Chelsea travel to Spain to take on Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League semi-finals this afternoon with a place on the European showpiece on the line.
It is the second time in as many years that the two teams have met at this stage of the competition with Barcelona getting over the line last season. Caroline Graham Hansen scored a stunner to clinch the first leg at Stamford Bridge and the Blues were not able to overturn the deficit at the Nou Camp with the second leg ending in a 1-1 draw.
This time around Barcelona are playing at home first which should provide some assistance to Emma Hayes’ team if they can come back to London with the tie in the balance. Chelsea have never beaten Barcelona in the women’s game but anything other than a heavy defeat today would keep them in contention to reach the final in Bilbao.
Hayes, who is leaving Chelsea at the end of the season, has won every trophy possible with the Blues except the Women’s Champions League but will need to overcome an old enemy if she is to sign off her tenure in style.
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Good morning
Chelsea travel to Barcelona to face the Women’s Champions League holders in a rematch of last season’s semi-finals.
The Champions League is the only trophy that has eluded Chelsea under Emma Hayes during the dominant era of domestic success, and this is the club’s final chance with Hayes leaving at the end of the season.
Barcelona defeated Chelsea in last year’s semi-finals, edging the tie 2-1 on aggregate following a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge and a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou. The Spanish side went on to beat Wolfsburg in the final and are targeting a third Champions League title in four seasons.
Barcelona won the first of those against Chelsea in the 2021 final – winning 4-0 to deny Chelsea and Hayes their first Champions League trophy.
Can the Blues earn revenge and give Hayes the perfect send-off? Here’s everything you need to know ahead of kick-off
Jamie Braidwood20 April 2024 10:30
