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Women's Champions League wrap: Katie McCabe sits out Chelsea win over Roma

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Ellie Carpenter of Chelsea celebrates after scoring her team's first goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD3 match between Chelsea FC and AS Roma at The AFC Wimbledon Stadium on October 28, 2026 in Wimbledon, England.
Ellie Carpenter celebrates the opening goal at Plough Lane

Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe was an unused sub as second-half goals from Ellie Carpenter and Kadeisha Buchanan made sure Chelsea maintained their strong start to this year's Women’s Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Roma at Plough Lane.

Substitute Carpenter combined with Wieke Kaptein for the 51st minute goal which broke Roma’s resistance at Plough Lane.

And central defender Buchanan wrapped up the win in the 89th minute, ensuring a second win in three European matches for Sonia Bompastor’s unbeaten team.

Chelsea were on top in the first half. Lexi Potter was narrowly wide with a low shot from 20 yards in the second minute, then Roma goalkeeper Rachele Baldi parried an effort from Alyssa Thompson on to the crossbar, before saving from Lauren James.

After Roma defender Shukurat Oladipo produced a timely tackle to deny Aggie Beever-Jones a chance to double the lead, Kaptein shot over just before the half-hour mark, then James had a close-range shot blocked by Maya Antoine.

Bompastor brought on Carpenter and Sjoeke Nusken for Thompson and James at the interval – and the hosts were ahead soon after.

Carpenter made a powerful run and, after finding Kaptein, converted the resulting cross from the right with a low shot which took a deflection off defender Winonah Heatley and deceived Baldi.

Lucy Bronze took the captain’s armband on her 35th birthday, as Keira Walsh and Melvine Malard replaced Erin Cuthbert and Beever-Jones.

Roma had to wait until the 66th minute for their first clear chance, with Maya Doms firing over, before Malard and Nusken had good chances to double Chelsea’s advantage in quick succession – but their efforts were off-target.

The visitors’ best opening came in the 78th minute but Alayah Pilgrim wasted it, firing over from a good position.

And the hosts made sure of the win when Buchanan headed home.

McCabe, who started Sunday's victory over Crystal Palace in the Women's Super League and was credited with an assist, was ultimately not called upon from the bench three days on.

Elsewhere, Bayern Munich fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 against Real Madrid and preserve their unbeaten home record at this stage of the competition.

Last season's semi-finalists have now not lost any of their 17 home games in the group stage or league phase but had to do it the hard way to keep that run intact.

Athenea del Castillo pounced from Linda Caicedo’s cross in the seventh minute before Lineth Beerensteyn headed in from close range to double Real’s lead midway through the first half.

Edna Imade nodded in to reduce the deficit on the half-hour and Momoko Tanikawa curled in the equaliser seven minutes into the second half, while Sophie Proost hit a post for Bayern in stoppage time as both teams remained unbeaten in this season’s campaign.

Servette Chenois claimed a historic maiden Champions League win at the ninth attempt as they brushed aside OH Leuven 5-1 in Geneva.

Paola Hernandez headed in the opener in the 16th minute before Gloria Marinelli struck twice inside the space of six minutes prior to half-time to put the Swiss side in control.

Hernandez added a second header just before the hour mark but Jada Conijnenberg pulled a goal back with eight minutes left.

However, Joana Marchao restored Servette’s four-goal cushion within a minute to leave Belgian champions OH Leuven winless so far in this season’s competition.

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