27 Apr 202321.04 BSTSid Lowe's match report
Thank you for joining us for this tense second leg where Barcelona have knocked out Chelsea to go through to the Women’s Champions League final. In the first leg Caroline Graham Hansen’s strike separated the teams. It was her boot again which extended Barca’s lead but Guro Reiten scored for Chelsea to keep the Blues in it. But Emma Hayes’ side couldn’t find another and bow out of the competition they have never won. We will bring you live updates from Arsenal and Wolfsburg’s second leg on Monday. Here is the report from this evening, have a good rest of the night!
A fun fact for you:
🔵🔴 @FCBfemeni are the third team to reach three consecutive #UWCL finals after Lyon (2010-2013 & 2016-2020) & Umea IK (2002-2004) pic.twitter.com/JdVwTW7Yql
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) April 27, 202372,262 fans attended tonight’s game, an extra six or so thousand bought tickets after Putellas was named in the team! The star did not make an appearance but fans would have caught a glimpse of her at Barca’s famous ground.
27 Apr 202320.01 BSTThe other semi-final will be decided on Monday. Arsenal host Wolfsburg at the Emirates and the result is 2-2 from the first leg so everything is to play for! Will there be an English club in the final?
27 Apr 202319.57 BSTSome stats from this second leg. Barcelona had 52% possession to Chelsea’s 48%, Barca had 14 attempts with two on target and Chelsea had five attempts with three on target.
27 Apr 202319.51 BSTA worrying sign for Barca though as Bonmati looks like she is limping around the stadium. She was subbed but she seemed to be okay after going down with an issue.
27 Apr 202319.48 BSTThe atmosphere at Camp Nou looks incredible! The crowd have stayed for the team to make their way around and the dancing and singing has not stopped!
27 Apr 202319.48 BSTVegard has got in touch via email and said: “Can we just take a moment to remember that only Norwegians have scored in this tie?” That is correct! Graham Hansen scored both goals for Barcelona and Reiten got the equaliser.
27 Apr 202319.46 BSTIf Chelsea turned up at Stamford Bridge as they did today this tie would surely either have been won by the Blues or at least been sent to extra time. But you cannot have a half baked performance against Barcelona, they will take advantage and they did. Respectable from Chelsea though, many would have had this touted as a 4-0 result over two legs but they kept themselves in it.
27 Apr 202319.43 BSTBarcelona are through to their third consecutive final. Barca won it in 2021, they lost to Lyon in 2022 and they will have to overcome either Arsenal or Wolfsburg in 2023.
27 Apr 202319.41 BSTBarcelona players rejoice, the bench running on to embrace their teammates. A different mood from Chelsea who hug in consolation. The visitors put on a huge fight but Barca are just a level above. I can’t see them losing, no matter who joins them in the final.
27 Apr 202319.39 BSTFull-time: Barcelona 1-1 (2-1 agg) Chelsea
Barcelona are through to the final of the Women’s Champions League! It the end it was the strike from Graham Hansen in the first leg that is the difference with a much improved performance from Chelsea seeing a 1-1 result at Camp Nou. Chelsea’s dream ends, they will have to wait another season to try and get their hands on the trophy that evades them.
90 + 3 min: Charles gives away a free kick as they try to build something, Camp Nou is rocking. They are so close to the final.
27 Apr 202319.37 BST90 + 2 min: Berger sends the ball up but Barca has it, this is so tense! Chelsea need to create something and fast.
27 Apr 202319.35 BST90 + 1 min: There will be four added minutes, Chelsea need a goal to keep this going.
27 Apr 202319.35 BST90 min: Adam has got in touch on email and said: “What are you snacking on today? Beyond that: Barcelona are awfully good at football, aren’t they? I rate Chelsea and Emma Hayes incredibly highly, and it’s surprising to me that Barcelona can make them look really pretty ordinary at times. With both clubs being well-funded relatively speaking and both operating in leagues that allow them to steamroller their opponents more often than not (with the utmost of respect to the teams in both the WSL and La Liga Femenina), what do you think is the difference here? Why do Barcelona seem to be so much better?” Ah I see you have read a blog of mine before! I have Pringles today, a solid choice. Barcelona have world class stars but not only that but stars who know how to be a part of a team. Barca’s head coach has got a yellow for not giving Cuthbert the ball.
27 Apr 202319.33 BST88 min: James attempts to get it upfield but Rolfo wins it back. Geyse is fed the ball and she is toying with the Chelsea defence as a cat does with it’s prey, sending them one way and then the other. Geyse finds Paralluelo and her shot is saved!
27 Apr 202319.32 BST88 min: Hayes is shouting at her players, slapping her hands and saying ‘one more chance’. One more chance would take it to extra time, the tie wouldn’t be done there! Chelsea are with the ball but in Barca’s half, they will have to do a lot to create something.
27 Apr 202319.30 BST86 min: Kerr lays it off to James, she takes a touch and her shot is miles over the bar. She had other options there, she could have been a bit more patient there.
27 Apr 202319.30 BST85 min: A long ball from Chelsea goes out for a goal kick. The visitors will be throwing everything at this, Panos is slowing the ball down in the goal kick.
27 Apr 202319.29 BST84 min: Barca make a change with Geyse on for Bonmati. I think this is a tactical change not an injury. The fans are on their feet to see Bonmati off the field.
27 Apr 202319.28 BST83 min: The commentators are keen to speak about Chelsea’s injury list but they have played well without some key players. It is also worth remembering Barca are without Bronze and have their star player Putellas on the bench returning from injury. Barca have a goal kick after a wasted Chelsea but of play.
27 Apr 202319.26 BST82 min: Perisset is off for Chelsea with Rytting Kaneryd on. Bonmati is okay to continue.
27 Apr 202319.26 BST81 min: Chelsea do well to get it into the box but Barca do well to block. It comes out to Cuthbert who takes a long range shot, it is on target but Panos handles it easily. Bonmati is down injured now with some changes ready to come on.
27 Apr 202319.24 BST80 min: Chelsea are being patient on the ball but then Bonmati wins it in midfield. Carter challenges a Barca player who goes down in the box but no penalty given. Chelsea now look to counter to level this tie up.
27 Apr 202319.23 BST79 min: The ball comes in and Graham Hansen’s ball is blocked, it comes in again and Eriksson sees it out for a corner. Leon sends it in but it is headed away by Cuthbert. James does well to win the throw in.
78 min: Ah Harder is on! Graham Hansen is fouled by Eriksson and Barca have a free kick on halfway.
27 Apr 202319.21 BST77 min: Chelsea make some changes with Reiten off for James. Harder looks like she is being prepped to come on. I’m slightly confused as to why Reiten has been hooked, she has been really good in this match.
27 Apr 202319.20 BST76 min: Reiten finds Kerr in the box but Paredes blocks well, she has done a great job on Kerr this evening. She has had hardly any space on the ball. Chelsea are sensing a change in momentum as Kerr crosses in and it narrowly misses Reiten’s head.
27 Apr 202319.18 BST74 min: A great tie this is turning out to be! I really thought that was Chelsea out when Graham Hansen scored but they cancelled it out so quickly. There is a changes as Torrejon is off for Crnogorcevic. Chelsea yet to make a change.
27 Apr 202319.16 BST72 min: Surely Hayes is going to make some subs soon? James and Ingle waiting in the wings and could inject some chances into this. Barca have retained possession since Chelsea clawed one back but Berger for now has a goal kick.
27 Apr 202319.15 BST70 min: A very good challenge from Mjelde takes it out of the path of Barcelona who look to extend their lead. Remember Barcelona are ahead on aggregate but Chelsea may fancy themselves here after that goal.
27 Apr 202319.13 BST69 min: Well, well, well! Camp Nou’s crowd hate that decision, they don’t believe the Cuthbert challenge was fair. The ball got into the box quickly from that, Kerr took a touch and Reiten rifled it into the back of the net. Perfect reaction from Chelsea.
27 Apr 202319.12 BSTGOAL! Barcelona 1-1 (2-1 agg) Chelsea (Reiten, 68')
How about this!!
68 min: Camp Nou is absolutely rocking! These fans are absolutely loving this, you can feel the vibrations of their dancing feet through the coverage! Barcelona are coming again here, Cuthbert challenges Caldenty but it’s fair.
27 Apr 202319.10 BST66 min: Chelsea need to go something here. They have no time at all, they need two goals and concede none just to send it to extra-time. It feels a stretch. A gut-punch to Chelsea who were growing into this. Hayes surely needs to bring on James.
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