A defeat by Barcelona once more in the Champions League will, in the immediate aftermath, feel like a blow for Chelsea and their fans. However, a gritty performance and 1-0 loss at the hands of the team so many consider the best in Europe should fill Chelsea with plenty of encouragement for the second leg at the Camp Nou on Thursday.
It is well known that this is the one title Emma Hayes and her team desperately desire, the final missing piece in their trophy cabinet. They have come close: losing 4-0 to Barcelona in the 2021 final, and the heartbreak of that day lives long in the memory.
