Chelsea Women 4-1 Paris FC Féminines
Chelsea Women 5-1 Liverpool Women
Two hat-tricks in six days suggest the Chelsea juggernaut is in no imminent danger of veering off the road to glory.
First Lauren James fired three goals in the Blues' 5-1 weekend demolition of Liverpool in the Women's Super League, then Sam Kerr matched the feat on Thursday evening against Paris FC Féminines in the Champions League.
Both matches were staged at Stamford Bridge, rather than Kingsmeadow, although fans are still not entirely convinced about shifting selected fixtures to the men's stadium.
While nearly 13,000 attended the WSL drubbing of Liverpool last Saturday, barely 3,000 turned up on a chilly Thursday evening. Just 19 Paris FC supporters made the trek to London for the game.
When your core fan base is families with school-age children, a midweek term-time match that kicks off at 8pm will always struggle to pull in a big crowd.
It was a shame, as they missed a dazzling display from Kerr – captain for the evening as Millie Bright recovers from a knee injury.
James, who had left the Bridge holding the match ball on Saturday, provided a delightful cross to let the Aussie fire in her first after half an hour.
Paris FC clawed a goal back seven minutes later when Thea Greboval's looping header beat both keeper Ann-Katrin Berger and defender Jess Carter, but Kerr bagged a second after the interval, then netted a remarkable third shortly afterwards.
Berger had sent a long clearance upfield, and Kerr scampered after it. Two French defenders closed her down, leaving just one option for the Chelsea striker – a hopeful lob in the direction of the goal. Paris FC goalie Chiamaka Nnadozie back-pedalled and flapped at the ball as it descended, but couldn't prevent it (and her) bouncing into the net.
Sub Sophie Ingle added a fourth from a corner, nipping in front of the defence and gracefully stroking the ball home in stoppage time for a 4-1 victory.
It's back to Kingsmeadow on Sunday as the relentless programme of games continues.
On paper the clash between Chelsea and Leicester should be one-sided. In all four WSL matches between the teams, the Blues have been victorious, with an aggregate score of 25-0.
If Chelsea do win, it will be the 20th WSL home victory on the trot. Aggie Beever-Jones, an unused sub against Paris FC, is hoping to be among the starters. She has netted in each of her last four league appearances for the Blues.
Men back in action
Meanwhile Chelsea's men return to action this weekend at Newcastle, where their recent surge in form will be seriously tested. Cole Palmer's debut in an England shirt has been just reward for his blossoming at the Bridge.
It's incredible to think that a young player Manchester City deemed surplus to requirements has become the No1 penalty taker for Chelsea in the space of a few weeks.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
