Millie Bright had dismissed any suggestions that Chelsea were in crisis after a first league defeat in 34 games, and six goals in a comprehensive victory against Roma in their penultimate game of the Champions League group phase put those thoughts to bed.
An own goal broke the fight of Roma early on, with further goals by Wieke Kaptein, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Sjoeke Nüsken, Maika Hamano and Lucy Bronze.
Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat against Lyon and Bayern Munich’s 2-2 draw with Atlético Madrid meant the Blues moved into third and are one game away from automatic progression to the Champions League quarter-finals, with the top four skipping playoffs.
Chelsea were without the midfielder Erin Cuthbert and the centre-back Nathalie Björn for the visit of the Serie A side Roma. Making her first appearance since a frustrating 1-1 draw with Liverpool on 16 November, Bright returned to the starting XI for Sonia Bompastor’s side after two games sat on the bench. Bright was one of six changes to the Chelsea team that lost 1-0 against Everton on Sunday.
At Stamford Bridge Chelsea started brightly, their first effort coming in the second minute, when Niamh Charles found Sandy Baltimore in the box but the French forward curled her attempt just wide of the post.
