Real Sociedad seek miracle v Chelsea, or Europa Cup awaits | OneFootball

Real Sociedad host Chelsea at Zubieta at 19:00 needing something close to a miracle to keep their Women’s Champions League bid alive. According to Diario Vasco, the night is being framed as a landmark occasion for the ground and the club.

La Real trail 5-2 from the first leg of the third qualifying round, with the tie on ETB1. If they overturn it, they will learn on Friday the six opponents awaiting them in the league phase. If not, the same draw will assign a Europa Cup opponent, launched last year as straight knockouts, and they will play again in Europe on 22 or 23 of this month.

Chelsea carry a big lead, deeper resources and far greater European know-how, 673 appearances across the squad, an average of 27 per player. Real do have home backing on Zubieta’s European bow. In London they resisted for an hour, led 1-0 and levelled at 2-2 before fading from 66 minutes after the introduction of players such as Malard.

Real are without four players, but there were no new knocks from the 5-2 in London or Saturday’s 0-2 to Logroño United. Aiara Agirrezabala, María Molina and Sonya Keefe remain sidelined, and goalkeeper Alazne Estensoro is with Spain’s under-20 World Cup squad. B team quartet Maite Mendiburu, Iraia Soroa, Ane Isasisasmendi and Carlota Chacón have been called up.

Interim coach Fernando Torres, in post after Arturo Ruiz’s departure, says they must take more risks without overexposing themselves and that psychology has mattered in an intense week. He praises the squad’s maturity and believes hosting Chelsea should be a huge motivation.

Chelsea arrived in Donostia yesterday and are set to be without Erin Cuthbert, Mayra Ramírez and Matsukubo again. Sonia Bompastor may rotate given the cushion and a league opener against Natalia Arroyo’s Aston Villa just 63 hours after full time. Torres’s target is to stay alive in the tie, keep a clean sheet, strike first and make the game long.

Source: Diario Vasco

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”