It's advantage Barcelona in the Women's Champions League semis

SPORT

A stunning early goal from Caroline Graham Hansen made the difference at Stamford Bridge as the Blaugrana beat a depleted Chelsea 1-0 in the English capital.

The Norwegian winger left the Chelsea defenders for dead in the fourth minute as she cut in from the right and bent a beautiful shot out of the reach of an outstretched Ann-Katrin Berger.  

Chelsea did have the ball in the net on 25 minutes, but the celebrations in the 28 000-strong crowd were cutshort by the offside flag.  

Later on, there was a return for Pernille Harder, who was making her first appearance in five months, but Barcelona continued to dictate the game with their passing, racking up 486 passes and 70% possession to hold on to a one-goal victory. 

Despite the loss, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was not downcast after a loss to a Barcelona team who have won 60 league games in a row. 

After the game she said:

She added: “You have to be in the tie, and we are. Now we have to prepare for another game and it’s important that we learn from today.”  

Barcelona’s top goal-scorer Asisat Oshoala returned to the squad after missing her side’s 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid last weekend due to a groin strain, but she was only fit enough for a spot on the bench. 

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Chelsea on the other hand came into this one buoyed after reaching their third consecutive FA Cup final by narrowly beating Aston Villa 1-0 last Sunday.  

The hosts were by no means down to their bare bones heading into this game, but they were once again without a number of key players, particularly at centre-half with regular defensive duo Millie Bright and Kadeisha Buchanan both out injured.  

Chelsea started this game much like they did in their 4-0 loss against Barcelona in the Uefa Women's Champions League 2020/21 final. 

Graham Hansen cut in from the right and danced through the Chelsea defence in the third minute, before bending a wicked shot out of Berger’s reach.  

Chelsea’s disastrous start threatened to continue as they afforded a Barcelona side that has scored 105 league goals so far this season too much space on the edge of the area.

Graham Hansen and Geyse obliged the open invitations and tested Berger. But, unlike in Gothenburg, where the Blues capitulated to concede four goals in the first half, Chelsea consolidated.  

A knock to Berger gave Hayes a chance to relay tactical advice to her side, and a succession of chances followed. Sam Kerr’s deflected shot forced a save out of Sandra Paños before the offside flag denied Chelsea an equaliser.  

Kerr raced in behind the Barça defence and squared the ball to Guro Reiten, who made no mistake from close range, but the celebrations were cut short as the Australian had been flagged offside.  

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The hosts brought on Lauren James at the break to try to change their fortunes, to little avail as Barcelona continued to control the game and suffocate Chelsea with their constant passing.  

Lucy Bronze was forced off with a nasty-looking knee injury. Marta Torrejon was brought on in place of the Fifa women’s player of the year, and she saw a close-range header come crashing off the woodwork on 82 minutes.  

With six minutes of regular time remaining, Oshoala was introduced by Jonatan Giráldez in place of the goal-scorer Graham Hansen, to help the Liga F leaders hold on to a first-leg win. 

Pernille Harder was also brought on late in the game for what was her first appearance of this year, having missed the bulk of this season due to injury.

This was Hayes’ final attempt to turn the tie around, but it made little difference as the Catalan side held on to take a one-goal lead into the second leg on Thursday at Camp Nou.