Chelsea v Barcelona: Women’s Champions League semi-final, second leg – live | Women’s Champions League


Key events

51 mins: Barcelona are looking very lively at the moment. They seem to think a second goal will deflate Chelsea. The Blues need to increase their intensity.

The referee gives a free-kick to Barcelona for a foul by Macario on Walsh but it looks a bad decision, leaving the striker fuming.

49 mins: Some chaos in the Chelsea box; a mix of late challenges and blocked shots but the hosts survive the scare.

47 mins: Kaneryd and James combine well on the right to release the winger, who sends a teasing cross into the box but Coll claims.

“Enjoying your coverage of the game. It’s been a bit scrappy but very interesting – that’s the game not your coverage …

“Chelsea need to get Kirby or Reiten on, to provide more threat, instead of the ineffectual Nusken. Whereas Barca can bring on Putellas who will likely turn things in their favour.”

Cheers Gordon. Plenty of scrappy coverage to come.

Second half

Here we go again!

There is currently a Premier League taking place, too.

Half time: Chelsea 0-1 Barcelona (agg 1-1)

Bonmati’s deflected strike is the difference at the break but Chelsea have shown signs of promise since conceding. It should be an intriguing second half.

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45 mins: Rolfo has a chance from distance but her shot flies a few yards wide of Hampton’s goal.

Three minutes added on.

44 mins: Graham takes aim from around 25 yards but her shot is deflected off Buchanan’s thigh and loops over the bar. The corner comes to nothing.

Hayes does not look too happy about life at the moment.

42 mins: The delay has taken most of the tempo out of the game.

40 mins: Chelsea are looking lively in the final third at the moment.

Paredes is being treated in the Barcelona box, so we have a little delay.

38 mins: An atrocious backpass is intercepted by Leupolz and she is through goal but decides to pull the ball back to James who completely misses her shot.

The referee gets in the way of Leupolz just outside the Barcelona box and the home fans are not happy. Hayes is having a word with the fourth official for good measure.

Gordon gets in touch to say: “Chelsea letting Barca play in the middle third – they are not pressing them like last week. Looks a difficult game for Chelsea now.”

36 mins: Macario plucks the ball out of the sky, takes a touch and volleys from 20 yards but Coll moves quickly across her line to palm clear.

34 mins: Kaneryd latches onto her pass down the right but her cross is easily caught by Coll.

32 mins: Leupolz hits the bar with pretty much an open goal in front of her after James’s cutback. I am not completely sure how she’s missed it.

Oh Melanie! Leupolz hits the crossbar during the the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final, second leg match between Chelsea and FC Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on 27 April 2024. (Photo by Tom Jenkins) Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Observer
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30 mins: Graham gets to the byline and pulls the ball back for Paralluelo but Cuthbert slides in to force a corner.

Hampton fails to deal with the corner and there is a touch of pinball before the goalkeeper reclaims possession.

28 mins: Bonmati is now down after getting the ball kicked into her face. Her nose is a touch bloody and is being wiped down.

GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Barcelona (Bonmati 25) agg 1-1

The midfielder receives the ball on the edge of the box, gets it out of her feet and takes aim, before watching the shot take a deflection off Buchanan and find the corner.

Aitana Bonmatí fires in the opening goal to level the tie. Photograph: Steve Bardens/Getty Images
Aitana Bonmatí turns to celebrate. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Observer
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24 mins: It is hard work out there for Chelsea with Barcelona dominating possession. Charles battles with Graham in the box and wins the ball back for Chelsea before clearing.

22 mins: Barcelona win a corner on the left. It is taken short and Chelsea clear at the front post.

Hampton is the first goalkeeper to be tested, saving a down to her right from a Graham shot hit from the edge of the box.

20 mins: Chelsea’s plan to get out mainly involves finding James with a direct pass and hope the striker has the pace to do some damage. James reaches a pass down the left and makes it to the box but is forced to turnaround.

18 mins: Chelsea fail to clear the ball to give Barcelona a sniff of a chance but the Blues regroup and get rid.

16 mins: Chelsea enjoy a decent spell of possession but it concludes with a dreadful shot from Cuthbert which ends up in row Z.

14 mins: Hampton takes a little too long to clear a backpass and just about gets away with it as Paralluelo chases her down.

12 mins: Barcelona are looking pretty slick in possession. It could be a tricky evening at Stamford Bridge for the Blues but they are keeping the visitors are bay for now.

10 mins: Bronze lifts a great cross into the box but Patri’s touch is a poor one and the ball bounces out of play.

8 mins: Chelsea are being given little to no room to work in, resulting in Buchanan sending an aimless ball over the top that reaches no one in blue.

Carter crashes into the hoardings after giving away a corner. She looks to have hurt her elbow but gets back to her feet.

6 mins: It is a full house at Stamford Bridge. They are watching a comfortable Barcelona team knock the ball about without threatening the Chelsea defence.

Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí on the ball. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Observer
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4 mins: Chelsea are moving the ball quickly and Macario looks to find James with a through ball but she puts a little too much on the pass.

2 mins: It’s been an intense start from both teams. Barcelona are not giving Chelsea a second on the ball, who are doing their best to knock it about.

Kick off

Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!

Gordon emails: “Looking forward to this big occasion at a sold-out Stamford Bridge. Regarding the starters, I think Barca are going to play Batlle and Rolfo on their left, looking to exploit Kaneryd defensively. Ramirez a big miss for Chelsea, her hold-up play in the first leg was excellent, I presume she is injured.”

The players are on their way …

Emma Hayes: “You have to try to make it like any other game. You can’t build things up too much, it takes too much energy away from what you have to do on the pitch.”

Why not just wear the shirt?

Barcelona fans outside Stamford Bridge. Photograph: Steve Bardens/Getty Images

Look forward to the other semi.

Suzanne Wrack previews the match.

Starting lineups

Chelsea: Hampton, Lawrence, Carter, Buchanan, Charles, Cuthbert, Leupolz, Nusken, James, Kaneryd, Macario

Subs: Musovic, Bright, Ingle, Reiten, Kirby, Perisset, Mjelde, Cankovic, Beever-Jones, Bjorn

Barcelona: Cata Coll, Paredes, Paralluelo, Graham, Patri, Bonmati, Bronze, Rolfo, Walsh, Batlle, Engen

Subs: Panos, Gemma, Jana, Pina, Marta, Mariona, Alexia, Bruna. Brugts, Vicky, Martina

Hello

Chelsea are halfway there after winning the first leg 1-0 away in Catalonia but Barcelona have the quality to turn this around. They have made a mockery of the Spanish league, dropping two points all season, scoring 106 goals in 24 matches, so notching a couple at Stamford Bridge is not exactly impossible.

Emma Hayes is desperate to finish her tenure as Chelsea manager with the Champions League and the players know it. This is rapidly becoming the most important trophy in west London and the team will be eager to get the job done.

Let’s hope for a cracker.

Kick-off: 5.30pm BST.



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