The Women’s Champions League semi-finals begin today with a blockbuster first-leg clash at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea host mighty Barcelona in front of a 25,000-strong crowd this lunchtime, hoping to secure a positive result to take back to the Camp Nou on Thursday. They will also be out for revenge for the 2021 final in Gothenburg, when they were thrashed 4-0 by rampant Barca.
But Chelsea are confident they learned lessons from that heavy defeat and will be massively boosted by a dramatic quarter-final win over holders Lyon, while Emma Hayes’ side are also in the thick of the WSL title race and through to the FA Cup final, having also lost the League Cup showpiece last month. Shootout hero Ann-Katrin Berger returns today as Niamh Charles gets the nod over Lauren James.
Dominant Barcelona, who thrashed Roma in the last eight and have won all 25 of their league matches this term, could have Ballon d’Or holder Alexia Putellas back for the second leg as they look to reach their third successive final. Lucy Bronze and Salma Paralluelo come in here. Follow Chelsea vs Barcelona live below, with analysis from Dom Smith at the Bridge.
Live updates
50 mins: Barcelona are going through the gears again as Chelsea’s back five are placed firmly under the cosh.
A vital block from Mjelde denies Paralluelo inside the box.
48 mins: Chelsea are under pressure early in the second half despite a covering challenge from Eriksson, with Geyse and Bonmati leading the charge.
The ball eventually falls for Fridolina Rolfo, but the Swede can’t fashion a strike from just inside the box.
46 mins: A tumbling Carter has just accidentally taken out the assistant referee after a clear nudge from Geyse, who is very apologetic.
It’s Jelana Cankovic who makes way for James.
An attacking half-time switch from Emma Hayes as Chelsea push for an equaliser.
Back underway at the Bridge.
Chelsea are going to make a change at half-time.
It sounds like Lauren James is coming on.
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly is at Stamford Bridge this afternoon to take in this semi-final tie…
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
Well that was a half which Chelsea started so poorly. Barcelona had them tied up in knots. But to their credit, Hayes’s side regrouped, and go into the break behind, yes, but now playing just as well as Barca.
No longer does this tie feel as one-sided as it did early on.
Half-time
Chelsea 0-1 Barcelona
Caroline Graham Hansen’s superb fourth-minute strike is all that separates the sides at half-time in the first leg of this Champions League semi-final tie at Stamford Bridge.
But Chelsea won’t be too disheartened after a pleasing fightback, with Guro Reiten seeing one goal ruled out and another effort cleared off the line by Lucy Bronze.
Barca sat off after going in front but upped the tempo again before the interval.
48 mins: That’s a painful ball to the face for Hansen, who initially goes down but is quickly back on her feet.
Barca still pressing before the interval, but a long cross from the left is well overhit.
The half-time whistle sounds.
46 mins: Barca are probing dangerously in search of a second goal before the interval.
A whipped left-wing cross into the six-yard box is well claimed by Berger.
But the Spanish giants quickly come again and a dangerous ball across the face of goal from Hansen can’t be turned in by Geyse, who was offside anyway.
It wouldn’t have counted.
