Chelsea delivered the “relentless” performance manager Emma Hayes asked for as they saw off Swiss champions Servette in emphatic style in Women’s Champions League Group A.
The Blues, who led 6-0 at half-time, showed the gulf in quality between the sides with impressive attacking play.
Australian forward Sam Kerr and England striker Fran Kirby bagged two goals and two assists each.
Melanie Leupolz, Jessie Fleming and Guro Reiten also got on the scoresheet.
Victory takes Chelsea – last season’s runners-up – top of their group for at least a few hours as Wolfsburg play Juventus in the other match at 20:00 GMT.
Hayes made seven changes to the Chelsea side who won 1-0 at Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League on Sunday, with returns for Kerr and Kirby, and the strike duo enjoyed themselves in Switzerland.
It was Kerr’s flick that set up Kirby’s opener and the England international returned the favour, lifting it into the Australian’s path a short while later, for what was her second goal in two minutes.
Leupolz had kicked things off with a wonderful left-footed strike before Kerr and Kirby’s doubles. Fleming then beat the goalkeeper at her near post with a thumping effort, before Reiten slotted home a seventh Chelsea goal.
Chelsea have won two of their three group games so far in the competition and are in impressive form heading into Sunday’s Women’s Super League match with rivals Manchester City (15:00 GMT).
Hayes said afterwards the victory “wasn’t easy” and her side “worked their socks off” to win so convincingly.
“The details in the pass, the movement, the finishes and execution in the actions… It could have been 7-0 at half-time. We missed chances!” she added.
“Credit to the players. They decided they wanted to go up a level. It is my job to put the challenge to them. I thought we were outstanding.”
‘Special’ Mjelde’s ’emotional’ return
It was not only the victory which pleased Hayes.
There was also a return for Norwegian international Maren Mjelde, coming back from injury for the first time since the League Cup final on 14 March to make a substitute appearance.
“To get Maren Mjelde on… She is a special person in our environment. It was emotional for her,” said Hayes.
“She is a Rolls Royce of a footballer. When she came on there was composure and I told Jess Carter to watch her, look at her decision-making. She is a superb football player and we’re delighted she is back.”
Player of the match Kerr added: “It’s a special night. This is my first time coming here and it was very special. It will be a night most of us won’t forget for many reasons. It was a good performance, good crowd and Maren is back.
“It’s nice as a player to walk off the pitch knowing you did everything possible to win the game and tonight we can do that. There’s only positives we can take from it and hopefully we can take that into the weekend.”
Line-ups
Servette Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 12Teixeira Pereira
- 24Soulard
- 14Spälti
- 22Hurni
- 23FleurySubstituted forMäendlyat 45′minutes
- 9LagoniaSubstituted forGuede Redondoat 71′minutes
- 2Tufo
- 13Tamplin
- 6NakkachSubstituted forBourmaat 71′minutes
- 20Padilla-Bidas
- 7Boho SayoSubstituted forGrivazat 89′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Bourma
- 4Felber
- 8Mäendly
- 17Droz
- 21Guede Redondo
- 33Grivaz
Chelsea Women
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Musovic
- 4Bright
- 7CarterSubstituted forMjeldeat 66′minutes
- 16ErikssonSubstituted forAnderssonat 57′minutes
- 22CuthbertSubstituted forCharlesat 57′minutes
- 8Leupolz
- 24Spence
- 11ReitenSubstituted forFoxat 57′minutes
- 17Fleming
- 20KerrSubstituted forEnglandat 66′minutes
- 14Kirby
Substitutes
- 5Ingle
- 9England
- 10Ji
- 18Mjelde
- 19James
- 21Charles
- 25Andersson
- 28Telford
- 29Fox
- 30Berger
- Referee:
- Iuliana Elena Demetrescu
Live Text
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Match ends, Servette Women 0, Chelsea Women 7.
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Second Half ends, Servette Women 0, Chelsea Women 7.
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Foul by Melanie Leupolz (Chelsea Women).
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Sandy Mäendly (Servette Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Substitution, Servette Women. Alyssa Grivaz replaces Jade Sayo.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Tessa Tamplin.
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Attempt missed. Jade Sayo (Servette Women) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Sandy Mäendly.
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Bethany England (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Tessa Tamplin (Servette Women).
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Attempt missed. Sandy Mäendly (Servette Women) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
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Foul by Niamh Charles (Chelsea Women).
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Daïna Bourma (Servette Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Millie Bright (Chelsea Women) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Niamh Charles.
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Attempt missed. Niamh Charles (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jonna Andersson with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Nathalia Spälti.
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Offside, Chelsea Women. Maren Mjelde tries a through ball, but Jorja Fox is caught offside.
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Substitution, Servette Women. Ilona Guede Redondo replaces Alyssa Lagonia.
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Substitution, Servette Women. Daïna Bourma replaces Élodie Nakkach.
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Offside, Servette Women. Jade Sayo tries a through ball, but Alyssa Lagonia is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Drew Spence (Chelsea Women) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Fran Kirby.