Chelsea 2-1 Real Madrid: Chaves' own goal secures Blues' spot in Women's UCL

Chelsea's victory over Real Madrid was perhaps the perfect summation of how their season has so far unfolded. Gritty and determined with moments of brilliance. But equally, at times, unconvincing.

Chelsea nearly threw this game away when they allowed Real to equalise shortly after Guro Reiten had put them ahead from the penalty spot just past the hour mark.

But a stroke of luck and a goalkeeping error gave them victory a minute after the Spaniards had levelled.

Erin Cuthbert's deflected cross should have been easily caught by Mylene Chavas, but the goalkeeper could only palm the ball into her own net.

It was not pretty, but it was enough. The important thing is that Chelsea's place in the knockouts is now confirmed. That it came in front of a record crowd at Stamford Bridge for a group stage fixture is an extra bonus.

The Blues have all but topped their group too, with the Blues three points ahead of second place Hacken going into their final game against Paris FC next week.

Sat in the stands was Colombian forward Mayra Ramirez, who is set to join for a club record fee from Spanish side Levante.

With Sam Kerr ruled out for the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, Emma Hayes knows she needs another prolific striker in her ranks if she is to win this competition before she leaves at the end of the campaign.

Mia Fishel and Aggie Beever-Jones are both young, exciting prospects, but Ramirez can perhaps provide the spark that was often lacking from Chelsea's attacks here.

The Champions League is the one competition that Hayes has left to win with Chelsea and while she will not go as far to say it - this is the trophy she really wants to lift this season.

To do that, they will have to play better than this.

Real have been poor in this competition but have often proved to be a tricky opponent for the Blues.

Their only point in this group came against Chelsea in the opening game back in November.

It was one they did not deserve, with replays showing the penalty Olga Carmona scored to equalise should not have been awarded.

Chelsea also had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside in the final minute.

Real, though, should probably have had a legitimate penalty midway through the first half here when Ashley Lawrence brought down Linda Caicedo after the forward had got a shot on goal. Replays showed that Lawrence was lucky to escape punishment.

Chelsea had chances to take the lead before half-time, but Chavas did well to keep out efforts from both Cuthbert and Reiten.

The hosts were much improved after half-time and the breakthrough came on the hour mark. Charles drove into the box and was brought down needlessly by Hayley Raso, leaving referee Catarina Campos no choice but to point to the spot. Reiten stepped up and converted into the bottom right corner.

But Chelsea switched off and allowed Real back into the game seven minutes later. Raso found space in behind Charles and sent a shot on goal that Hannah Hampton could only push into the path of Athena Del Castillo, who tapped into an empty net.

Real's fightback lasted less than a minute, with Chavas palming Cuthbert's deflected cross into her own net to hand the Blues victory.

Guro Reiten penalty and Mylene Chavas own goal send hosts into Champions League quarter-finals

Guro Reiten's penalty and a Mylene Chavas own goal saw Chelsea beat Real Madrid 2-1 at Stamford Bridge to qualify for the Women's Champions League quarter-finals as Group D winners.

Knowing three points from their final two games would be enough to progress to the last eight, Reiten's spot-kick in the 62nd minute after a foul on Niamh Charles opened the scoring for Emma Hayes' side to send them on their way, but Real substitute Athenea equalised against the run of play (69).

The victory never seemed in doubt though and just seconds later, Chavas turned Erin Cuthbert's cross into her own net to put the hosts back in charge and they comfortably saw out the win.