The incredible stats behind Chelsea’s dominant Champions League victory over St. Polten | OneFootball

Sam Kerr (pictured in 2023) produced an excellent display in a dominant victory for Chelsea over St. Polten (Pedro Soares / SPP)

Chelsea thrashed St.Polten 6-0 on Tuesday night in the Women’s Champions League, but could easily have hit double figures against the Austrian side, and below we take a deep dive into the stats that underpinned their dominant performance.

Chelsea recorded 43 shots against St.Polten

The reigning Women’s Super League champions delivered one of the most one-sided displays in Champions League history.

Chelsea recorded 43 shots, 19 of which were on target. St.Polten managed just one shot all game, forcing goalkeeper Livia Peng into a single save.

Swiss international Peng was deputising for Hannah Hampton, who was absent from the Chelsea squad due to a small injury.

Leading the charge in terms of shots were Sam Kerr and Catarina Macario, who both scored braces on the night. Kerr unleashed 12 shots in her first Chelsea start since recovering from her ACL injury, while US international Macario was not far behind with 10, in a Player of the Match display.

In fact, 13 of the 15 outfield players who featured for Chelsea had a shot. Only starting centre-backs Lucy Bronze and Naomi Girma failed to have an effort on goal.

Chelsea’s six goals on the night came from an xG (expected goals) of 5.39. The Blues have now created 89 shots across their opening three games of the tournament. This is matched by Lyon, who needed 46 attempts to score three against St. Pölten on Matchday 2.

Chelsea shots vs St. Polten

St. Polten goalkeeper made 14 saves

St. Polten goalkeeper Carina Schluter had one of the busiest matches of her career, making 14 saves to deny Chelsea what could have been a landslide Champions League victory.

Schluter is doing her best to keep St.Polten in games despite conceding 15 goals across their opening three games.

The 30-year-old German has made 38 saves across those three matches, with 12 in games against both Lyon and Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea had 75 touches of the ball in the opposition’s box

Chelsea almost seemed to set out camp in the box of St.Polten on Tuesday night. The main reason why they had so many shots was their ability to work the ball into St.Polten’s penalty area.

Chelsea had 75 touches of the ball in the opposition box, with only five of their 15 outfield players on the night not getting a touch inside the St.Polten area.

Again, it was Kerr and Macario who constantly got themselves into attacking positions. Kerr had 19 touches inside the opposition’s box, followed by Macario’s 13.

Chelsea touches inside the opposition’s box

How did Sam Kerr perform on her return to the Chelsea starting XI?

Sam Kerr scored a brace in her return to the Chelsea starting line-up against St.Polten.

However, the Australian will be disappointed that she only scored two of her 12 shots on the night.

There is a strong argument she could have scored at least five, after she recorded three big misses against the Austrian side.

However, there are big signs of promise for the Australian who missed 20 months of action before she made her return against Aston Villa in September.

Kerr is now Chelsea’s joint top-scorer in all competitions (4), and joint top goal contributor (5). This is despite playing just 263 minutes of action and starting once across Chelsea’s 11 games so far this campaign.

There will be a big question going forward on Chelsea’s starting XI going forward with Kerr and Aggie Beever-Jones fighting for a place in the squad alongside the likes of Catarina Macario, Johanna Ryting Kaneryd, Alyssa Thompson, Sjoeke Nusken and more.

Catarina Macario’s stats for Chelsea against St. Polten

Chelsea’s star performer on the night against St. Polten was Macario, who had some impressive stats in their 6-0 victory.

Macario had a FotMob rating of 9.6 after scoring two goals and creating the most chances in the game with five.

The American was denied a hat trick after a late free-kick cannoned off the post.

She was a constant outlet for the Blues with 101 touches of the ball, with an accurate pass rate of 87 per cent.

Macario also made five defensive recoveries as St.Polten struggled to break through the resolute Chelsea defence and midfield.

Chelsea’s Champions League stats this season

Chelsea are one of the strongest teams in the Women’s Champions League and features highly among many stats following their 6-0 win over St.Polten.

They have scored the joint-most goals alongside Barcelona with 11. Barcelona could improve on that number significantly when they face OH Leuven on Wednesday in their third game of the League Phase.

Chelsea’s 87.5 per cent passing accuracy is only behind Barcelona (92) and Atletico Madrid (88.5), while the Blues have recovered the ball more times than any other team with 163 (ahead of Paris FC on 143).

Bompastor’s side have completed more passes (1,700) and crosses (100) than any other team.