Tom Garry’s report from the the Estadi Johan Cruyff is in and here is his verdict.
Chelsea improved defensively after the break but were undone by a masterful team goal as Barcelona made it 2-0 with a move that involved 18 passes before substitute Clàudia Pina turned in from inside the six-yard box. Pina herself had played the 13th pass of Barcelona’s flowing move from deep inside her own half before sprinting upfield to turn home the cross.
Thanks for joining me and tune in to our liveblogs next week as we cover the second legs of both semi-finals. Can the England teams mount a comeback to meet in the final? We will find out!
The post-match postbag.
S.Sherrington’s thoughts:
Unfortunately for Chelsea this is a reality check, losing to Barcelona 4-1. This is the level Chelsea have been at all season, they have just been very lucky, scraping over the line in nearly all there other games!
And Macy offers her view:
Am I the only one that thinks Chelsea were not that bad! Barcelona got lucky with referee decisions …
Differing opinions here.
Barcelona played excellent as a team but Pina was certainly the star. The super sub came on for 24 minutes and had two goals, one assist, three shots on target, two key passes, one big chance created and 100% pass accuracy from 13 passes. An excellent decision from Romeu to bring her on.
Full-time: Barcelona 4-1 Chelsea
Tie over? Chelsea suffer their biggest defeat in 17 months at the hands of Barcelona, a team that has often been the one to stop them from getting their hands on the coveted Champions League trophy. Barcelona showed their skill and their strength in depth. A huge task to be done at Stamford Bridge next week.
90+3 min: Nüsken’s tame shot is saved by Coll and the Barcelona keeper happily sits on the ball as the minutes tick away.
90 min: We are getting at least five minutes of added time.
90 min: Just before that goal Barcelona had another chance with Bronze being dragged out wide before a Rolfö cross. Baltimore was able to deal with the initial danger but the ball was then knicked off of Bright by Pajor whose shot went high off target.
GOAL! Barcelona 4-1 Chelsea (Pina 90)
Pina gets her double but it’s the assist that is the star. Putellas stuns with a beautiful backheel after a one-two with Pina and the No 9 slots it home. It is a great worked goal but Chelsea’s backline are all over the place.
Updated
88 min: Some more late changes for both teams. Ramírez makes way for Nüsken while Paralluelo comes off for López.
84 min: Welcome to the Champions League, Girma! The world record signing was on the pitch for moments before conceding.
GOAL! Barcelona 3-1 Chelsea (Paredes 82)
Barcelona’s perfect corner routine reinstates their two goal cushion! Pina’s curler is right to Paredes at the far post and the latter heads the effort straight to the back of the net after shaking off Bronze.
Updated
81 min: Girma, the world’s most expensive player is on making her Champions League debut, replaces Björn while Brugts comes off for Rolfö.
Updated
78 min: Big save from Hampton! Pina looks for her second as she curls one from the right. The Chelsea keeper gets low and catches the effort. There is a brief VAR check for a shove in the area but the check is over in moments and nothing is given.
Updated
77 min: Pina gets a yellow for a shove on Bronze and she is the first Barcelona player in the book.
GOAL! Barcelona 2-1 Chelsea (Baltimore 74)
Chelsea get one back! Macario finds Baltimore out wide. The full-back takes a touch before slotting home an excellent finish from outside of the box on the left. Pinpoint finish in what is her 50th Champions League appearance. Barcelona are complaining but not sure what about. After a slow start to this half it has suddenly burst to life!
Updated
72 min: Macario is booked for a clash of knees against Putellas.
GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Chelsea (Pina 70)
Doing exactly what she did in the quarter-finals, Pina scores her ninth goal in seven matches. Baltimore mistimes her tackle against Battle and the full-back puts in a lovely cross for the No 9 to tap it in. From that close of range, it was always going to be tough for Hampton to save and Bronze is left stretching behind Pina and she unsuccessfully tries to block the shot.
Updated
68 min: Cuthbert jams her studs hard on the pitch and is now having her knee looked at by the physios. She is up on her feet but is limping off the pitch. We have seen this so many times in women’s football but it looks like it isn’t as bad as feared. She is back on the pitch.
66 min: Graham Hansen makes way for Pina. The No 9, who was out injured, is such a fan favourite that the fans were chanting her name while she was warming up.
Updated
64 min: Walsh gets on the ball, looks around and then makes a pass back. She then shrugs her shoulders at her teammates, pointing to the empty gaps. Indicative of Chelsea’s performance this half.
61 min: Beever-Jones, Chelsea’s top scorer this season, has had a quiet day. She comes off for Reiten. Kaptein also makes way for Macario.
60 min: Brugts shows some good feet to get the ball off Ramírez. Chelsea are about to make some changes. Can they inject some energy?
58 min: Chelsea finally get out of their half. Ramírez puts a cross through but there are no cream shirts there to get on the end of it.
56 min: Coll and Ramírez exchange a few words after the striker tries to latch onto a loose ball. One to watch as the Chelsea player has already been booked.
55 min: Chelsea have to be better in possession. They are losing it so easy, handing it straight back to Barcelona at the edge of their box. It has all been Barcelona in the 10 minutes of this second half.
52 min: Paralluelo gets past Bronze on the flank and puts a cross in for Graham Hansen but the hosts just can’t get a shot off.
51 min: Long ball over the top for Pajor. The striker doesn’t see the opportunity to shoot so she opts to lay it off but Bronze intercepts.
50 min: The boos are still continuing from the Barcelona fans everytime Hampton is on the ball.
48 min: Bonmatí knicks off the ball off her former teammate Walsh before trying to find Paralluelo but her pass is intercepted.
47 min: Barcelona has 10 shots to Chelsea’s three in the first half.
46 min: Barcelona made a half-time change with León, who was limping off earlier, is off for Engen.
We are back underway for the second half at the Estadi Johan Cruyff. Can Chelsea find a way to take some sort of advantage back to west London? Let’s find out.
Some half-time postbag!
Kirk writes:
Had Girma been healthy, I am sure Bompastor would have gone with a back five. Would have loved to see Bronze and Baltimore hitting the flanks. Surprised Reiten did not start in place of Jones, would have loved to see Jones as an impact sub. Walsh has not impressed this season, could have preferred Nüsken. Barcelona can be had and I believe Chelsea are team to do it.
I am certainly interested in seeing what, if any changes, Bompastor makes. Chelsea had a good spell but still rarely threatened Coll. Their first shot on target was Beever-Jones’s free-kick in added time at the end of the half.
Updated
As Putellas prepared to take her spot-kick, there was a shushing noise rippling around the home crowd as the Barcelona supporters tried to make it as quiet as possible for their talismanic former Ballon d’Or winner. The Chelsea fans – situated at the opposite end of the stadium – were still doing their best to put Putellas off from afar, but Hampton had the save in the bag anyway. That’s one of the most important saves of Hampton’s young career so far.
Half-time: Barcelona 1-0 Chelsea
Chelsea win another corner but nothing comes from it before the referee blows her whistle. Hampton kept Chelsea in the game early on especially with her penalty save against Putellas but Pajor’s strike in the 35th min is what separates the two sides.
45+5 min: The corner comes in and Bronze creates space for herself by pushing away her defender but the ball goes just over her head. Chelsea are pushing for an equaliser before the half-time whistle.
45+3 min: Bronze gets challenged in the box and moments later Bonmatí fouls Cuthbert. The referee blows her whistle for the latter but Bronze is fuming – she wants a penalty but she is not going to get one. But Chelsea still have a dangerous free-kick about 25 yards out … Beever-Jones takes it and forces a big save out of Coll on the keepers left! Big chance for Chelsea and they now have a corner.
45+2 min: Graham Hansen attempts her trademark curler from the right but her shot is high and wide.
45 min: It is all a bit scrappy now. Cuthbert gets fouled and Bompastor wants a yellow for Guijarro but the referee pays no mind to the head coach. We will be getting at least 6 minutes of added time in this half.
43 min: The Barcelona men’s team star Lamine Yamal is in the crowd here, willing the hosts on from the front row of the VIP section just to the left of the press seats.
40 min: Paredes gets in a foot race with Ramírez after a long ball and the Barcelona centre-back manages to get to it first. The striker then gets back and tries to win the ball off Batlle and her tackle is a bit late. The Colombian gets the first booking of the game and Bompastor is not happy. Bonmatí comes over after the challenge to help Batlle re-tie her laces.
Updated
GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Chelsea (Pajor 35)
Barcelona’s top scorer this season is 1v1 with Hampton and there was only going to be one outcome. It is a great little pass from Putellas and Pajor, situated between Bright and Baltimore, speeds forward and her cool low finish to the right gives the hosts the lead and her sixth Champions League goal this season. She blows kisses to all four stands in celebration. What a debut season she is having!
Updated
33 min: A rowdy Barcelona crowd tonight. Everytime Hampton gets on the ball the home crowd whistle loudly.
31 min: Hampton is up on her feet and rubbing her shoulder. She will continue for now but one to keep an eye on. She has been fantastic so far for the visitors.
29 min: Hampton is down on the ground with the physios. She crashed down hard on the crowd after jumping high to collect the ball from a cross. Cox, Chelsea’s No 2, is warming up on the sideline. Spencer, on loan from Tottenham, is also available on the bench.
Updated
25 min: Bonmatí is in acheres of space and decides to surge forward and take the shot from about 30 yards out. Hampton dives down and makes the save but she will surely be disappointed that none of her teammates pressed the Barcelona midfielder.
22 min: Putellas puts in a terrific ball for Bonmatí who attempts a quick pass to Paralluello but the winger can’t get there before Hampton. After the chance the camera flashes to likely the two most famous Barcelona fans in the stands today: Lamine Yamal and Gavi.
Updated
20 min: Graham Hansen somehow gets on the ball that looks to be trickling out for a goalkick and manages a cross but Björn head away.
17 min: Paralluelo puts in a great ball for Pajor with the outside of her left boot that evades several Chelsea defenders but the flag goes up on the Polish striker.
16 min: León loses the ball and Chelsea attempt a cross in the box but it is headed away. The Blues have a bit of rhythm now after that save but can they keep the ball and create some chances while on top?
14 min: Barcelona are being urged on by their fans after that miss but Putellas certainly looks a bit shocked.
Hampton saves Putellas's penalty!
Wow! Putellas steps up with her hands on her hips to wait for the whistle. She takes her shot and Hampton dives to her left, her legs saving the shot before Beever-Jones clears it away. It is a poor shot that is almost straight down the middle. Huge moment for Chelsea!
Updated
10 min: VAR check. That second ball from the corner hit Björn’s hand and her arm was definitely out in an unnatural position. No player appealed for it but the referee is going to take a look at the screen … and she gives it. Barcelona have the chance to go up early in this tie.
7 min: Chance! Graham Hansen’s shot is deflected just wide! The resulting corner leads to another which Paredes heads towards goal. Hampton makes the save though she looks quite shocked that she had to.
6 min: Ramírez surges forward on the left flank and finds Beever-Jones but the winger’s touch is too heavy and Coll collects.
4 min: Graham Hansen tries to cut in on the right but Baltimore is able to crowd her out. The ball come back through the middle and Guijarro goes for goal. It’s deflected off of Björn who tries to make the block but Hampton dives down and is quick to make the save.
Updated
2 min: Bonmatí surges forward but her former teammate Bronze gets on the ball and kicks it out for a throw-in.
Kick-off: Barcelona 0-0 Chelsea
Both sets of players take a knee before Barcelona get us underway. The hosts in their classic red and blue kits while Chelsea don their cream away kits.
Updated
The teams are out of the tunnel at the Estadi Johan Cruyff and the Champions League anthem blares out. We are moments away from kick-off!
Here is Romeu on his selection of Graham Hansen in the starting XI, who missed training on Saturday due to illness:
I was in constant contact with Caroline Graham Hansen before picking her for this match. She had a better night in terms of rest and sleep and, between her, the doctor and I, we were clear that she could start.
The first leg of the second semi-final was contested between Arsenal and Lyon yesterday with Melchie Dumornay scoring an 82nd-minute goal to give the visitors a 2-1 advantage at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal are hoping to reach their first Champions League final since they won the competition in 2007 and will have their work cut out for them in France against the eight-time champions.
Bompastor was also just asked about James in her pre-match interview, who misses out due to injury:
A really important player, you know that. She is really talented. One of those players who can make a big difference when she is on the pitch but we need to adapt. She is not with us and I have a lot of quality in the squad so hopefully it will be enough for us to win.
James pulled out of the England squad after sustaining a hamstring problem in the 5-0 Nations League win over Belgium.
Here is what both head coaches had to say in their pre-match press conference.
Sonia Bompastor:
Barcelona have a lot of experience, a lot of talent in the squad I was watching before our [quarter-final second leg against Man City], their game against Wolfsburg, it will be again a tough challenge. But in football everything is possible. So I will bring all the confidence we need to go into those two games.
It’s a huge game. We are really excited. We’ve had all week to prepare for the match, which was really good to work on the gameplan. We feel ready to go. Really excited. We are playing one of the best teams, if not the best team, in Europe. As players, but also as managers, we want to be involved in these games.
Pere Romeu:
I think it’s going to be a really tough tie. I think Chelsea are a team who feel comfortable attacking at pace. They feel comfortable attacking on the flanks with players who get past their marker and they get numbers in the box. They feel comfortable out of possession. They’re great at winning the ball back infield and hitting teams on the counter with Mayra [Ramírez] and others who are great at carrying the ball forward and who attack space well.
I think this means we’ll have a knockout that’ll feel long, a tie in which we’ll try and play well out of possession, to try and win the ball back and hit Chelsea on the counter, and when in possession we’ll try and attack quickly and try and get down the flanks quickly. I think it’ll be a tough and difficult tie.
Let’s take a look back at everytime Chelsea have fallen to Barcelona in this competition.
First, it was the 2020-21 final where the Blues were absolutely blitzed 4-0. An own goal from Melanie Leupolz in the first minute opened the floodgates for Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmatí and Caroline Graham Hansen to score in the first half.
Then in the 2022-23 semi-finals, Barcelona took a 1-0 lead from Stamford Bridge before getting the job done at home, winning 2-1 on aggregate.
Last season’s semi-finals saw Chelsea take a stunning victory away from home thanks to an Erin Cuthbert goal but the Blues fell 2-0 in the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Barcelona’s goal threat comes from all over the pitch, but Ewa Pajor has certainly been the standout with 35 goals and counting in her debut season at the club. To compare, Chelsea’s top scorer is Aggie Beever-Jones who has netted 12 goals this season.
The 2023 and 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, Aitana Bonmatí, says Barcelona have a “good rivalry, no bad things” had high praise for Chelsea ahead of the tie.
It’s a big rivalry between us, because over the last four or five years we [have been] playing a lot of games, but it’s a good rivalry, no bad things.
In these games [against Chelsea] I always say that we can enjoy the football because we have in front of us a good opponent that makes us be better and better and better. This is the moment of the season we all enjoy – big games. It’s these games that make us great and that show us the level where we want to get to.
Chelsea may have never been able to get past Barcelona in this competition before but Sonia Bompastor has. Her Lyon side beat Barcelona in the 2022 Champions League final 3-1. Here is Tom Garry on Chelsea’s evolution under their new head coach:
Since Bompastor’s arrival, when few imagined anybody could match the dominance Hayes oversaw, Chelsea have lost only once, and some might say even that does not count, given it was in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City which they fought back to win on aggregate.
The trophy the club want above all else, though, is the continent’s top prize. Standing between them and what would be only a second appearance in the final by a British club since 2007 are an in-form Barcelona, who have scored 11 goals in their past two matches and were 10-2 aggregate winners over Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals.
Updated
Team news
Barcelona (4-3-3): Coll; Battle, Paredes, León, Brugts; Bonmatí, Guijarro, Putellas; Graham Hansen, Pajor, Paralluelo
Subs: Font, Roebuck, Fernàndez, Torrejón, Pina, Rolfö, López, Engen, Caño, Schertenleib
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Hampton; Bronze, Björn, Bright, Baltimore; Walsh, Cuthbert; Rytting Kaneryd, Kaptein, Beever-Jones; Ramírez
Subs: Spencer, Cox, Nüsken, Macario, Reiten, Lawrence, Girma, Charles, Hamano, Mpomé, Jean-François, Brown
Referee: Katalin Kulcsar (Hungary)
Preamble
Chelsea have been flying in this season in Sonia Bompastor’s debut season at the helm. They have already won the League Cup and are in the FA Cup final. One hand is on the WSL title – their possible sixth in a row – and they are in the Champions League semi-finals. A historic quadruple is on the table.
Enter Barcelona. The Catalan club are the team to beat in Europe, having won the Champions League in three of the previous four seasons. Chelsea, led by Emma Hayes up until this season, have been knocked out of this competition by Barcelona in three of the last four seasons. The Blues have never beat Barcelona in the knockout stages of Europe’s elite club competition. Will this finally be their time?
Join me for the first leg of this Champions League semi-final at the Estadi Johan Cruyff with kick-off at 5pm BST/6pm CEST. And, as always, if you have any thoughts, predictions, questions, complaints or musings you want to share, then feel free to send me an email.
