Chelsea Women Draw with FC Twente at De Grolsch Veste in WCL Round 1

When Sonia Bompastor, head coach of Chelsea Women, watched the final whistle at De Grolsch Veste on 8 October 2025, she could only describe the night as “a hard‑earned draw”.

Historical context and the stakes

The match was part of the UEFA Women’s Champions LeagueDe Grolsch Veste league phase, Round 1 of the 2025/26 season. Both clubs entered the fixture with clear ambitions: Chelsea, the reigning English champions, looked to cement their status as a continental power, while FC Twente aimed to prove they belong among Europe’s elite. Historically, the two sides have met twice in official competition, with Chelsea winning both meetings by narrow margins (2‑1 in 2022 and 1‑0 in 2024). The Dutch side had never forced a draw, so the 1‑1 result on this night marked a subtle shift in the rivalry.

Line‑ups and early expectations

Chelsea deployed a classic 4‑3‑3. Swiss stopper Livia Peng guarded the line, while the back four featured Australian full‑back Ellie Carpenter, England captain Millie Bright, Dutch defender Veerle Buurman and French wing‑back Sandy Baltimore. In midfield, Japanese playmaker Maika Hamano partnered with French midfielder Oriane Jean‑François and German star Sjoeke Nüsken. Up front, American prodigy Alyssa Thompson led a line with England’s Agnes Beever‑Jones and Norway’s Guro Reiten. FC Twente’s eleven started with Belgian keeper Diede Lemey and a back four of Dutch‑born Lieke Vliek, Anna Knol, Lynn Carleer and Aniek Tuin. The midfield featured captain Dominique van Ginkel, supported by Lotte Groenewegen and Eshley Oude Elberink. In attack, Dutch international Jill Roord led the line alongside forwards Sterre Proost and Jada Ravensbergen. The officiating crew was headed by Spanish referee Marta Huerta de Aza, assisted by fourth official Ainara Andrea Acevedo Dudley and VAR team members Javier Iglesias Villanueva and Judit Romano Garcia.

Key moments and the flow of play

The opening 15 minutes were a cagey affair, each side probing for gaps. Chelsea earned the first clear‑cut chance in the 22nd minute when Reiten curled a low cross from the left that found Thompson at the edge of the box. Thompson’s shot smashed against the post – a literal near‑miss that set the tone. Twente responded by pressing high. In the 34th minute, Roord dribbled past two defenders and unleashed a driven shot that forced Peng into a spectacular save. The rebound fell to Proost, whose effort clipped the side netting. At half‑time, the score remained 0‑0, but the statistics already told a story: Chelsea held 58 % possession, attempted 11 shots (four on target), while Twente logged 12 passes into the final third. The second half opened with renewed intensity. In the 49th minute, a quick switch to the right found Carpenter delivering a pinpoint cross. Bright rose above the defence and headed home – her first goal of the campaign and the match’s opening score. The Dutch side rallied, and just five minutes later, Roord’s persistence paid off. After a slick one‑two with van Ginkel, she slipped the ball into the bottom corner, leveling the game at 1‑1. Both coaches made tactical tweaks. Bompastor moved Nüsken deeper to shield the midfield, while van Ginkel was subbed off in the 63rd minute for fresh legs – a change that briefly bolstered Twente’s pressing but also left a creative void. Chelsea’s Ashley‑style possession lull in the closing stages allowed Twente to dominate the final 10 minutes, yet neither side could find a winner.

Tactical analysis: why the draw felt inevitable

From a tactical standpoint, Chelsea’s 4‑3‑3 relied on width from Baltimore and Carpenter to stretch Twente’s compact back line. The English side’s diagonal runs, especially Bright’s overlapping runs, created overloads on the right flank. However, Twente’s disciplined zonal marking, anchored by van Ginkel’s own‑zone awareness, neutralised most of those threats. Twente, on the other hand, employed a high‑press that forced Chelsea into hurried clearances. Their back four, though lacking the star power of the English side, operated as a unit, with Knot’s left‑back Carleer stepping up to support midfield. The pivotal moment was the 49th‑minute goal, which highlighted how Twente’s quick transition – from defence to attack in under three seconds – can unsettle even the most organized opponents. Statistically, Chelsea completed 619 passes (85 % accuracy) compared with Twente’s 587 (88 % accuracy). Chelsea had more shots (11 vs 7), yet Twente’s conversion ratio (1 goal from 7 attempts) outperformed Chelsea’s 1‑from‑11, underscoring the Dutch side's clinical edge in the final third.

Reactions from the bench and the dugout

Post‑match, Bompastor praised her squad’s resilience: “We gave everything, and a draw against a quality side like Twente is respectable. The goal shows we can break down compact defences, but we need to be sharper in front of goal.” Van Ginkel, who left the field with a hamstring niggle, added, “It’s a good result, but we know we can win. The fans gave us the energy, and we’ll take that forward.” Chelsea’s captain Bright, still nursing a minor ankle strain, said, “I’m proud of the team. Scoring early was huge, and we fought back. The next games will be about turning those chances into victories.”

Implications for the group stage

Both clubs sit in Group C of the league phase, alongside French champions Lyon and Spanish side Atlético Madrid. With three points now on the board, Chelsea remains top on goal difference, while Twente sits second, merely one point behind. The next fixtures – Chelsea versus Lyon on 15 October and Twente versus Atlético on 18 October – could reshape the table dramatically. Analysts suggest Chelsea cannot afford another slip, especially against Lyon, who boast a 0‑0 defensive record this season. Twente, meanwhile, will look to build on this draw, hoping to keep the pressure on the Spanish side and perhaps slip past Lyon for a surprise qualification.

Looking ahead: what’s next for the teams?

Both squads will return to domestic duties before reconvening for the Champions League. Chelsea faces a tricky Premier League run, including a clash with Manchester City on 22 October. Twente will take on Dutch rivals PSV in the Eredivisie on 24 October. The fitness of key players – especially Bright’s ankle and Roord’s hamstring – will be pivotal. For fans, the match proved that the expanded WCL format delivers drama beyond the traditional powerhouses. As the tournament progresses, expect tighter margins and more nights where a single moment decides destiny.

Background on the 2025/26 Women's Champions League format

UEFA introduced a league‑phase model for the 2025/26 season, expanding the competition from a straight knockout to a group‑stage format followed by knockout rounds. Twelve groups of four teams each compete in a double‑round‑robin schedule, guaranteeing each club at least six high‑profile matches. The top two from each group progress to the round of 32, while third‑placed teams drop into the new “Europa Women” knockout draw. The change aims to increase visibility, commercial revenue, and competitive balance across Europe’s women’s clubs. Early results suggest the format delivers more matches of high intensity, as exemplified by the Chelsea‑Twente stalemate.