross following a corner.82' Post update
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Amanda Ilestedt.81' Post update
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Élisa De Almeida.79' Substitution
Substitution, Paris Saint-Germain Féminines. Manssita Traore replaces Oriane Jean-François.77' Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd replaces Guro Reiten.77' Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Jessie Fleming replaces Pernille Harder.76' Post update
Grace Geyoro (Paris Saint-Germain Féminines) wins a free kick in the attacking half.76' Post update
Foul by Sophie Ingle (Chelsea Women).74' Post update
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Élisa De Almeida.71' Post update
Attempt missed. Kadidiatou Diani (Paris Saint-Germain Féminines) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Sakina Karchaoui.Page 1 of 5rewindpreviousNavigate to the next pagenextNavigate to the last pageforward Scores Results & Fixtures
Thursday 20th October 2022
Vllaznia FemraVllaznia Femra0Real Madrid FemeninoReal Madrid Femenino2FTVfL Wolfsburg LadiesVfL Wolfsburg Ladies4St. Pölten WomenSt. Pölten Women0FTParis Saint-Germain FémininesParis Saint-Germain Féminines0Chelsea WomenChelsea Women1FTRoma FemminileRoma Femminile1Slavia Prague WomenSlavia Prague Women0FTView all Women's Champions League results As It Stood
ABCD A
TeamPWDLFAGDPts1Real Madrid Femenino110020232Chelsea Women110010133Paris Saint-Germain Féminines100101-104Vllaznia Femra100102-20 B
TeamPWDLFAGDPts1VfL Wolfsburg Ladies110040432Roma Femminile110010133Slavia Prague Women100101-104St. Pölten Women100104-40 C
TeamPWDLFAGDPts1Arsenal Women110051432Juventus Femminile110020233Zürich Women100102-204Lyon Féminines100115-40 D
TeamPWDLFAGDPts1Barcelona Femenino110090932FC Bayern München Ladies110021133Rosengård Women100112-104Benfica Women100109-90View full Women's Champions League tables Top Stories
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