The wait for Sam Kerr to recover from the anterior cruciate injury she suffered in January 2024 has rarely seemed longer to Chelsea fans than it did in Catalonia as the English league headers were thrashed 4-1 by Barcelona.
Already missing Kerr and US striker Mia Fishel the London club lost England's Lauren James on the eve of the match, leaving them light in attack against the holders in their Uefa Women's Champions League semi-final first-leg.
While Barcelona were able to bring the competition's leading scorer, Claudia Pina, off the bench Chelsea had fewer attacking options.