Sid Lowe's match report
Updated
Thank you for joining us for this tense second leg where Barcelona have knocked out Chelsea to go through to the Women’s Champions League final. In the first leg Caroline Graham Hansen’s strike separated the teams. It was her boot again which extended Barca’s lead but Guro Reiten scored for Chelsea to keep the Blues in it. But Emma Hayes’ side couldn’t find another and bow out of the competition they have never won. We will bring you live updates from Arsenal and Wolfsburg’s second leg on Monday. Here is the report from this evening, have a good rest of the night!
A fun fact for you:
🔵🔴 @FCBfemeni are the third team to reach three consecutive #UWCL finals after Lyon (2010-2013 & 2016-2020) & Umea IK (2002-2004) pic.twitter.com/JdVwTW7Yql
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) April 27, 2023
72,262 fans attended tonight’s game, an extra six or so thousand bought tickets after Putellas was named in the team! The star did not make an appearance but fans would have caught a glimpse of her at Barca’s famous ground.
The other semi-final will be decided on Monday. Arsenal host Wolfsburg at the Emirates and the result is 2-2 from the first leg so everything is to play for! Will there be an English club in the final?
Some stats from this second leg. Barcelona had 52% possession to Chelsea’s 48%, Barca had 14 attempts with two on target and Chelsea had five attempts with three on target.
A worrying sign for Barca though as Bonmati looks like she is limping around the stadium. She was subbed but she seemed to be okay after going down with an issue.
The atmosphere at Camp Nou looks incredible! The crowd have stayed for the team to make their way around and the dancing and singing has not stopped!
Vegard has got in touch via email and said: “Can we just take a moment to remember that only Norwegians have scored in this tie?” That is correct! Graham Hansen scored both goals for Barcelona and Reiten got the equaliser.
If Chelsea turned up at Stamford Bridge as they did today this tie would surely either have been won by the Blues or at least been sent to extra time. But you cannot have a half baked performance against Barcelona, they will take advantage and they did. Respectable from Chelsea though, many would have had this touted as a 4-0 result over two legs but they kept themselves in it.
Barcelona are through to their third consecutive final. Barca won it in 2021, they lost to Lyon in 2022 and they will have to overcome either Arsenal or Wolfsburg in 2023.
Barcelona players rejoice, the bench running on to embrace their teammates. A different mood from Chelsea who hug in consolation. The visitors put on a huge fight but Barca are just a level above. I can’t see them losing, no matter who joins them in the final.
Full-time: Barcelona 1-1 (2-1 agg) Chelsea
Barcelona are through to the final of the Women’s Champions League! It the end it was the strike from Graham Hansen in the first leg that is the difference with a much improved performance from Chelsea seeing a 1-1 result at Camp Nou. Chelsea’s dream ends, they will have to wait another season to try and get their hands on the trophy that evades them.
Updated
90 + 3 min: Charles gives away a free kick as they try to build something, Camp Nou is rocking. They are so close to the final.
90 + 2 min: Berger sends the ball up but Barca has it, this is so tense! Chelsea need to create something and fast.
90 + 1 min: There will be four added minutes, Chelsea need a goal to keep this going.
90 min: Adam has got in touch on email and said: “What are you snacking on today? Beyond that: Barcelona are awfully good at football, aren’t they? I rate Chelsea and Emma Hayes incredibly highly, and it’s surprising to me that Barcelona can make them look really pretty ordinary at times. With both clubs being well-funded relatively speaking and both operating in leagues that allow them to steamroller their opponents more often than not (with the utmost of respect to the teams in both the WSL and La Liga Femenina), what do you think is the difference here? Why do Barcelona seem to be so much better?” Ah I see you have read a blog of mine before! I have Pringles today, a solid choice. Barcelona have world class stars but not only that but stars who know how to be a part of a team. Barca’s head coach has got a yellow for not giving Cuthbert the ball.
88 min: James attempts to get it upfield but Rolfo wins it back. Geyse is fed the ball and she is toying with the Chelsea defence as a cat does with it’s prey, sending them one way and then the other. Geyse finds Paralluelo and her shot is saved!
88 min: Hayes is shouting at her players, slapping her hands and saying ‘one more chance’. One more chance would take it to extra time, the tie wouldn’t be done there! Chelsea are with the ball but in Barca’s half, they will have to do a lot to create something.
86 min: Kerr lays it off to James, she takes a touch and her shot is miles over the bar. She had other options there, she could have been a bit more patient there.
85 min: A long ball from Chelsea goes out for a goal kick. The visitors will be throwing everything at this, Panos is slowing the ball down in the goal kick.
84 min: Barca make a change with Geyse on for Bonmati. I think this is a tactical change not an injury. The fans are on their feet to see Bonmati off the field.
83 min: The commentators are keen to speak about Chelsea’s injury list but they have played well without some key players. It is also worth remembering Barca are without Bronze and have their star player Putellas on the bench returning from injury. Barca have a goal kick after a wasted Chelsea but of play.
82 min: Perisset is off for Chelsea with Rytting Kaneryd on. Bonmati is okay to continue.
81 min: Chelsea do well to get it into the box but Barca do well to block. It comes out to Cuthbert who takes a long range shot, it is on target but Panos handles it easily. Bonmati is down injured now with some changes ready to come on.
80 min: Chelsea are being patient on the ball but then Bonmati wins it in midfield. Carter challenges a Barca player who goes down in the box but no penalty given. Chelsea now look to counter to level this tie up.
79 min: The ball comes in and Graham Hansen’s ball is blocked, it comes in again and Eriksson sees it out for a corner. Leon sends it in but it is headed away by Cuthbert. James does well to win the throw in.
Updated
78 min: Ah Harder is on! Graham Hansen is fouled by Eriksson and Barca have a free kick on halfway.
77 min: Chelsea make some changes with Reiten off for James. Harder looks like she is being prepped to come on. I’m slightly confused as to why Reiten has been hooked, she has been really good in this match.
76 min: Reiten finds Kerr in the box but Paredes blocks well, she has done a great job on Kerr this evening. She has had hardly any space on the ball. Chelsea are sensing a change in momentum as Kerr crosses in and it narrowly misses Reiten’s head.
74 min: A great tie this is turning out to be! I really thought that was Chelsea out when Graham Hansen scored but they cancelled it out so quickly. There is a changes as Torrejon is off for Crnogorcevic. Chelsea yet to make a change.
72 min: Surely Hayes is going to make some subs soon? James and Ingle waiting in the wings and could inject some chances into this. Barca have retained possession since Chelsea clawed one back but Berger for now has a goal kick.
70 min: A very good challenge from Mjelde takes it out of the path of Barcelona who look to extend their lead. Remember Barcelona are ahead on aggregate but Chelsea may fancy themselves here after that goal.
69 min: Well, well, well! Camp Nou’s crowd hate that decision, they don’t believe the Cuthbert challenge was fair. The ball got into the box quickly from that, Kerr took a touch and Reiten rifled it into the back of the net. Perfect reaction from Chelsea.
GOAL! Barcelona 1-1 (2-1 agg) Chelsea (Reiten, 68')
How about this!!
Updated
68 min: Camp Nou is absolutely rocking! These fans are absolutely loving this, you can feel the vibrations of their dancing feet through the coverage! Barcelona are coming again here, Cuthbert challenges Caldenty but it’s fair.
66 min: Chelsea need to go something here. They have no time at all, they need two goals and concede none just to send it to extra-time. It feels a stretch. A gut-punch to Chelsea who were growing into this. Hayes surely needs to bring on James.
GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 (2-0 agg) Chelsea (Graham Hansen, 64')
That is surely that. Barca counters, Bonmati lays it off to Graham Hansen who shoots – Carter gets a foot to it but she can’t get it out. Wow.
Updated
64 min: Barcelona try and counter but Graham Hansen is muscled off the ball. Chelsea need to get some shots on target, the goal needs to come. Chelsea get it in the box, Kerr passes to Reiten in the box but she stumbles. Kerr would have been offside anyway.
62 min: Carter wins a foul from Paralluelo, the crowd not liking that decision. They are making their voices heard in this battle. Carter will take this long-range free kick but it goes directly into the hands of Panos.
61 min: Perisset takes the kick, after a delay with the referee not happy with the ball’s placing, and the whistle is blown out of frustration from the referee. Another chance blown from Chelsea. Barca make some changes with Walsh and Oshoala off for Paralluelo and Engen
58 min: Cuthbert pops the ball forward but it has too much on it. Chelsea are coming forward more and trying more things, I think they will become looser as the game goes on as they will have to throw everything at this Barca team to get something from it. Chelsea do well to get it into the box and a shot takes a deflection and they have their first corner.
57 min: Reiten has a great run and tries to pass to Kerr but it is blocked well. Barcelona counter and Graham Hansen has a fantastic run in the box but Chelsea’s defence does enough to crowd her. She takes a shot but it’s over the bar.
56 min: Perisset puts in a pass to try and find Reiten but it has too much on it and Panos collects, Chelsea are looking brighter in this half.
54 min: Kerr had it and she wanted to lay it off to Reiten but she went down in the box. No appeals from Chelsea players so it was a fair challenge, the Blues waste another chance in the box but it’s frustrating they can’t get a shot away. Now, unsurprisingly, Patri is on the edge of the box but her cross is collected by Berger.
52 min: Bonmati gives away possession with a foul on Charles, Chelsea take the free kick from deep but it goes straight to Panos. Oshoala is not happy and she believes Charles saw that out but it has been given to Chelsea.
50 min: Oshoala does not do well with a great position, Carter should have been able to clear that but it goes under her foot and Oshoala is through but she takes too much time on it and it’s blocked.
49 min: Rolfo takes a huge chance from distance and it goes wide, I had my heart in my mouth as it left her foot. So close!
Updated
47 min: Cuthbert does well to repel an early chance from Bonmati. It’s clear Barcelona want to put this game to bed.
Back underway! Barcelona 0-0 (1-0 agg) Chelsea
So will Barcelona convert their chances? Or can Chelsea take advantage of their rare chances? Next 45 minutes we will see. If Chelsea equalise and it ends 1-1 on aggregate we will be heading to extra time and then penalties.
Would you have started James? I thought Hayes would have promoted her from the bench for the second leg. Let me know your thoughts via Twitter and email.
Have you been reading our weekly women’s newsletter, Moving the Goalposts? It is free to subscribe to and we bring you all the latest news from the sport! Subscribe here:
Half-time: Barcelona 0-0 (1-0 agg) Chelsea
Well this match may be all Barcelona with the hosts having nine shots to Chelsea’s none but the visitors are in this. What could be the difference is the subs, remember Putellas is back and Chelsea have James to bring on.
45 + 4 min: Leon takes it and it is just beyond Paredes.
45 + 3 min: Oh my that was so close from Chelsea! Kerr has it on the edge of the box and she passes to Fleming who gets boxed out. If she saw Charles on the edge of the box that could have been an equaliser, though the offside question would have been asked. Now Charles has fouled Graham Hansen and gives away a free kick in a great position for the hosts.
Updated
45 + 1 min: There will be three added minutes.
45 min: Barca do enough to stop the set piece going through the Chelsea side quickly but the Blues are having a positive spell. Carter pops it on as she spots some space but Barca win it back and clear – not for long though with Carter back in possession! Reiten is offside though and Barca have it. Positive from Chelsea though!
43 min: Oshoala gives away another foul on Mjelde, she has a wry smile on her face as the whistle blows her whistle. Chelsea take the free kick from deep and try to create something.
Updated
41 min: Chelsea are coming now, they need to take their chances when they have them, Reiten gets it into the box but Paredes kicks away. Chelsea win a free kick from an Oshoala foul, the crowd are booing from the decision. Eriksson takes the free kick but Barca deal with it comfortably.
39 min: Perisset does really well to get the ball away from Patri’s feet without conceding a corner. Chelsea’s defence growing into this one.
Updated
37 min: Chelsea do well to close down Caldenty in the box without giving away anything aside from a corner. Leon gets it in the box but Leupolz head s away. It keeps coming but Chelsea do enough, for now.
36 min: Barca punt it into the box but Chelsea do enough to repel it. Carter does well to close down Rolfo to unlock some possession for the visitors. Chelsea try to find Kerr upfield but it has too much on it.
34 min: While Berger received treatment, to the boos of the Camp Nou crowd, Hayes has had a huddle with her team. Berger is okay to continue.
33 min: There is a lot of talk from the commentators about Chelsea’s injury list but I think even with the likes of Bright on the pitch Barcelona would still be leading this. Barcelona are just too slick. Berger is down now with an injury, or is it one of those tactical time outs?
32 min: Bonmati is given a slight bit of space and she treats it as though it’s Narnia! The touches and the movement to get a cross in was so impressive! Chelsea block the cross and it’s out for a corner. It’s pinged into the box but there is another handball from Barca.
30 min: Chelsea have some possession now, yes it’s a headline moment with Barca’s domination in this! They have been ran back to Berger after winning the ball on halfway. Barca win it back in Chelsea’s half but Charles does well to block a pass from Graham Hansen.
28 min: Boos rain down on Chelsea as they take a while to throw in the ball, it eventually comes but it’s played back to Panos. Graham Hansen gets it on the edge of the box who passes to Bonmati, laying it off to Caldenty but it’s wide! Barca edging closer.
26 min: Mjelde blocks a cross from Oshoala and sends it out for a corner. Graham Hansen takes it and it meets Paredes’ head but it’s over. The crowd is coming to life here to try and urge their team on.
24 min: Here come Chelsea though, they are playing in their own half but it’s more positive from Hayes’ side. Possession exchanges hands but Chelsea seem more settled.
Updated
22 min: Chelsea have some possession and they are being patient in the build-up, Mjelde attempts a long pass and Graham Hansen intercepts. Barca get it through the team and are on the edge of the box once again. Chelsea do well again to block but how long will they be able to keep them out?
20 min: Reiten nabs the ball in the midfield and is off on the attack, the Chelsea player clashes with Paredes and Reiten is given a yellow card. A bit harsh, she did go for the ball. Graham Hansen does so well to run around Charles but her resulting shot is blocked.
18 min: Graham Hansen whips it from the corner but it has too much on it and it’s out for a goal kick. Barca continue to threaten, it feels like a matter of time until they score.
16 min: Barcelona continue in their domination of this game, Hayes is looking frustrated on the sidelines. Barca thread the ball to each other like a hot knife through butter! Bonmati gets on the end of a good cross and Berger puts it behind for a corner.
14 min: Rolfo is okay to continue and it was Eriksson who was down but she is okay as well.
13 min: In the break in play for Rolfo to get some treatment Chelsea are in a huddle. It looks like a Chelsea player is having treatment too, though it’s not clear who it is. I’ll let you know when I do.
Updated
12 min: Barcelona have a corner as Eriksson sees it out from a Graham Hansen cross. Graham Hansen takes it, crossing to the edge of the box. It eventually comes in but Paredes’ header is over the bar. Rolfo is down injured from that corner piece.
11 min: Graham Hansen is electric! She crosses to Oshoala whose resulting shot is over the bar. Chelsea haven’t had a sniff since the first few minutes.
9 min: Oh my word, so close! Rolfo gets a great ball into Graham Hansen who finds the back of the net but it is ruled out due to handball. Eriksson caught napping there, she’ll need to be more switched on.
Updated
8 min: Oshoala gets in a good position again but her cross is to no-one once more. They are having the large majority of possession now. Graham Hansen can’t connect in the box and they clear, the hosts looking more dangerous. Barcelona have settled after the good start from Chelsea.
6 min: Barcelona take the momentum out of Chelsea’s sails and have retained possession in the midfield. Oshoala gets into the box but her cross is cleared.
4 min: Chelsea know they will need to get out the blocks firing and they are showing attacking intent, just a slight lack of being clinical at the moment. Carter throws in and Paredes misses the clearing kick but Panos collects.
2 min: Fleming crosses in early doors but Barca deal with it well. Cuthbert puts it back in but it’s behind for a goal kick.
Kick-off! Barcelona 0-0 (1-0 agg) Chelsea)
Here we go! Will Barcelona run away with this? Or can Chelsea shock the hosts? We will find out over the next 90 minutes!
The players are out and the crowd are raring to go here! Not long until kick-off now!
Jonathan Liew has written a feature on Arsenal’s first leg. They went 2-0 down to Wolfsburg but fought back to earn a draw, have a read of Jonathan’s assessment here:
Scott has got in touch on Twitter and said: “My heart says Chelsea can do it, albeit with a lot of luck. Head says it could get a bit City v Arsenal last night. Fingers crossed though!” I think Chelsea will need a bit of luck to down Barca!
Ahead of the clash at Camp Nou have a listen to our women’s football podcast which discusses Chelsea’s semi and the other last four battle. Arsenal and Wolfsburg are locked 2-2 heading into their second leg on Monday. Listen here:
Chelsea captain Magdalena Eriksson said today’s game is a full circle moment: “I’ve played in these kinds of games, many of them. It feels like another game I want to get through to reach that final,” she said. “I went to Camp Nou when I was 13 with my dad and we saw Chelsea v Barcelona playing. In that sense it feels really cool. That is the bigger picture. But the small picture is it’s just another game to get through to the final. We really enjoy these challenges. I was excited about the last game and I am for [Thursday]. I know we can do better too which gives me confidence. We know we will have to suffer.”
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes is aware of the battle ahead for her team: “Nobody denies they are a fabulous team with an amazing history, particularly here. We have to accept that we will suffer more against Barcelona than anyone else. But we showed in the previous game we can defend. We will have to do that at an even higher level and the execution from us with the football has to be better. It’s a football match. The game is 1-0. We have a fair and equal chance. This is a strength of our team. We are built to cope with the challenges. We like to suffer. We’re as prepared as we possibly can be.”
The crowds are ready for this one:
Aquest és l'ambient a l'accés 7 de l'Spotify Camp Nou 🙌🙌🥰🥰🥰 pic.twitter.com/EivE1sgyhf
— FC Barcelona Femení (@FCBfemeni) April 27, 2023
The goal that separates the two sides:
CGH making it look 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒚 😮💨🎯#UWCL // @FCBfemeni pic.twitter.com/gbWns5hGla
— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL) April 27, 2023
Here is a recap of the first leg ahead of tonight’s reverse fixture:
So how are you feeling ahead of this one? Any predictions? Any thoughts you want to share? Let me know via Twitter or email.
One star who will not be on the pitch today is Barcelona’s Lucy Bronze who has had knee surgery. Barca manager Jonatan Giráldez says Bronze will be out for a few weeks, read the full story:
The danger Alexia Putellas presents, she is on the bench for the first time in 10 months after suffering an ACL injury:
🇪🇸 Alexia Putellas: 11 goals in 10 games in the UWCL last season ⏪
— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL) April 27, 2023
The 2021/22 🔝 scorer returns to Barça's semi-final matchday squad today after 9 months out injured 🙌#UWCL // @alexiaputellas pic.twitter.com/SX9lGwmfAd
The teams
The team news is in! Barcelona make three changes to their starting 11 with Torrejón, Oshoala and Mariona coming in with Bronze, Paralluelo and Geyse out. Putellas is named on the bench.
Barcelona: Paños; Torrejón, Paredes, Mapi León, Rolfö; Guijarro, Walsh, Bonmati; Graham Hansen, Oshoala, Mariona
Subs: Coll, Codina, Jana, Pina, Crnogorčević, Putellas, Paralluelo, Geyse, Nuria, Engen, López.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have made only one change with Fleming coming in for Cankovic. James remains on the bench.
Chelsea: Berger; Perisset, Mjelde, Eriksson, Carter, Charles; Cuthbert, Leupolz, Fleming; Kerr, Reiten.
Subs: Musovic, Orman, Ingle, James, Rytting Kaneryd, Harder, Abdullina, Cankovic.
Updated
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Barcelona and Chelsea’s second leg of the Women’s Champions League semi-final. The hosts today have the upper hand after securing a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge and so Chelsea have a fight on their hands.
The task is even more difficult for the visitors with a 65,000 -strong crowd awaiting Chelsea at Camp Nou. Barcelona have also welcomed star player Alexia Putellas into the squad, though we will have to wait until the team news drops to see if she will start for the Spanish giants.
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said she hoped having Putellas back in the team would add an extra 10,000 fans in the stands. And it seems supporters have been queuing up to buy their tickets to the game today after the news of Putellas’ return dropped, so the number at Camp Nou could rise.
It’s going to be a tense battle and if Chelsea manage to overcome Barcelona it will be an upset. Both sets of team news should be out shortly and so stay tuned ahead of kick-off at 5.45pm BST.
