Barcelona overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit to succeed in the Ladies’s Champions League remaining on the expense of Chelsea.
A club-record crowd watched on as Emma Hayes’ remaining sport at Stamford Bridge led to agonising defeat, with the ten-player Blues falling to the reigning champions.
Barca will look to retain their crown in opposition to both Paris Saint-Germain or Olympique Lyonnais in subsequent month’s remaining in Bilbao.
How the sport unfolded
Hannah Hampton was introduced into her first save of the night when Chelsea did not take care of a Barcelona nook and Caroline Graham Hansen was in a position to let fly from simply contained in the field, with the England goalkeeper getting down low to disclaim her on the close to publish.
Halfway by way of the primary half, Barcelona levelled the tie on mixture. Patri Guijarro threaded a go by way of to Aitana Bonmati, who shifted away from Niamh Charles and picked out the underside nook through a deflection off the legs of Kadeisha Buchanan.
Barcelona practically went forward within the tie when Bonmati’s back-heel discovered Graham Hansen operating down the wing, and Erin Cuthbert needed to be alert to cease the ball reaching Salma Paralluelo who was ready to faucet residence.
The hosts ought to have discovered the web themselves when Lauren James’ low cross rolled into the trail of Melanie Leupolz, whose effort from six yards clanked off the highest of the crossbar. Although the offside flag was raised, replays instructed James might have been onside when picked out by Catarina Macario.
Cata Coll produced a wonderful stretching save to maintain out a half-volley from Macario moments later as Chelsea sought to retake the lead.
One other Chelsea probability went begging when Irene Paredes’ again go was woefully under-hit and intercepted by Sjoeke Nusken, however her pull-back simply evaded James and Barca obtained away with one.
After the break, Nusken rattled the publish after a sweeping Chelsea transfer. James pirouetted her manner by way of midfield and switched play for Ashley Lawrence, and her cross was met by Nusken, just for her effort to trickle extensive through the upright.
Simply as Chelsea gave the impression to be ramping the strain again up once more, they have been diminished to 10 gamers after Buchanan picked up her second reserving for a problem on the highest of Guijarro’s foot the place she appeared to take the ball first. As this was a second yellow card and never a straight pink, the choice could not be reviewed by VAR.
Salma Paralluelo headed simply over shortly after Buchanan’s dismissal and Ona Batlle introduced a low save out of Hampton, whereas Johanna Rytting Kaneryd examined Coll on the different finish.
With slightly below 20 minutes remaining, Barcelona have been awarded a penalty. Bonmati was knocked by Jess Carter into the legs of Lawrence and fell to the ground, and the on-field resolution was allowed to face following a prolonged VAR verify. Fridolina Rolfo stepped up and slotted residence to place Barca forward on mixture.
Chelsea tried to rally and summon a objective to ship the tie to extra-time however their efforts proved futile and Barcelona held on.
GK: Hannah Hampton – 7/10 – Made some first rate saves and helped alleviate strain together with her spectacular kicking expertise.
CB: Jess Carter – 6/10 – For probably the most half defended effectively and with confidence, nevertheless it was her mild shove into Bonmati that led to the world’s greatest participant colliding with Lawrence and incomes a penalty.
CB: Kadeisha Buchanan – 4/10 – Unlucky {that a} deflection off her led to Barcelona’s tie-leveller and possibly should not have obtained a second reserving for her problem on Guijarro. Nonetheless, each actions modified the sport.
CB: Niamh Charles – 5/10 – Could not take care of the trickery and agility of Barcelona’s midfield and frontline.
RM: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – 6/10 – Bought up and down the proper flank together with her emboldening power a lot to Barcelona’s annoyance.
CM: Erin Cuthbert – 6/10 – One other Chelsea participant who did not cease operating and fought for each inch. Could not fairly replicate her goal-scoring heroics of the primary leg.
CM: Melanie Leupolz – 5/10 – Taken for a spin within the midfield battle however you could not fault her dedication or angle.
CM: Sjoeke Nusken – 6/10 – Dropped into the again three after Buchanan’s pink card having spent a lot of the sport crashing into Barcelona’s field.
LM: Ashley Lawrence – 6/10 – Troubled the guests together with her ghosting runs down the left and glorious supply from crosses.
CF: Lauren James – 6/10 – Slowed play down by dropping into midfield and trying to beat Barcelona defenders one after the other.
CF: Catarina Macario – 5/10 – Could not get entangled within the sport sufficient even when Chelsea have been within the ascendancy. James proved to be the point of interest as an alternative.
Substitutes
SUB: Guro Reiten (63′ for Macario) – 6/10
SUB: Aggie Beever-Jones (76′ for Leupolz) – 6/10
SUB: Millie Brilliant (84′ for Rytting Kaneryd) – 5/10
SUB: Fran Kirby (84′ for James) – 5/10
SUB: Eve Perisset (84′ for Lawrence) – 5/10
Subs not used: Zecira Musovic (GK), Sophie Ingle, Maren Mjelde, Jelena Cankovic, Nathalie Bjorn
Supervisor
Emma Hayes – 6/10 – Chelsea performed admirably and have been arduous achieved by with some selections however in the end lacked that killer edge to hurry away from Barcelona.
GK: Cata Coll – 7/10 – Like Hampton did herself justice with a string of wonderful saves. Additionally exceeded when Chelsea tried to drop crosses and corners on her head.
RB: Lucy Bronze – 7/10 – Introduced in for some much-needed expertise and fulfilled that quota. Barcelona have been a lot calmer for her presence.
CB: Irene Paredes – 6/10 – Lucky {that a} back-pass to Coll wasn’t punished by Chelsea. In any other case endured a quiet sport.
CB: Ingrid Engen – 6/10 – Stuffed in effectively at centre-back and was barely troubled in harmful areas by Chelsea’s attackers.
LB: Ona Batlle – 6/10 – Tucked inside onto her pure proper foot in assault and helped Barcelona defend narrower going the opposite manner.
CM: Keira Walsh – 7/10 – Sat on the base of midfield dictating the tempo that Chelsea tried so desperately to decelerate.
CM: Patri Guijarro – 8/10 – Got here up with the help that began Barcelona’s comeback. Introduced that additional little bit of ingenuity which her aspect missed within the first leg.
CM: Aitana Bonmati – 8/10 – You could possibly take away her objective and successful of the penalty and nonetheless see that Bonmati was one of the best participant on the pitch. These contributions proved to be successful bonuses.
RW: Caroline Graham Hansen – 7/10 – Confirmed flashes of her brilliance although did not hassle Chelsea for prolonged intervals.
CF: Salma Paralluelo – 6/10 – Did not maintain the ball up effectively sufficient in opposition to Chelsea’s bodily imposing again three, although did have extra luck operating in behind even when she did not present any objectives herself.
LW: Fridolina Rolfo – 7/10 – Like Graham Hansen was made to work for area to function on the wing. Transformed the essential penalty to ship Barcelona into the ultimate.
Substitutes
SUB: Mariona Caldentey (67′ for Batlle) – 6/10
SUB: Claudia Pina (86′ for Graham Hansen) – 6/10
SUB: Alexia Putellas (90′ for Bonmati) – N/A
Subs not used: Sandra Panos (GK), Gemma Font (GK), Jana Fernandez, Marta Torrejon, Bruna Vilamala, Esmee Brugts, Vicky Lopez, Martina Fernandez
Supervisor
Jonatan Giraldez – 7/10 – Barcelona weren’t at their greatest however they obtained the job achieved and may have an opportunity to defend their title in Bilbao.
Participant of the match – Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
