Sonia Bompastor's side went ahead after only three minutes in the Group B clash thanks to a Sjoeke Nusken header, and Guro Reiten put us in control when she converted a penalty in the 28th minute.

Yet Real Madrid pulled a goal back shortly before the interval through Alba Redondo. There was work to still do in the second half.

The Blues – as in the first half – started the second period positively and re-established our two-goal advantage when Mayra Ramirez headed home her first goal of the campaign.

That ultimately proved enough despite a nervy finish after substitute Linda Caicedo netted with ten minutes to play.

An early opener

Four changes were made to the starting XI from our 7-0 win against Crystal Palace in the Women's Super League. Zecira Musovic - who replaced Hannah Hampton before kick-off - Sandy Baltimore, Wieke Kaptein and Mayra Ramirez all came into the side to face Las Blancas.

Our opener arrived inside the opening five minutes when Johanna Rytting Kaneryd chopped the ball at her feet down the right flank and sent in an inviting ball into the box.

It was met by the head of Nusken and trickled into the net via a Madrid deflection. Chelsea head the lead.

The visitors' first real chance of the contest came via Caroline Weir after 18 minutes. She did well to get past Kaptein but the Scottish international's strike from range was well held by Musovic.

Our goalkeeper was then alert to smother a dangerous-looking delivery into the box, beating an incoming Athenea who sought a meaningful connection to send toward goal.

The Blues looked dangerous when we attacked and we were awarded a penalty shortly before the half-hour mark when Nusken was brought down in the box. A composed Reiten stepped up to the spot and made no mistake as she fired the ball into the bottom corner.

Madrid looked to half the deficit when Redonda took advantage of the Blues failing to clear their lines and unleashed a powerful drive at Musovic. Yet our goalkeeper made a superb low-diving save at her far post before gathering the rebound.

However, Redondo did get her goal soon after to make it 2-1 in the 39th minute. Following a scramble in the box, the ball landed at the feet of Real Madrid's forward and she fired it beyond the defence and Musovic.

Two-goal advantage restored

Another strong start to a half was required – and Bompastor's side delivered as Ramirez netted in the 53rd minute.

The Colombian international met an enticing cross sent in by Lauren James and used her physical presence to guide the ball into the back of the net with a looping header over Madrid goalkeeper Misa.

James looked for Ramirez again soon after, this time with a deep delivery sent near the far post. While the striker connected with the cross she could only direct it over the bar.

That would be Ramirez's last opportunity in front of goal as with over an hour played, Bompastor made her first changes of the game. Aggie Beever-Jones, Maika Hamano - making her Champions League debut -and Ashley Lawrence entered the fray in place of Ramirez, Kaptein, and Baltimore.

And what an impact Lawrence had, making a vital interception after Caicedo had burst into the box with the ball and looked to get a clear shot away.

With 15 minutes left to play, summer signing Oriane Jean-Francois entered the pitch for her Chelsea debut as she replaced Rytting Kaneryd.

Madrid applied pressure in the closing stages and Caicedo directed a curled strike towards Musovic's goal, but there was too much on it and it dropped wide of the far post.

It was 3-2 with six minutes to go when the Spanish giants capitalised on Chelsea failing to clear their lines; Caicedo eventually poked the ball into the back of the net from only a couple of yards out.

There was the chance for an equaliser in the dying moments as a header was sent towards Musovic from a free-kick whipped in from the left flank, but the Swedish goalkeeper was alert to the danger and gathered it.

There was time for another Chelsea debut before the full-time whistle was blown. Summer arrival Maelys Mpome replaced James to make her maiden appearance for the club and help the Blues see the game out and collect all three points.

What it means

We begin our European campaign with a hard-fought win, which extends our current unbeaten run to six competitive games across all competitions, and three points in Group B.

What next

The Blues' attention now turns to Women's Super League duty as we prepare to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Our next Champions League match will see Bompastor and her Chelsea players travel to the Netherlands to face reigning Dutch champions FC Twente next Thursday 17 October.

The teams

Chelsea: Musovic; Bronze, Bright, Bjorn, Baltimore (Lawrence 66), Nusken, Kaptein (Hamano 66), Reiten, Rytting Kaneryd (Jean-Francois 75), James (Mpome 89), Ramirez (Beever-Jones 66)
Unused substitutes: Perisset, Bartel
Goals: Own goal 3, Reiten 28, Ramirez 53

Real Madrid: Misa; Olga, Mendez, Lakrar, Garcia (Oihane 88), Leupolz, Angeldal, Teresa (Caicedo 63), Redondo (Feller 74), Weir (Moller 88), Athenea (Navarro 74)
Unused substitutes: Chavas, Tellez, Rocio, Antonia, Bruun, Camacho
Booked: Teresa 61
Goals: Redondo 39, Caicedo 84