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Barcelona: Coll, Batlle, Paredes, Engen, Rolfo, Bonmati, Walsh, Guijarro, Hansen, Paralluelo, Caldentey. Subs: Panos, Jana Fernandez, Pina, Torrejon, Putellas, Bronze, Vilamala, Brugts, Dragoni, Lopez, Arias, Martina Fernandez.
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Chelsea: Hampton, Lawrence, Carter, Buchanan, Charles, Kaneryd, Cuthbert, Nusken, Leupolz, Ramirez, James. Subs: Musovic, Bright, Ingle, Macario, Reiten, Kirby, Perisset, Beever-Jones, Cox.
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Emma Hayes’ victory lap will not end in a quadruple but the double is still on. That’s if her Chelsea team can beat the best club side in women’s football. A glance at Barcelona’s team sheet is a who’s who of world stars – and World Cup winners. There are memories, too, of the 2021 Women’s Champions League final when Barcelona won 4-0, and were 3-0 up in 20 minutes. Beating Barca now would one of the great coups of Hayes’ glittering career. The Champions League is the one she and Chelsea are missing. If not now, then when?
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Join me for a 12.30 kick-off.
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important events
25 minutes: Chelsea took their time in the build-up and won a free kick, but Cuthbert’s shot missed and the ball was cleared.
22 minutes: Chelsea has a hard time getting out balls. James ended up not being able to pass the ball to anyone and Pararuello sped away, but Charles once again showed off his defensive qualities.
21 minutes: Charles has to leave as Caldenti speeds towards the signature line, causing panic in the Chelsea defense.
19 minutes: James dropped deep to receive the ball. Chelsea’s front line is lacking in service.
17 minutes: Graham Hansen’s corner is cleared by Cuthbert. Chelsea are defending well.
16 minutes: Paleruelo had a big chance, but Jess Carter saved the day after Bonmati set up the striker’s shot.
15 minutes: Gordon, who is in Aberdeen, was contacted as follows: “I expect Chelsea to play with a back five, as they did last year at Camp Nou, with Nusken to be the third centre-back.
“It is not surprising that Bronze is on the bench when Barça can play Battle and Rolfo as fullbacks. But I am surprised that Pteras is only on the bench, so she is also surprised. I would suggest that, but Barcelona’s X’s post shows her looking rather subdued as she enters the stadium.
14 minutes: The dangerous Pararuelo pushed the ball into the corner, but Barça decided that a quick pass was best and took the point. Chelsea eventually cleared, but with some difficulty.
12 minutes: It was a frightening few seconds for Chelsea, with Buchanan clearing both Bommati and Graham Hansen’s intrusions.
10 minutes: Chelsea continue to look solid, even if their attacking power is not that great. Canelid begins his stay in the heart of the Barça defense, but the ball is eventually cleared.
9 minutes: Ramirez was penalized for pressing Batre too hard.
7 minutes: When Graham Hansen attacked, Jess Carter had to fall in behind and the Norwegian was awarded a corner kick. The ball ended up in the hands of Hannah Hampton, but there was some tension there.
6 minutes: Chelsea look to attack but Carter keeps the ball and Niamh Charles ends up in possession. A patient play before Lauren James takes off running. The ball was lost, but Chelsea were much better at this.
4 minutes: It was a decent few minutes for Chelsea, who were able to break up Barcelona’s passing tempo.
2 minutes: Note: Chelsea has never beaten Barcelona. It looks like we’re going to struggle already, we have to defend well.
And off we go!
1 minute: It’s sunny in Barcelona, where the match is being played at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. Bommatti gets a touch right away, as does Keira Walsh at the base of midfield. Graham Hansen smells an opportunity but lets it slip.
The team is in the tunnel and Barcelona’s national anthem is blaring.
Barbara Sciarone is a music legend Business PR supporting Madonna, Keith Richards, Depeche Mode and more. She’s American, but she’s a proper Chels.
Chelsea director Barbara Sciarone is in Barcelona. It is the third time in the last 40 years that she has missed the men’s Chelsea match at Wembley, but she has decided to watch the women’s Champions League semi-final instead.
— Kathryn Batte (@KathrynBatte) April 20, 2024
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Chelsea director Barbara Sciarone is in Barcelona. It is the third time in the last 40 years that she has missed the men’s Chelsea match at Wembley, but she has decided to watch the women’s Champions League semi-final instead.
— Kathryn Batte (@KathrynBatte) April 20, 2024
Those teams: For Chelsea: Lauren James has returned from injury and Millie Bright is included in the matchday squad for the first time since November after recovering from a knee injury. Kuro Reiten is also on the bench. Melanie Leupolz, Erin Cuthbert, Johanna Ritting-Canelido and Maira Ramirez all make the first five changes since the game against Aston Villa in midweek.
For balsa: Lucie Bronze will be on the bench, while Keira Walsh will play in midfield alongside the best player in the game, Aitana Bommati.
There was talk of a historic quad at the start of March, and Hayes was part of the Arsenal squad who achieved the feat in 2007 as assistant manager to Vic Akers. Now, there are whispers that Barcelona are solid favorites to advance to the final for the fifth time in six years, and Manchester City are level on points with the current Women’s Super League champions. It is not at all possible for him to leave club soccer after that.
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team
Barcelona: Col, Batre, Paredes, Engen, Rolfo, Bonmati, Walsh, Guijarro, Hansen, Pararuello, Caldenti. sub: Panos, Yana Fernández, Pina, Torrejon, Puteras, Copper, Vilamara, Burgutu, Dragoni, López, Arias, Martina Fernández.
chelsea: Hampton, Lawrence, Carter, Buchanan, Charles, Canelid, Cuthbert, Nasken, Leupolz, Ramirez, James. sub: Musovic, Bright, Ingle, Macario, Leiten, Kirby, Perisset, Beaver-Jones, Cox.
preamble
Emma Hayes’ victory lap doesn’t end with a quadruple, but she continues with two. That is, if her Chelsea side can beat the best club side in women’s football. A look at Barcelona’s team sheet reveals the personality of a world star and World Cup winner. There are also memories of the 2021 Women’s Champions League final, where Barcelona won 4-0 and led 3-0 after 20 minutes. Beating Barça now would be one of Hayes’ great coups in her illustrious career. What she and Chelsea are missing is the Champions League. If not now, then when?
Join us for kick-off at 12:30.
