The Blues fell behind in our final league phase game when Alexandra Popp powered a half-volley beyond Livia Peng in the 16th minute. That, coupled with results elsewhere, saw us fall into the knockout play-off spots.

Yet Sonia Bompastor’s side responded and we drew level just before the half time interval through a close-range Lucy Bronze header from a corner.

An excellently taken Sam Kerr goal shortly after the hour mark then put a place in the quarter-finals firmly back in our hands and, despite late Wolfsburg pressure, we secured victory to claim a place in the last eight.

An early setback

Sonia Bompastor made just one change to the side that started our 3-0 Women's Super League win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, with Aggie Beever-Jones replaced by Kerr in the starting XI.

The home side dominated the early exchanges and fired several shots at the Chelsea goal before finally making the breakthrough. Janou Levels intercepted a clearance from Chelsea goalkeeper Livia Peng and played a pass to experienced striker Popp, who drilled home a half-volley.

Wolfsburg almost doubled their advantage soon after when Kessya Bussy advanced at a rapid rate and looked like she would find herself one-on-one with Peng. That was until Naomi Girma sprinted across to clear the ball away from danger.

Our first real chance of the contest was fashioned in the 23rd minute. Ellie Carpenter sprinted down the right wing and crossed for Kerr, but the striker had her close-range shot saved by Stina Johannes.

Pulling level

We took control of the half as it progressed and Sandy Baltimore picked out Kerr with a ball across the six-yard box, but the striker couldn't steer home at the far post.

Lauren James then saw a shot parried by the goalkeeper, before Bronze had an attempt from distance deflected over the crossbar.

The Blues couldn't afford to switch off to the danger posed by Wolfsburg, and Bronze cleared a shot off the line before making a last-ditch tackle inside the box following a raid counter-attack from the German side.

At the other end, James curled a shot into the side-netting before we levelled the game at an ideal time. With seconds remaining of the first half, Bronze used her strength to rise above the Wolfsburg defenders and head home from a corner.

We went down the tunnel with a spring in our steps.

Fate in our hands

Early in the second half, Alyssa Thompson struck the post for the Blues before good interplay on the edge of the box between Kerr and Erin Cuthbert enabled the Scotland international to force a fingertip save from Johannes.

It was then Wolfsburg's turn to have an attempt on goal, but when Sarai Linder blasted a shot towards the top corner, Peng was on hand to deny her with an excellent stop.

That proved to be crucial, as we took the lead for the first time in the match soon after. Substitute Johanna Rytting Kaneryd had found plenty of space to work in down the right flank following her introduction, and she clipped a cross into the Wolfsburg penalty area that Kerr wonderfully steered across goal and into the top corner.

Battling to victory

Wolfsburg tried their level best to find the equaliser in the time that remained. Peng saved a Popp header in the dying seconds of normal time, while Bronze also cleared a shot off the line from the German striker.

Chelsea hearts were in mouths in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Vivien Endemann hit a powerful shot toward goal. Fortunately, the ball cannoned back off the crossbar and the Blues were able to clear to claim all three points and advance to the quarter-finals.

What it means...

The Blues advance into the last eight of the Women's Champions League, with the draw set to take place tomorrow (Thursday) lunchtime.

What comes next...

We play our final match of 2025 away to Liverpool in the quarter-final of the Women's League Cup on Sunday at 1pm.

The teams

Chelsea: Peng, Bronze, Bright, Girma, Carpenter (Rytting Kaneryd 54), Walsh (Kaptein 75), Cuthbert, Baltimore (Charles 75), Thompson, James (Nusken 46), Kerr (Beever-Jones 80)
Unused subs: Hampton, Buurman, Reiten, Hamano, Jean-Francois, Potter
Scorers: Bronze 45, Kerr 64
Booked: Bright 8, Baltimore 70

Wolfsburg: Johannes, Linder (Bjelde 83), Bergsvand, Kuver, Levels, Minge (Kielland 74), Popp, Peddemors (Lattwein 61), Huth (Zicai 83), Beerensteyn, Bussy (Endemann 62)
Unused subs: Smolarczyk, Tufekovic, Kleinherne, Vallotto, Wedemeyer, Judit Pujols
Scorers: Popp 16
Booked: Lattwein 72

Referee: Silvia Gasperotti