Chelsea VS Barcelona At 12:30 Today (Women’s Champions League Semi-Final)

Chelsea and Barcelona meet in their UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final first-leg on Saturday 22 April at Stamford Bridge.

Barcelona’s 4-0 win against Chelsea in the 2021 final in Gothenburg gave the Blaugrana their first (and so far only) Champions League title, and also remains the only decider the Blues have made. Having won their last 60 Spanish league games, and scored 35 goals in their eight European matches so far this season, Barcelona are looking at least as good as two years ago, and that has been without Alexia Putellas, who has travelled to Stamford Bridge after recovering from injury but will not make her comeback until at least the second leg.

Chelsea showed their own credentials with their dramatic quarter-final elimination of holders Lyon, ensuring Barcelona would not face the club that dethroned them last May in Turin. Sam Kerr is in prolific form up front and Pernille Harder has returned to the squad after a long-term absence but Chelsea are without central defensive pair Millie Bright and Kadeisha Buchanan.

Form guide

Chelsea

Last six games (most recent result first): WWLLWW
Last match: Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea, 16/04 (FA Cup semi-final)
Where they stand: 2nd in Women’s Super League, FA Cup final

Barcelona

Last six games (most recent result first): WWWWWW
Last match: Barcelona 4-0 Atlético, 15/04
Where they stand: 1st in Spanish Liga

Possible line-ups

Chelsea: Berger; Périsset, Mjelde, Eriksson, Carter; Cuthbert; Leupolz, Reiten; James, Kerr, Charles

Barcelona: Paños; Bronze, Paredes, León, Rolfö; Bonmatí, Walsh, Guijarro; Graham Hansen, Oshoala, Paralluelo

View from the camps

Emma Hayes, Chelsea manager: “Every team evolves. Barça have improved in lots of ways. They’ve got more experience, they’ve changed players and added different dimensions. Equally, so have we. We’re more experienced than two years ago. Being in semi-finals is something we expect of ourselves. We are as prepared as we can be.

“We respect Barcelona. They play the best football in Europe, this is clear. We have to be perfect in everything we do. But we are excited.”

Magdalena Eriksson, Chelsea captain: “[The 2021 final] is one of the games we use for motivation. But we are in a Champions League semi-final, that’s motivation enough for us. This is THE tournament that we are extremely hungry for.

“Barcelona have an amazing attacking line-up, whoever they choose to play; they have a lot of good options. But we have improved at the back, we have improved in all areas of the pitch. We know what it takes to make a final.”

Jonatan Giráldez, Barcelona coach: “In that second leg, Chelsea hit form against Lyon. They have the ability to hold on defensively, they make the most of transitions, they don’t fold under pressure. We have to be patient offensively; any long ball they play can do damage.

“Away against Roma we created more than at the Camp Nou. We have to stick to the game plan and not deviate. We have to be in control and carefully manage game situations emotionally to get a good result.”

Lucy Bronze, Barcelona defender: “I’m really happy to be in a Champions League semi-final again. I love big games. There’s an extra incentive playing against our English fans.

“One of the reasons to sign for Barça is to win the Champions League again. Nothing is guaranteed, but in a team like this you get to the end of the season in with a chance. It was a personal challenge to adapt to this style. I’m very happy with the decision.”

Source:- Uefa