Here’s Suzy’s report from Stamford Bridge. As she says, Emma Hayes’ Champions League dream remains alive. But it’s a distant dream and you can’t help but feel that Barcelona already have one foot in the final.
Thanks for sticking with me. I enjoyed that. Til next time…
Apart from one mistake that gave Asisat Oshoala a chance to canter towards goal, Jessica Carter had a cracking game.
Jess Carter 2021 UWCL final to Jess Carter 2023 UWCL semi final is the biggest footballing glow up.
— Suzy Wrack (@SuzyWrack) April 22, 2023
For those wondering, and as if there was any doubt, Caroline Graham Hansen was recognised as the player of the match. Not just for her worldie (are we still using that word?) but for her overall play. She was a threat every time she got the ball. One mazy run would have ended in a second goal were it not for a late intervention by Ann-Katrin Berger who came off her line to shove the ball from Hansen’s toes. An outstanding game from the Norwegian winger.
I’m seeing loads of chat on the socials regarding the strength of the WSL. It’s a similar debate that’s been bubbling in the men’s game.
What constitutes a strong league? One where four teams are at an eight out of ten level? Or one with one or two teams that can operate at a nine out of ten? Know what I mean?
I think the former. So while Barca might be better than both Chelsea and Arsenal, and Lyon have evidently been the supreme power on the continent, I think the WSL with the two Manchester Clubs alongside the two already mentioned is the most competitive and therefore the best.
But that’s just me. Happy to disagree.
This clearly shows Barca’s dominance. It really could have been a cricket score were it not for the two Chelsea centre backs. Special praise for Mjelde who isn’t ordinarily a first choice pick, but was very strong today.
Chelsea vs Barcelona 0-1
— She Plots FC (@ShePlotsFC) April 22, 2023
Shotmap#CHEFCB #CHEBAR #UWCL pic.twitter.com/D6S9E3lzwq
This is worth celebrating. And shows what an impact the Lionesses’ glory has had on English football fans.
27,697 - a new British record attendance in the @UWCL at Stamford Bridge today, beating the six-year old record set in Cardiff at the 2017 final. This is likely to be broken again in nine days' times #ChelseaBarça #CHEBAR pic.twitter.com/TFJLk07fAk
— Asif Burhan (@AsifBurhan) April 22, 2023
Unfortunately the DAZN broadcast cut off at the full time whistle. So while we wait for Suzy’s report, I’ll keep trawling for quotes and reactions where I can find them.
Agree with all of this. Unquestionably a much improved show after the humiliation two years ago. But this was a thumping win by all counts except the final score.
- Clearly, lessons were learned after the 4-0 defeat
— Chelsea Women Daily (@CFCWdaily) April 22, 2023
-Our defenders were great today
-Its not over until the final whistle
-We can score against them.
-Great to see P back.
-Considering our injuries, I guess the players played really well.
-No pressure, we are the under dogs
Word from Suzy Wrack is that Lucy Bronze is walking around unaided on the pitch. Phew. Some good news for England fans at least.
Updated
Full-Time: Chelsea 0-1 Barcelona
Advantage Barca. Chelsea can hold their heads high and know that they have a chance next week when they make the trip to Spain, but that was as dominant a 1-0 win as I’ve ever seen.
A wonder goal in the fourth minute from Hansen was the difference in a game that could have have seen more goals. Torrejon hit the post with a header and Berger in the Chelsea goal had a great game. Barca barely left third gear and will only sweat on the fitness of Bronze who hobbled off the field and watched on with an ice pack on her right knee.
Chelsea rallied after going behind and pressed with great intensity in the first half. Once they flagged in the second they couldn’t get anywhere near their guests.
Reaction and other bits to come.
90+4 min: It’s a Barca corner. Oshoala was almost put through but Mjelde is on hand to divert it safely away.
90+2 min: Panos takes an age to get things going with a goal kick and cops a yellow card for time wasting. Not sure that was necessary. Her team have been so dominant this second half.
90+1 min: There’ll be four added minutes in total. Torrejon can’t direct her header on target from a corner. Do or die time for Chelsea who have a throw in the right area of the park thanks to a rare poor kick from Panos.
89 min: James break free of a tackle and then rides another two before passing forward to Kerr. She can’t find her and Barca are back at them. Rolfe hammers a strike from inside the box and Berger is at full stretch to keep it out of the top corner and tip it behind for a corner.
88 min: Oshoala can’t bring that long ball under her spell. She’s been full of running since she came on. Quite unbelievable how good this Barca team is. Must be maddening playing against them.
87 min: Barca’s corner is steered away by another strong defensive header. Chelsea just can’t get hold of the ball. Barca are metronomic in the way they exchange passes.
86 min: Oshoalo picks Carter’s pocket and runs towards goal. No one is there to help so she has to go backwards to Bonmati.
84 min: Triple changes for both teams.
Chelsea bring on Harderm Fleming and Rytting Kaneryd for Reiten, Leupolz and Perisset.
Barca pull their goalscorer Hansen, as well as Walsh and Paralluelo for Oshoala, Engen or Crnogorcevic.
83 min: Thank goodness for the Chelsea centre backs who have both been outstanding. Mjelde’s clearance from Rolfe’s cross was as good as any we’ve seen.
82 min: Barca have hit the post! A header from Torrejon at the far post pings back off the upright. Chelsea break with James but she can’t find Kerr.
Updated
81 min: Carter blocks a stiff shot from outside the box and it spirals away for a corner. Both teams clearing the benches. Three changes each after this corner.
80 min: Caldentey’s switched pass to Rolfe is a good one. Bonmati and Caldentey play a neat one-two. Hansen on the wing keeps the attack going. Even when Chelsea complete a successful challenge Barca steal in to win it back. Paralluelo’s cross is cleared by the head of Carter . A second feels inevitable now.
Updated
78 min: Chelsea are playing like a team without an idea. To be fair to them, Barca have been so good this half. But the home team simply have to show more right now. They’re defending again. Paralluelo’s shot from a tight angle is easy pickings for Berger.
76 min: Kerr has had nothing but scraps this half. She’s battling up field and does well to force a clearance that goes out for a throw in inside Barca’s territory. Nothing comes of it though. The women in gold have the ball back.
75 min: A weaving run from Bonmati is followed by a good pass out wide to Hansen. Her cross is too deep for Caldentey. Still, it’s all Barca right now.
The cameras just cut to Lucy Bronze with an ice pack on her right knee.
74 min: Bonmati and Walsh are running the show in midfield. Rolfe has the ball again in a very advanced position, at the byline inside the Chelsea box. Her cross doesn’t beat Berger.
72 min: Kerr is freed down the left. A great run is met by an equally good ball. But she rushes her own pass to James at the edge of the area and it’s cleared by Barca. Need more composure in those areas.
70 min: Barca are playing this perfectly. Their midfield is keeping Chelsea at arm’s length and the front three are starved of ball. James, in her frustration, lashes out at a 50/50 ball and gets a yellow card for a reckless challenge.
Bronze was replaced by Torrejon, by the way.
68 min: Chelsea need to rediscover that intensity in midfield. They win a 50-50 and Charles swing a ball in from the left. Barca counter through Hansen who has switched wings again. She’s charging down the left but the final pass to Paralluelo in the box is just a bit behind her.
67 min: Substitution for Chelsea. Cuthbert leaves after a top shift in the middle of the park. Ingle takes her place.
Injury for Lucy Bronze
66 min: Oh no. Lucy Bronze has left the field with a limp. Not sure what’s up. But that’s another injury scare for an important England player.
Updated
65 min: Hansen digs out a cross with her right foot from the right and it finds its way to the back post. The header back towards the chicken box is accurate as well but Chelsea’s scramble defence clears the danger before Caldentey can steer it in.
64 min: A chance for Chelsea to swing in a cross from a free kick from the left. It' goes to the back post. They get another bite at it and Cuthbert puts her head through a looping ball. It’s directed towards goal but there’s no power on it. Panos gathers.
63 min: Caldentey gets on her bike and runs with the ball through the heart of Chelsea’s midfield. She plays it on for Hansen and then gets it back. The cut-back cross doesn’t find a teammate but the ball spills for Bronze who is very advanced. Chelsea just about scramble it away.
61 min: Chelsea can’t get close enough to the Barca midfield. Are they missing Cankovic? Was the James substitute premature?
60 min: Caldentey into the action immediately. She’s linking with Rolfe. The play switches to Hansen and then Bronze on the far side. Walsh has it in the middle of the park. barca bossing the ball.
58 min: Slick from Barca again. Paralluelo’s clever back heel funds Geyse on the run inside the box. The shot is tame. That’ll be Geyse’s last contribution. Caldentey is on.
56 min: Excellent from Mjelde. Geyse charges towards the byline but the Chelsea centre back is strong and smart and bumps the Barca forward into touch and watches the ball trickle for a goal kick.
55 min: Berger’s hacked clearance is plucked down by Bronze. Barca bossing the tempo now. Slowing things down. Chelsea need to get a move on but they’re too rushed. The long ball to Kerr is impossible to control.
53 min: James shoots and finds the target. Panos spills after the ball reaches her on the bounce. That would have been a bolt out of the blue had that found the net. Great energy from James.
But Barca are back up the field and Hansen cuts onto her left foot. She shoots, but without the accuracy she showed with her goal. Goal kick for Chelsea.
End to end. This is great fun!
52 min: Hansen goes short with the corner from the left. She gets it back and delivers from a more favourable angle. Berger gathers the cross with composure. The Chelsea keeper is having a top game.
50 min: Barca seem to posses extra gears that they can access at will. All of a sudden they’re camped inside Chelsea territory. Now they have a corner which is played short for Walsh. Her ball to the back post is an inviting one but it allows Berger to come off her line and tip it behind for another corner.
Updated
49 min: Barca content to let Chelsea play with the ball in their own half. They’re happy to wait before launching a press. They do so with great efficiency and Walsh has the ball. Rolfe crosses and it’s cleared but only as far as Paralluelo who shots from inside the box. Mjelde stands strong and blocks.
48 min: Geyse does really well to get past Eriksson down the right. She’s flicking the ball before passing on to Hansen. There’s no space to shoot so Rolfe in an advanced position takes it on through the left channel. Chelsea defend well and it’ll be a goal kick.
47 min: Not sure if the volume has been turned up at DAZN HQ but it seems that the crowd is more vocal at the start of this half.
46 min: James is all the way up field alongside Kerr. At the other end Carter chases down Geyse and then swipes down the assistant referee. Shoulder to shoulder with the Chelsea left back coming off second best.
Away they go. You feel that Chelsea have to win this game if they have a hope of reaching the final. Humungous 45 minutes coming up.
Yup. James is on. Cankovic, who was instrumental in the hard and high press for Chelsea, is off.
Word is Lauren James is set to come on. She definitely brings more attacking intent, but will Chelsea lose some of their potency on the press?
Credit to Chelsea. They didn’t land a glove on Barca before Hansen’s wonder strike put them a goal down. Then Berger went down after saving a shot from range and that gave Hayes the opportunity to have a word with her players.
Whatever she said worked. After that chat the women in blue were more aggressive on the press, countered with more zip and were more composed and confident on the ball.
This one ain’t over.
Half-Time: Chelsea 0-1 Barcelona
Hansen’s spectacular goal after four minutes carried with it painful memories of the 4-0 drubbing Chelsea suffered two years ago in the final. Then they were behind after just 33 seconds. Would they fold once again?
The answer has been an emphatic NO as the home team rallied and landed a few blows of their own. They had the ball in the net but Kerr was offside before she found Reiten in the Barca box.
It’s been an entertaining half with plenty of quality and crunching hits. The next 45 minutes promises even more.
45+4 min: Rolfe – who has had a sparkling first half – finds Paralleulo down the left. The cross is a loopy one and can’t connect with anyone in gold.
45+2 min: Outstanding from Hanen. Truly world class. She’s given a tough job after a long diagonal to her win bounces towards the corner flag. She chases it down, back heels to keep it alive, gathers and then wriggles into the box before crossing to the far post. Geyse can’t get on the end of it. If she did we’d have seen replays of that one for years.
45+1 min: Brilliant catch from Berger from a fizzing low cross off the boot of Rolfo from the left. The Chelsea keeper dived full stretch to claim that. Quality work.
45 min: Ah, the long ball was on but Cuthbert’s hack up field skews off her boot and is miles away from the darting run of Kerr.
44 min: Barca settling on the ball, perhaps sensing that half-time is approaching. They’re like an apex predator. But Cankovic won’t lie down. That sliding tackle kills a patient move through the middle.
42 min: Chelea can’t take advantage of a free kick in a a handy area on the left.
41 min: Leon has been shown a yellow and she’s not happy about it. It’s for a handball that she claims hit her on the head.
Updated
39 min: Paralluelo is through. She’s clear. She’s got nothing but Berger standing in her way after being fed down the left. And yet she cuts back and eventually the move comes to nothing, Perisset was there defending but why on earth didn’t the Barca forward shoot? Odd.
39 min: Cuthbert again wins a personal battle in midfield. Chelsea look the more physical side.
37 min: That was a striker’s tackle. Kerr bashes into the back of Walsh and is rightly carded.
Updated
36 min: Reiten can’t latch onto a long hopeful ball. Panos is off her line to gather.
35 min: Cuthbert dominating her area of the pitch. That’s allowed Chelsea to boss possession for the last 10 minutes or so.
34 min: Chelsea moving the ball well now. Cuthbert’s ball from the inside right channel almost finds Kerr on the diagonal run. It’s headed away by Paredes. Almost. That would have been a sublime pass.
33 min: Cankovic and Charles combine well in midfield and Charles shoots from range on the left but that spins out for a throw-in.
32 min: It’ll be a drop ball to restart. Which feels like a win for Chelsea. How good is Hansen? What a player. It seems as if she runs faster with the ball than without it.
30 min: The corner is cleared and Barca break. Hansen has the ball on the halfway line and she has nothing but a goal in mind. She puts on the afterburners and breezes past Mjelde. Hansen is in the Chelsea box and cuts onto her right foot but Berger comes off her line and gets both the ball and the player. The ‘keeper is once again needing treatment. That was a crunching clash. But so important. She’s kept her team at 0-1.
Updated
29 min: Stunning clearance from Bronze! Reiten rounded Panos and got her shot on target from her right foot on an acute angle but Bronze was there to block it off the line. Excellent link-up play between Reiten and Kerr before that. Chelsea growing into this.
28 min: Eriksoon’s strong challenger puts an end to a mazy run from Rolfo who found herself in Chelsea’s box. Dicy from the Blues’ skipper who was off her feet. She’s once again taking control at the back. She’s having a great game.
26 min: Really sharp from Kerr and Reiten who aren’t dropping back to help with the defensive duties. They’ll keep the Barca backline honest.
25 min: Chelsea have the ball in the net but the flag is up. It’s Kerr who is centimetres off. It was a great ball down the right that met an equally good run. She then played a low cross into the box and Reiten slotted home. So close and that is an encouraging sign that Chelsea can play through the high line of Barca.
Updated
24 min: Barca put Berger under pressure so her clearance isn’t a good one. Bonmati has the ball on the right. A ball into the box finds Paralluelo who hits it first time but the shot is blocked.
22 min: Kerr’s deflected shot from the edge of the area hads Panos scrambling to save to her left. Good play from Chelsea. Cuthbert’s long ball is flicked on to Kerr and Charles finds her again. The ball is a little behind Kerr so she can’t swing her foot through it. Still, her side-footed effort is at least on target.
21 min: Cankovic is being forced to play much deeper than she’d like.
20 min: Bronze dinks a ball into the mixer after getting it from Hansen. Chelsea clear but it’s all very nervy at the back.
18 min: Bronze and Walsh play a game of their own before the former hoofs a speculative ball up field. No matter, they have it back and little triangles has them moving in the right direction. Eriksson fouls Geyse on the half turn.
Updated
16 min: A break in play as Berger goes down and holds her ankle. Not sure there was anything in that. The commentators on DAZN are suggesting this is a bit gamesmanship to allow Hayes to have a word with her team. Something has to change or this could be a long afternoon for the home team. Berge is told to hurry up by the referee Jana Adamkova.
15 min: Geyse’s shot from outside the box is a tester for Berger. It bounces just in front of the keeper which is never easy. But she handles it well and doesn’t spill it. One way traffic at present. Chelsea can’t get close enough to the Barca midfield.
14 min: Cuthbert again wins the ball in her own half. She launches an attack but Chelsea can’t keep it for long. As good as Barca are on the ball they’re also handy without it.
13 min: Hansen shoots again, this time from inside the box, after neat interplay involving Bronze creates the space. The strike lacks the bit of the previous hit and Berger can save without any fuss.
12 min: Bronze has space down the right and feeds Hansen who is seeing a lot of the ball. There’s no room to cross so Barca build from the back again. They keep the ball so well. A forward pass is over hit so Chelsea can breathe again.
10 min: Paredes stands on the ball with all the authority if a Roman emperor. Supremely confident and patient before spraying a pass out wide. They’re just oozing confidence now.
8 min: Cuthbert does well to win the ball back deep in her own half. She’ll get a throw-in as well. But Barca press and have it inside Chelsea territory. Walsh finds Hansen down the left with a sumptuous ball.
7 min: Perriset’s cross from the right is blocked but once again it’s Chelsea on the front foot. Good reaction after the goal.
6 min: Good reaction from Chelsea. They work the ball into the Barca box on the left. The danger is snuffed out but at least the home side have demonstrated their attacking intent.
5 min: Once again Chelsea are chasing a game against Barcelona. They simply stood off Hansen there and invited the shot. They need to back themselves and get stuck in!
GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Barcelona (Hansen, 4)
What a goal! Oh my word what a strike that is. Hansen picks the ball up all the way on the right flank. She darts infield and no one closes her down so she lets fly with her left foot and finds the far corner. Sensational.
Updated
3 min: Kerr clatters Leon after a long ball from the back gives her something to chase. Good aggression shown by the Blues so far.
2 min: Barca with all the ball but a strong press from Chelsea. Mjelde comes off her line and upends Geyse.
34 seconds: Last time these two teams played Barca scored after just 33 seconds. So it’s a better start so far for Chelsea at least.
PEEEEEP! It’s the English champions in royal blue and the Spanish champions in gold. It doesn’t get bigger than this!
As is now customary, the players take the knee before kick off.
Scratch that. The gremlins have been chased away. We’ve got the right game on our screens.
Inexplicably, just as the players were filing out if the tunnel, the DAZN stream has cut to Fulham v Leeds in the Premier League.
“How do you beat Barcelona?” It’s a question almost without an answer. I said almost, because a tested method involved a frenetic press and keeping tight when they inevitably boss the ball. But those are much easier to type from my couch than it is to pull off on the pitch.
We’re almost there. Just seven minutes to kick off at a sun bathed Stamford Bridge that looks an absolute picture.
Does he have a point?
Why's a Champions League semi-final at 12:30? Should get a pride of place evening slot surely? 🤔😤 #UWCL #CHEBAR #ChelseaBarça
— Adam Samuel 🇹🇹🇦🇬 (@AdamSamue1) April 22, 2023
A little something to get you in the mood:
We’re ready.#UWCL pic.twitter.com/2ScioKYL2H
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) April 21, 2023
Chelsea are without Millie Bright and Kadeisha Buchanan this afternoon.
A big game then for Maren Mjelde in the heart of that defence.
The next article from Suzanne Wrack is my favourite on the site right now. I was calling the MBM during Manchester United’s 1-0 over Arsenal and I was deeply saddened by the sight of Leah Williamson hobbling off with a suspected ACL tear.
So it proved and now the England captain is out of the World Cup. No matter who you support it is deeply upsetting knowing that a player in her prime will miss out on the biggest event the game has to offer.
Suzy captures all the emotions better than anyone:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/apr/21/williamsons-woe-could-be-difference-between-winning-the-world-cup-or-not
There are a couple of pieces by Suzanne Wrack that deserve their place on the “must read” list.
Let’s start with her analysis on the two teams representing England in the last four of the Champions League. Two teams that have dominated the Women’s Super League for the last six years but have both struggled to leave their mark on Europe’s top stage.
Chelsea were vanquished finalists two years ago. Arsenal lifted the title in 2007 but have not been back at to the showpiece event since then. Can either reach the promised land?
It’s fair to say that Chelsea’s players haven’t forgotten the football lesson they were handed two years ago. For Sophie Ingle, a player who has been at the forefront of so many positive narratives for the women’s game in Wales, that humbling in Gothenburg is still at the forefront of her mind.
Read her interview with Louise Taylor:
Two of England's brightest stars shine for Barca
There is danger throughout this Barca team but it’s hard to take your eyes off the two players starting at right back and centre midfield.
Keira Walsh running the show and Lucy Bronze bombing down the flank will delight those with an affinity for the Lionesses, but Hayes and her Blues will want to tame them this afternoon.
Barcelona: Panos, Bronze, Paredes, Leon Cebrian, Rolfo, Bonmati, Walsh, Guijarro Gutierrez, Hansem Paralluelo, da Silva Ferreira.
Substitutes: Codina, Fernandez Velasco, Pina, Crnogorcevic, Torrejon, Caldentey Oliver, Coll Lluch, Vilamala, Oshoala, Rabano, Engen, Lopez Serrano.
1️⃣1️⃣ inicial 💪@Spotify 💛 pic.twitter.com/PQ3DMFYKmW
— FC Barcelona Femení (@FCBfemeni) April 22, 2023
No James but potent attacking options for Chelsea
Perhaps conscious of the disastrous start in the final two years ago, Hayes has opted for a slightly more defensively minded starting XI. Still, take a look at that front three. There are plenty of goals lurking in this team.
Chelsea 4-3-3: Berger, Perisset, Mjelde, Eriksson (c), Carter, Cuthbert, Leupolz, Reiten, Charles, Kerry, Cankovic.
Substitutes: Musovic, Ingle, James, Fleming, Rytting Kaneryd, Harder, Abdullina, Orman.
Your Chelsea XI! 💪#UWCL pic.twitter.com/99fF49d2tO
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) April 22, 2023
Preamble
Revenge is not just a dish best served cold. Sometimes it’s even tastier when it’s piping hot. And for Chelsea, the memories of their 4-0 humbling two years ago still feel as fresh as a recently baked cruffin.
Back then in Gothenburg, a four goal blitz in 36 minutes, starting with a calamitous own goal after 33 seconds, demonstrated a gulf in class between England’s best and the Blaugranes of Barcelona. But, as the fates would have it, Emma Hayes has an opportunity to prove that the gap has been bridged.
This first leg at Stamford Bridge is a must-win affair for the Blues. Barca have been near unbeatable this season. They’ve recorded 25 wins from as many league games and haven’s lost a Liga F match in 59 encounters. On their own patch, they’re arguably the best team on the planet.
However, there have been signs of weakness in Europe and Bayern Munich proved their fallibility with a 3-1 triumph in the group stage.
The Germans pressed their vaunted Spanish opponents with a zeal that must be matched by Hayes’ team. Do that, and get the business done in front of goal, and this two course revenge meal might be one to savour for treble chasing Chelsea.
My name is Daniel. I’m really excited to be here with you. If you’d like to drop a line or two please send them my way via email or Twitter.
Kick-off at 12:30 BST. Teams and other bits to come.
