Barcelona 0-1 Chelsea: Women's Champions League semi-final ...

20 Apr 2024

The Guardian

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Barcelona 01 Chelsea Womens Champions League semifinal

Emma Hayes’s Blues dug in to earn a brilliant away victory in the first leg of their semi-final

Emma Hayes spoke to DAZN after one of her greatest victories.

“It’s just half-time. Nobody should get carried away with that and to be honest I’m disappointed we didn’t get the second goal. It’s a difficult place to come, they carried out the game plan I asked them to do so from that perspective I’m happy.

“I think I know how to come away from home and get a result. We have not performed against Barcelona at home. We have under-performed when we played at home. Barcelona have another level in them and I think that’s clear. Maybe they don’t feel they were at their best today and we have to anticipate that.”

“We will only be as strong as the crowd hat comes out. It’s important we pack Stamford bridge out to give half a chance against the best team in the world. We are at half-time and there is another level to Barcelona.”

Here’s Suzanne Wrack’s report from Barcelona.

Erin Cuthbert’s strike in Barcelona puts Chelsea in driving seat in semi-final

Chelsea have done it, the first defeat of the season for Barcelona. Emma Hayes’ dream lives on. A repeat performance in the second leg and Chelsea will return to the final. Erin Cuthbert’s goal did it and so did a supreme show of defending. Well done, Chelsea.

90+9 min: Every Chelsea player back and defending, clearing balls from Graham Hansen and Bronze. A last-ditch free-kick comes into the box is nodded down and Putellas must score..but doesn’t and Chelsea have won!

90+8 min: Macario escapes down the wing, and might even have got her shot off, only to be crowded out.

90+6 min: Jess Carter comes across to stop a Paralluelo pass getting anywhere. It’s been a masterclass of defending.

90+5 min: Chelsea take a while over a corner, but fail to make anything of it. Lucy Bronze sets off with the ball and eventually Hampton comes out to sweep up the danger as Graham Hansen steals in.

90+3 min: Emma Hayes is a few minutes from a huge coup and she orders her players on, hoping they can hang on.

90+2 min: Relief for Chelsea as the ball ends up in the hands of Hannah Hampton, and then more time is used as Ramirez, who was excellent, comes off and on comes Reiten.

90 min: Chelsea win a free-kick and the home fans are aghast. There will be nine minutes added on.

89 min: Better from Barca but crosses from Rodolfo and Bronze both skid past teammates.

87 min: Another fine run by Ramirez goes unrewarded. She gets to the line but there’s nobody there to knock in the cross.

85 min: Barcelona get a chance. Hansen’s ball and Paralluelo’s shot is poor, and way off target. That’s the closest they have come all game.

83 min: Real frustration in the stadium and complaints from Bonmati as Nusken receives treatment. Chelsea are killing the clock but have a long spell of time added on to see out, too.

80 min: Macario whips in the free-kick and that’s cleared rather too easily.

79 min: Patri is booked for hauling back a galloping Ramirez. Rightly so. She complains but has no grounds for complaint.

78 min: Barcelona aren’t used to losing and they look somewhat bemused by being so. Chelsea have done a right number on them.

76 min: With that denied penalty and going so close, Chelsea might be even further ahead.

75 min: Chelsea pushing up and up, creating huge problems for Barca. Ramirez, for Chelsea, holds off Patri, and spins. She fires wide but that’s great centre-forward play.

73 min: Lauren James departs the scene, as does Parades, and on come Vicki Lopez and Macario.

72 min: Barcelona still playing patiently but how long can that remain the case? Jess Carter, who has played a fine game, clears out the danger once again.

71 min: Short corner is cleared by Nusken, and play stops as Hannah Hampton goes to check on a stricken Parades.

69 min: Graham Hansen, who has been quiet all game, finally goes on a run. Putellas joins the throng, too, and then Rodolfo has a shot blocked. The resultant corner is leathered away.

68 min: Chelsea’s tactics and muscle are dominating proceedings here. Paralluelo is nullified by strong, keen-eyed defending by Jess Carter.

66 min: Paralluelo sets off on a burst and gets her shot in but it flies miles over.

64 min: Decent attack from Chelsea. James is given time and space to shoot but drags her left-foot shot wide. Barcelona have not been good here. They’ve been rattled and no mistake.

62 min: Was Ramirez fouled in the Barcelona box? Paredes looked to foul her. VAR is looking but no foul given. A raft of subs are made as Putellas and Bronze come on for Barcelona.

61 min: Barcelona yet to have a shot on target. The Hayes plan has been highly successful.

60 min: Cheers as Putellas warms up. Jeers for a recovered Jess Carter.

58 min: More boos as Jess Carter goes down after a collision with her own teammate. Barcelona players complaining about timewasting.

57 min: Gordon gets back in touch again: “After a nervous start, Chelsea have produced a wonderful first half. They’ve shut down all Barca’s threats, Hampton has not had a save to make. It must be ages since Barca did not have a shot on target in the first half. They need Putellas.”

56 min: That all took a very long time. And there are very loud boos to greet that decision – or change of decision. Chelsea still lead. That’s the main news.

There’s a hell of a long wait for the penalty, a VAR check as Caldentey has to wait as she takes the kick. Suddenly, Stephanie Frappart runs to the TV screen. All very odd, even for VAR. Was there a pull or an offside? Offside as Buchanan handled it. Hampton gets to take a goal kick rather than save a penalty.

Buchanan handballed it as Patri shoots. All on Hannah Hampton now.

50 min: Good pressure from Chelsea, Ashley Lawrence cuts inside to shoot after a Nusken run causes a few Barca nerves.

49 min: Barcelona pressing a bit higher and with more vigour than in the first half.

47 min: A very long wait for what was a very obvious offside. Barcelona knew the flag was coming and still played on.

46 min: Back underway in Catalonia, and more of the same from Chelsea would do. Chelsea have won all 13 games they have taken the lead in this season.

Halfway to a great heist for Emma Hayes, with that excellent defending and then Erin Cuthbert’s expert strike. Barcelona have been made to look mortal.

45 min: As the half ticks on, Barcelona show no sign of speeding up, getting it launched.

43 min: Barcelona aren’t panicking, they try to resume their passing game. But Chelsea remain resolute and Keira Walsh makes a mess of a pass she would normally complete with ease.

41 min: All is going to plan for Chelsea. They have been excellent, and fully deserve their lead.

What a strike, what an attack. Nusken and Cuthvert combine and lash! It’s there!